Flying Geese Calculator: Four Units at a Time
The four-at-a-time method starts with one large square and four smaller squares. It makes four flying geese units in one set. Enter the finished width and height of one goose and how many units you need to calculate the cut squares.
The starting square formulas
For this method, the large square is finished goose width + 1¼ in. Each of the four small squares is finished goose height + ⅞ in. Keep the width and height inputs in their correct orientation; a flying goose is not necessarily a square.
| Finished goose (width × height) | Large square | Four small squares |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 2 in | 5¼ in | 2⅞ in |
| 6 × 3 in | 7¼ in | 3⅞ in |
| 8 × 4 in | 9¼ in | 4⅞ in |
Plan for the count
One set makes four geese. Round the number of sets up from needed units ÷ 4. If you need 11 geese, cut 3 large squares and 12 small squares; the method yields 12 units, so one is extra. For 12 units, cut 3 large and 12 small squares exactly.
These dimensions are for the specified four-at-a-time construction. Other flying-geese methods use different square sizes. Check your pattern's seam allowance and square up the sewn units before joining them to other blocks.
Source
- The four-at-a-time layout uses one square cut at the finished width + 1¼ in and four squares cut at the finished height + ⅞ in. These dimensions follow from the diagonal construction and ¼ in seam allowance.