The Wild Goose Chase Quilt Block

The wild goose chase quilt block is one of the many patterns that uses the flying geese patchwork unit as a base to create a beautiful design.

The wild goose chase quilt block also uses the quarter square triangle unit.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in three colors
(tan, burgundy and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 1 patch 5 ½” square from the tan fabric.
Cut 1 strip 2 ½” wide from the tan fabric. Sub cut the strip into patches 2 ½” x 4 ½” for a total of 8 patches.
Cut 1 patch 5 ½” square from the burgundy fabric.
Cut 1 strip 2 ½” wide from the burgundy fabric. Sub cut the strip into patches 2 ½” x 4 ½” for a total of 8 patches.
Cut 2 patches 4 ½” square from the white fabric.
Cut 1 patch 8” square from the white fabric.
Cut 2 strips 2 ½” wide from the white fabric. Sub cut the strip into patches 2 ½” squares for a total of 32 squares.

Step 2 - Use the quarter square triangle method.

A quarter square triangle is ¼ of a square. Follow the directions as you would for a half square triangle.

Place one 5 ½” square of tan fabric and one 5 ½” square of burgundy fabric, right sides together. Draw a line on the diagonal of the lighter fabric from one corner to the opposite corner. Draw another line from the opposite corners creating an X. Stitch ¼” on each side of only one of the marked lines.

With your rotary cutter or scissors, cut along both of the drawn lines. Press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric. This yields 2 quarter square triangle units or one half square triangle.

Stitch 2 quarter square triangles units right sides together with the dark fabric opposite the light fabric. This creates an X and a completed quarter square triangle unit. Press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric.

Use your ruler to square up the unit to be 4 ½” square. Be sure to use your 45 degree angle on your ruler.

You will need a total of 2 quarter square triangle units to complete the wild goose chase quilt block.

Step 3 - Use the flying geese patchwork unit method.

On the back of each 2 ½” white square, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner. Mark a second line ½” away from the first line.

With right sides together, position one of the squares at one end of the rectangle. Stitch along the first drawn line from corner to corner. Stitch along the second line.

Cut between the drawn lines with your rotary cutter or scissors. You will have an extra half square triangle for a future project.

Press the small triangle patch up, turning the seam allowance toward the small triangle.

Position the second square on the opposite end of the rectangle, rights sides together. Be sure to turn the marked lines up. Stitch along the lines as before.

Press the small triangle patch up as before.

You will need a total of 8 tan and white flying geese patch units to complete the wild goose chase quilt block. And a total of 8 burgundy and white flying geese patch units.

Step 4 - Sew two tan flying geese units together with the geese pointing in the same direction. Attach two more flying geese units, all pointing in the same direction for a total of 4 units in a row.

Step 5 - Repeat the above procedure to complete another row of four tan flying geese units.

Step 6 - Repeat the above procedure to complete 2 rows of four burgundy flying geese units for the wild goose chase quilt block.

Step 7 - Sew a tan flying geese row with the geese pointing west to the top of the large white square.

Step 8 - Sew a tan flying geese row with the geese pointing east to the bottom of the large white square.

Step 9 - Sew a burgundy geese row with the geese pointing south to the bottom of a small white square.

Step 10 - Sew a quarter square triangle to the bottom of the flying geese row. Be sure to align the proper fabrics in the rows.

Step 11 - Sew a burgundy flying geese unit to the bottom of a quarter square triangle. Be sure to align the proper fabrics again.

Step 12 - Sew a white square to the bottom of the burgundy flying geese row.

Step 13 - Sew the vertical row with the white square at the top to the vertical row with the large center square.

Step 14 - Sew the vertical row with the quarter square triangle at the top to the large center square unit.

You have completed the wild goose chase quilt block.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Wild Goose Chase Quilt Block