Fly Away in Orange

Thank you for joining me for the Fly Away Challenge - this is the June project for Island Batik ambassadors. Our challenge was to use one of the precut bundles which we received earlier in 2023 to create a project which features the flying geese block.

Flying Geese are traditional quilt blocks - rectangular components that are twice as long as they are tall, each with a peaked triangle at its centre.

I've never really been a fan of Flying Geese blocks. For one, quilt math. And secondly, I always just figured making two HST's works just as well and suited all of my pointy, triangley needs.

For this project, I decided to use the Opulent Orange 10" square pack and try out the four at a time 'no waste' method of assembling my geese.

I watched the free Anna Maria Horner class on Creative Bug to learn how she makes her 'four at a time geese' and got to work. Click through using my link below to sign up for 60 days of free classes.

I made a bright goosey table runner for my coffee table. Doesn't it look bright and happy against the neutral shades of the room?

For the backing and binding, I used an Island Batik Neutral in Mocha which I think worked quite well.

I decided that my table runner needed some extra hand quilting detail (you know me and my need to add more stitches). After machine quilting in the ditches with a neutral cream Aurifil 50wt cotton thread, I chose a variegated 12 weight cotton to big stitch hand quilt within the geese. The thread goes from a dark orange, through to coral and cream so I think it worked quite nicely with the batiks.

Thanks to Island Batik for supplying all of the fabrics and setting us another fun challenge.

Fabric: Island Batik Opulent Orange 10" square precut pack (available from Hancock's of Paducah or Missouri Star Quilt Company)

Thread: Aurifil 50wt thread #6722 (sea biscuit)

Aurifil 12wt cotton #4659 (mango mist)

Schmetz Needles - after discovering their Microtex needles, they've become my go-to.

Hobbs Batting - very generous industry partner who provide ambassadors with a variety premium batting for our quilt projects.

10 comments

Lin6/18/23, 5:42 PM
I love Flying Geese! And I love your runner. The four at time thing works well I found when I used it. Great fabrics and super colour. xx
Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué6/18/23, 6:04 PM
Beautiful and cheerful runner! These fabrics are gorgeous, and you've made them shine!
Anonymous6/18/23, 6:31 PM
Great table runner! I love orange! Gail at the Cozy Quilter.
FlourishingPalms6/18/23, 10:24 PM
As Lin said (above), "I like flying geese!" I first learned to make them one at a time, then moved to the four-at-a-time method that I taught in a more advanced quiltmaking class. Haven't made geese for years... so of course, now that I've said that, I'll need to make some! Love the colors you chose. Yes, they're bright and happy, just as we like them here in Florida! Your hand stitching is the icing.
Jeanette6/19/23, 8:25 AM
Gorgeous runner. Love the colours. I could use some of those oranges in a project i'm thinking of making. :)
Karen - Quilts...etc.6/19/23, 9:42 AM
beautiful fabric!
Anonymous6/19/23, 8:41 PM
Pretty table runner and variegated thread gives it a little more interest.
Brenda @ Songbird Designs6/19/23, 10:41 PM
Your table runner is lovely, Anorina. I love the addition of the hand quilting with the 12 wt Aurifil. It really looks great with your geese! Love the Opulent Oranges!
Anonymous6/25/23, 3:20 PM
A beautiful completed project as always. The colours are so vibrant and cheery. Ondrea.
cityquilter grace6/29/23, 8:40 AM
oh yes a very pretty orange runner....i quilted an orange and white scrappy with the variegated aurifil as well and it came out very nice...you are so creative anorina!