Bonnie Hunter 2025/26 -- Lupine and Laughter
11-28-2025, 08:58 AM
#151
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 9,567
Oh, goodness, I am laughing as I fence sit. Flying gees are my least favorite unit to make! All of those geese are not encouraging me to fall off of the fence! Tee-Hee-Hee! Other side, is I certainly would get better at making geese. 
11-28-2025, 03:16 PM
#152
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,292
Didn't get near as much done today as you would think, but I did make a few units and I got set up for production tomorrow. Am getting over the wrongness of my pink/neutral geese being white geese with black wings...
Goal as usual will be to get all the units done in time to take to sewing group on Tuesday for trimming.
For the cut big/trim down theory, with geese I do the large triangle/goose as directed. In this case, I am again using squares with Bonnie's measurement. I cut the smaller triangles/wings slightly large and center them. I did my test trims without a template, but I'll add some tape to the ruler for fast trimming.
I would agree these are probably border units. But we just don't know, and the nice thing about front loading the effort is they will be ready when I need them for whatever their use. I will again be making extras as I am planning on a larger quilt. For those thinking about going smaller or borderless -- well is a risk to not do them but that's up to you.
We certainly do get better by repetition, and Bonnie's projects gives us chances to practice practice practice
Goal as usual will be to get all the units done in time to take to sewing group on Tuesday for trimming.
For the cut big/trim down theory, with geese I do the large triangle/goose as directed. In this case, I am again using squares with Bonnie's measurement. I cut the smaller triangles/wings slightly large and center them. I did my test trims without a template, but I'll add some tape to the ruler for fast trimming.
I would agree these are probably border units. But we just don't know, and the nice thing about front loading the effort is they will be ready when I need them for whatever their use. I will again be making extras as I am planning on a larger quilt. For those thinking about going smaller or borderless -- well is a risk to not do them but that's up to you.
We certainly do get better by repetition, and Bonnie's projects gives us chances to practice practice practice
11-28-2025, 04:45 PM
#153
Member
Join Date: Oct 2025
Posts: 19
I’m excited to do clue 2, I prefer flying geese to hourglass blocks. However, I’m still working through clue 1- I did my tester block and am now half way through cutting up the fabric for the rest of the hourglasses.
Im a teacher in Australia- so the last few weeks are hectic, and there are two more weeks after that of school, then I have a whole month off! So… I expect to be able to catch up on some sewing then.
I’m also inspired by IceBlossom trimming all of her blocks at sewing group. However, I will be away from my sewing machine for quite a few days in December as I am having my wisdom teeth removed… so might just take my trimming tools and trim up all the blocks while recovering from that. I don’t want to take my iron/sewing machine and all the bits and bobs with me, but want to keep working on the project!
Im a teacher in Australia- so the last few weeks are hectic, and there are two more weeks after that of school, then I have a whole month off! So… I expect to be able to catch up on some sewing then.
I’m also inspired by IceBlossom trimming all of her blocks at sewing group. However, I will be away from my sewing machine for quite a few days in December as I am having my wisdom teeth removed… so might just take my trimming tools and trim up all the blocks while recovering from that. I don’t want to take my iron/sewing machine and all the bits and bobs with me, but want to keep working on the project!
11-28-2025, 07:18 PM
#154
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 930
I think week 2 is one of my favourites, in general, for BHMQs. I love seeing these random sub-units in all sorts of colour combinations and knowing that they will be integral to a much larger vision. Once the pattern starts to emerge, the excitement doesn't go away but it changes to more of a focus on what the end result will be. This stage is just "Ooh! Hourglasses! "Oooh! Flying Geese! So many fabric bits to play with!!!" Thanks for sharing your progress, everyone!
(Sorry for the excessive use of exclamation points but it really is exciting, even for those of us who are watching from the sidelines. :-))
WMU - I also really disliked making FGs until I decided they would make a great addition to lengthen a quilt that was just a little too short, and then I was so taken with the result that I felt the hard work had paid off, and as a rather unsurprising bonus, they went together much more quickly and accurately the more I made! Please don't let them put you off jumping into the BHMQ pool!
I also wanted to say that your system for posting pictures is the one that works best for me, too.
Iceblossom - I admire your willingness to take a huge leap of faith in your colour (or lack thereof) choice for this quilt. I think it's going to make for a really interesting finish!
CraftyBecksa - good for you for having a plan to keep you busy/happy while you recover. That kind of repetitive and not-too-challenging activity can really help to pass the time and help you to forget your troubles! Hope your recovery goes smoothly. :-)
(Sorry for the excessive use of exclamation points but it really is exciting, even for those of us who are watching from the sidelines. :-))
WMU - I also really disliked making FGs until I decided they would make a great addition to lengthen a quilt that was just a little too short, and then I was so taken with the result that I felt the hard work had paid off, and as a rather unsurprising bonus, they went together much more quickly and accurately the more I made! Please don't let them put you off jumping into the BHMQ pool!
I also wanted to say that your system for posting pictures is the one that works best for me, too.
Iceblossom - I admire your willingness to take a huge leap of faith in your colour (or lack thereof) choice for this quilt. I think it's going to make for a really interesting finish!
CraftyBecksa - good for you for having a plan to keep you busy/happy while you recover. That kind of repetitive and not-too-challenging activity can really help to pass the time and help you to forget your troubles! Hope your recovery goes smoothly. :-)
11-29-2025, 03:20 AM
#155
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,292
For those about to begin, I salute you!
It will be a good day to sew. The snow expected today has begun, or for me right now maybe it has already passed? Couple inches of white on the ground but nothing currently falling. Still forecast for all day, is still and quiet and cold.
