Flying geese calculator
Cut the goose fabric 5.250 in by 5.250 in and the sky squares 2.875 in. Each unit measures 4.500 in by 2.500 in before it is sewn into the quilt and finishes at half as high as it is wide, 2.000 in.
Result
Goose fabric, width to cut
in
Goose fabric, height to cut
in
Sky squares to cut
in
Finished height of the unit
in
Sewn unit width before joining
in
Sewn unit height before joining
in
Goose pieces to cut
pcs
Sky squares to cut, in all
pcs
Units these make
pcs
How it works
A flying geese unit is a rectangle twice as wide as it is high: a large triangle, the goose, with a small sky triangle on each side. The no-waste method makes four at a time flying geese from one large square and four small ones, and nothing is cut away. Stitch and flip makes one unit from a rectangle and two squares and trims off the corners. The tool gives no waste flying geese sizes, exact or with room to trim, and the stitch and flip sizes, so the question of what size squares for flying geese has an answer for any width. The flying geese cutting sizes come with the number of pieces for the units you need.
Formula
height = width ÷ 2. No-waste: one large square = width + 1 1/4 in and four small squares = height + 7/8 in make four units. With room to trim: width + 1 1/2 in and height + 1 in. Stitch and flip: one rectangle (width + 1/2 in) by (height + 1/2 in) and two squares = height + 1/2 in make one unit. Sewn unit = finished size + 1/2 in each way.
Worked example
The calculator opens with this example; the result above is computed from it.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Finished width of the unit | 4 in |
| Method | No-waste, four at a time |
| Units needed | 12 pcs |
| Goose fabric, width to cut | 5.250 in |
| Goose fabric, height to cut | 5.250 in |
| Sky squares to cut | 2.875 in |
| Finished height of the unit | 2.000 in |
| Sewn unit width before joining | 4.500 in |
| Sewn unit height before joining | 2.500 in |
| Goose pieces to cut | 3 pcs |
| Sky squares to cut, in all | 12 pcs |
| Units these make | 12 pcs |
Common cases
| Case | Starting values | Goose fabric, width to cut | Goose fabric, height to cut | Sky squares to cut | Finished height of the unit | Sewn unit width before joining | Sewn unit height before joining | Goose pieces to cut | Sky squares to cut, in all | Units these make |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four geese for a star block | Finished width of the unit 6 in; Units needed 4 pcs | 7.250 in | 7.250 in | 3.875 in | 3.000 in | 6.500 in | 3.500 in | 1 pcs | 4 pcs | 4 pcs |
| A border of geese with room to trim | Finished width of the unit 4 in; Units needed 40 pcs | 5.500 in | 5.500 in | 3.000 in | 2.000 in | 4.500 in | 2.500 in | 10 pcs | 40 pcs | 40 pcs |
| Scrappy geese, one at a time | Finished width of the unit 3 in; Units needed 24 pcs | 3.500 in | 2.000 in | 2.000 in | 1.500 in | 3.500 in | 2.000 in | 24 pcs | 48 pcs | 24 pcs |
| Large geese for a baby quilt | Finished width of the unit 8 in; Units needed 30 pcs | 9.250 in | 9.250 in | 4.875 in | 4.000 in | 8.500 in | 4.500 in | 8 pcs | 32 pcs | 32 pcs |
Questions and answers
What size squares do I cut for no-waste flying geese?
For geese that finish at 3.000 in by 6 in, cut one large square of 7.250 in and four small squares of 3.875 in. Together they make four units of 3.500 in by 6.500 in.
What size do I cut for stitch and flip flying geese?
For geese that finish at 1.500 in by 3 in, cut a rectangle of 2.000 in by 3.500 in and two squares of 2.000 in for each unit.
Assumptions and limits
- The unit is taken to be twice as wide as it is high, the standard shape. Other proportions need a different method.
- Sizes assume a quarter inch seam allowance. Decimal inches read as eighths: 0.125 = 1/8, 0.375 = 3/8, 0.625 = 5/8, 0.875 = 7/8.
- With room to trim the unit comes out a little large; trim it to the sewn size shown, keeping a quarter inch above the point of the goose.
- Four at a time, the goose fabric is one square for every four units. Stitch and flip cuts away two small triangles per unit.
The result is an estimate for planning, not professional advice.
Sources
- Connie Kresin: flying geese four at a time (5 1/4 in and 2 7/8 in squares for 2 x 4 in geese)retrieved 2026-10-13
- The Crafty Quilter: flying geese cutting chart (one rectangle and two squares)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Generations Quilt Patterns: flying geese with connector corners (finished sizes plus 1/2 in)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Sweet Red Poppy: no-waste flying geese sized to trim (width + 1.5 in, height + 1 in)retrieved 2026-10-13
Last updated:
Method in depth: Half square triangles and flying geese from squares
Cite this page: Quilt Math, “Flying geese calculator”, https://quilt-math.pages.dev/cutting/flying-geese-calculator/ (updated 13 October 2026).
Found a mistake? Email handycalc.sites+quiltmath@gmail.com.