One of the best ways to make flying geese units accurately is to use a specialized ruler such as the Wing Clipper or Wing Clipper II by Studio 180 Designs. My goal here, however, is not to send you to the store for yet another ruler. You can create accurate flying geese units by starting with squares and have little wasted fabric.
Now you can create flying geese units using the stitch and flip technique. With this technique, you start with a rectangle the size of the unfinished unit (or the finished unit plus 1/2" in width and height). You also need two squares the same size as the height of the unit. For example, for a finished flying geese unit of 3" x 6", the unfinished unit is 3-1/2" x 6-1/2". So you need a rectangle that is 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" and two contrasting squares measuring 3-1/2" x 3-1/2". You draw a line diagonal across the back of the two squares. One square is then placed, right sides together, on one end of the rectangle. Stitch one or two threads toward the corner beside a drawn line. Trim the corner off leaving a 1/4" seam. Now press the remaining portion of the square up and over the seam. Repeat these steps on the other end of the rectangle and ta-da - you have a flying geese unit.
The problems I see with this technique are the waste of fabric and the time it takes to do all of these steps for a single flying geese unit.
The technique I prefer makes four flying geese units at one time. Using our example for a 3" x 6" finished size flying geese unit, you will need one square that is 6" + 1-1/4" - 7-1/4" for the middle section of the units. For the ends of the unit, you will need four squares that measure 3" + 1" = 4" x 4". Unfortunately, you still need to draw a diagonal line on the back of each of the four small squares. There are tools that allow you to omit this step but remember, I'm all about saving you from having to buy specialized rulers and tools.
With the larger square laying right side up, position tow of the smaller squares wrong side up so that they are in opposite corners of the larger triangle AND the drawn lines meet to form one continuous line across. Now stitch 1/4" away from BOTH sides of the drawn lines. Cut the piece in half along the drawn lines. Press the small triangles away from the remainder of the larger square.
Finally, take one of the small squares and position it in a remaining corner of the larger square. with the line pointing through the corner of the larger square. Now stitch 1/4" away from BOTH sides of the drawn line. Cut the piece in half along the drawn line. Press the small triangles away from the remainder of the larger square. Repeat these steps with the other piece.
Now you have four flying geese units. Use your ruler to square them to 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" being sure to leave 1/4" seam allowance at the point. The point should be 3-1/4" from each end and 1/4" in from the side.
That's it for now. I'll post some photographs at some point to assist you will piecing flying geese units.
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