I've just come back in from letting the dogs out. They will go "snorkle" (go under the covers) with the hubby who will still be in bed for hours at this point.
And me, time to go into goose production. Still working my way alphabetically through my music collection -- Jim Croce led to Sheryl Crow and Shannon Curfman and then we hit the Dandy Warhols for a change of pace. Spent some nice time with John Denver, gosh we were so young and it was so long ago. Yesterday early Celine Dion was singing me through the start of the Geese units. Made me realize that starting in the Bs missed Adele... Don't know what's up next is part of the fun. Sort of scrap music going with scrap quilting.
It will be a good day to sew. The snow expected today has begun, or for me right now maybe it has already passed? Couple inches of white on the ground but nothing currently falling. Still forecast for all day, is still and quiet and cold.
I've just come back in from letting the dogs out. They will go "snorkle" (go under the covers) with the hubby who will still be in bed for hours at this point.
And me, time to go into goose production. Still working my way alphabetically through my music collection -- Jim Croce led to Sheryl Crow and Shannon Curfman and then we hit the Dandy Warhols for a change of pace. Spent some nice time with John Denver, gosh we were so young and it was so long ago. Yesterday early Celine Dion was singing me through the start of the Geese units. Made me realize that starting in the Bs missed Adele... Don't know what's up next is part of the fun. Sort of scrap music going with scrap quilting.
11-29-2025, 07:08 AM
#157
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,613
Our forecast snow has shown up as well -- a very heavy, wet one. Having grown up in Minnesota, hubby is never deterred by snow. Here in Missouri, though, no one shovels their driveways and sidewalks, so it takes a long time for the block to be walkable after a snow.
I started cutting my darker gray fabric to use as neutral with the geese and realized what a goofy fabric it is. There's a very large, irregular design (coffee-themed) stenciled on the gray, and it looks like scribbling on these small pieces. I will at least make up some pairs and take photos before I make a decision. I don't have enough of the lightest gray to extend to the whole quilt, but there is an intermediate gray, which is pretty on its own, but might look kind of blobby when cut up.
I started cutting my darker gray fabric to use as neutral with the geese and realized what a goofy fabric it is. There's a very large, irregular design (coffee-themed) stenciled on the gray, and it looks like scribbling on these small pieces. I will at least make up some pairs and take photos before I make a decision. I don't have enough of the lightest gray to extend to the whole quilt, but there is an intermediate gray, which is pretty on its own, but might look kind of blobby when cut up.
11-29-2025, 07:36 AM
#158
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,292
Break time! Need a fresh cup of tea and time to offer some sympathy for the hubby who doesn't appreciate the snow, even when it doesn't impact him. It is snowing quite a bit! We have been very surprised and pleased with our local jurisdiction and their snow plows, our in the middle of nowhere subdivision just got plowed for the first time -- to a big cheer from the hubby!
Here's a picture of the geese units being oversized. Keep in mind that for me Pink is White on White and Black is the Neutral. I think my vision would be easier to keep track of if I kept white as the neutral. The switching to black (while still using white) really throws me off. I think we had a couple of other people using black as a background -- how are you doing? Maybe your colors make it easier for you to keep straight.
My usual issue with geese is that top seam. I cut the large triangles as directed. For the small triangles if I just rounded up Bonnie's measurements to the inch, that would probably do me just fine -- but I'd have just slivers to trim off. Slivers are fine and dandy if I'm going precise, but I want to be able to slice and dice and sew with wild abandon, and then trim quickly and easily with just a ruler placement and a couple of strokes. So I added an extra 1/4" to the 1/8th round-up for easy cutting.
Top unit next to my open notebook showing my color-key is the trimmed version. Middle is untrimmed, and bottom just shows how I "center" the over-large triangle.
edit: darn picture turned on me when posting... So reverse the order of the units.
Here's a picture of the geese units being oversized. Keep in mind that for me Pink is White on White and Black is the Neutral. I think my vision would be easier to keep track of if I kept white as the neutral. The switching to black (while still using white) really throws me off. I think we had a couple of other people using black as a background -- how are you doing? Maybe your colors make it easier for you to keep straight.
My usual issue with geese is that top seam. I cut the large triangles as directed. For the small triangles if I just rounded up Bonnie's measurements to the inch, that would probably do me just fine -- but I'd have just slivers to trim off. Slivers are fine and dandy if I'm going precise, but I want to be able to slice and dice and sew with wild abandon, and then trim quickly and easily with just a ruler placement and a couple of strokes. So I added an extra 1/4" to the 1/8th round-up for easy cutting.
Top unit next to my open notebook showing my color-key is the trimmed version. Middle is untrimmed, and bottom just shows how I "center" the over-large triangle.
edit: darn picture turned on me when posting... So reverse the order of the units.
11-29-2025, 07:44 AM
#159
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 8,685
Not sure if you noticed someone posted on the FB page that there was a correction posted on Clue 2 for I think it was the count of “wings” on the regular cutting method, maybe check out the pdf
Apparently it is on page 1 and doesn’t say it is a correction, but if you downloaded the first pdf you should be able to see the difference in the count.
Apparently it is on page 1 and doesn’t say it is a correction, but if you downloaded the first pdf you should be able to see the difference in the count.
Last edited by thimblebug6000; 11-29-2025 at 07:51 AM.
11-29-2025, 12:32 PM
#160
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 9,567
The correction was the talk of the morning at my quilt workday this morning. I am still not sure what the correction is. Since I am saving the directions, I would like to save the correct correction. I will reread and see if I can find it. I am sure it will make sense in the end.
