How to Sew the Mosaic #5 Quilt Block: an 1890s Flying Geese Block by Ladies Art Company

Using eight Light/White 3.5" squares and four Dark/Navy 3.5" x 6.5" rectangles, sew together four Flying Geese units. For a detailed tutorial of my no-trim method for making perfect Flying Geese blocks check out https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block. The picture below shows the first steps.

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Light/White 3.5" squares.
• Sew a Light/White 3.5" square to a Dark/Navy rectangle along the marked line (top image). Note the orientation of the marked line. 
• Match the corners of the Light/White square and press (second image). 
• Open the square up and trim the seam allowance (third image). 
• Refold (bottom image).
• Because the Flying Geese are larger size units, I also sewed another seam about 1/2" away from the marked line so I can get bonus half square triangles to use in another project! You can see detailed instructions for this tip in the Mosaic #2 tutorial.

Repeat Step 1 on the adjacent corner of the Dark/Navy rectangle.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for a total of four White/Navy Flying Geese units like the ones in the picture below.

 

Repeat Steps 1 through 3 only substituting the Dark/Burgundy rectangles for the Dark/Navy rectangles.

 

Match up a Step 3 and a Step 4 Flying Geese unit as shown in the picture below.

 

Sew the two units together and press the seam allowance toward the Step 3 unit as shown below.

 

Repeat Steps 5 and 6 for a total of four Corner units like the ones in the picture below.

 

Arrange the Corners units as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together like a basic Four Patch block. 

 

Sew the units into two rows.

 

Press the seam allowances in opposite directions as shown below.

 

Sew the two rows together...

 

And press the seam allowances. As you can see I've used the tweak/twirl/furl method for pressing. You're done!

Here is the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. 

 

And here is the same layout as above but with sashing and cornerstones added.

 

This is a semi-scrappy version where the outer Flying Geese units are all the same color.

 

For this design a dark fabric is used for the center star and a light fabric for the outer Flying Geese units which make the pinwheel design at the block intersections.

 

And this design switches the light and dark color values from the previous layout. This puts the emphasis on the pinwheel design.

 

Here is an on-point layout with sashing and cornerstones. The background fabric is also used for the setting triangles.

 

This is a scrappy on-point layout where the setting triangles and outer blocks are modified so as to create complete pinwheel designs. 

 

The Mosaic #5 quilt block is a great block to use to practice your Flying Geese skills. As the units are large, it is easy and quick to sew together too. While it doesn't lend itself to many layout options, it does produce some dramatic looking quilts!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you like it and want to see more, just click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. Are you looking for some beginner-friendly quilt blocks? Check these out at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/tutorials_beginning-blocks

P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406