- Background (muslin)
- Light (faded chambray)
- Medium (goldenrod)
- Dark (indigo)
- Deep (damson)
- Accent (madder red)
Block No. 58 · flying-geese
Wild Goose Chase Quilt Block
Also known as Wild Goose Chase (diagonal version)
Part of: Flying Geese Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For Beginners
Wild Goose Chase sends five triangular geese down each diagonal toward an open center diamond. This center-diamond version is distinct from the two-column Flying Geese layout, despite their overlapping traditional names.
Version note: Grid corrected from 4 to 12 to represent the smallest patches. Selected the diagonal center-diamond version. Row piecing subdivides its large triangles into squares and HSTs, preserving the silhouette without foundation templates.
- Level
- Confident Beginner
- Grid
- 12 × 12
- Pieces
- 117
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
12 × 12 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 1 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
| Background | Rectangle | 4 | 1 1/2" × 8 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Rectangle | 4 | 1 1/2" × 6 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Rectangle | 4 | 1 1/2" × 4 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Rectangle | 4 | 1 1/2" × 2 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 20 | 1 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 40 |
| Light | Square | 4 | 1 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Light | Half-square triangle | 4 | 1 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Medium | Square | 4 | 1 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Medium | Half-square triangle | 4 | 1 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Dark | Square | 4 | 1 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 4 | 1 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Deep | Square | 4 | 1 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Deep | Half-square triangle | 4 | 1 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Accent | Square | 4 | 1 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Accent | Half-square triangle | 4 | 1 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the squares and rectangles exactly as grouped in the chart. Large plain patches replace the former smaller squares; do not subdivide them.
Step 2: Prepare any HST units by joining the indicated contrasting triangles along their long edges. For QST units, join triangle pairs first, then join the pairs. For flying geese, attach a sky triangle to each short side of the goose triangle. Match the fabric orientation in the diagram and square each unit to its finished dimensions plus 1/2 inch.
Step 3: Lay out the prepared units and plain patches as shown. Grid columns count from the left and rows from the top, starting at 1. The section numbers below refer to completed subassemblies, not individual fabric pieces.
Step 4: Make section 1: join the light/muslin background hst at grid column 1, row 11 above the light square at grid column 1, row 12, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 5: Make section 2: join the muslin background rect at grid column 1, row 3 above section 1, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 6: Make section 3: join the light/muslin background hst at grid column 1, row 2 above section 2, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 11 1/2" high.
Step 7: Make section 4: join the light square at grid column 1, row 1 above section 3, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 8: Make section 5: join the medium square at grid column 2, row 11 above the light/muslin background hst at grid column 2, row 12, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 9: Make section 6: join the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 2, row 10 above section 5, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 10: Make section 7: join the muslin background rect at grid column 2, row 4 above section 6, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 9 1/2" high.
Step 11: Make section 8: join the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 2, row 3 above section 7, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 12: Make section 9: join the medium square at grid column 2, row 2 above section 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 11 1/2" high.
Step 13: Make section 10: join the light/muslin background hst at grid column 2, row 1 above section 9, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 14: Make section 11: join the muslin background rect at grid column 4, row 2 on the left of the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 10, row 2, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 15: Make section 12: join the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 3, row 2 on the left of section 11, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 16: Make section 13: join the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 9, row 3 on the left of the accent square at grid column 10, row 3, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 17: Make section 14: join the muslin background rect at grid column 5, row 3 on the left of section 13, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 6 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 18: Make section 15: join the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 4, row 3 on the left of section 14, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 19: Make section 16: join the accent square at grid column 3, row 3 on the left of section 15, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 20: Make section 17: join the deep square at grid column 9, row 4 on the left of the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 10, row 4, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 21: Make section 18: join the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 8, row 4 on the left of section 17, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 3 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 22: Make section 19: join the muslin background rect at grid column 6, row 4 on the left of section 18, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 5 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 23: Make section 20: join the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 5, row 4 on the left of section 19, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 6 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 24: Make section 21: join the deep square at grid column 4, row 4 on the left of section 20, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 25: Make section 22: join the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 3, row 4 on the left of section 21, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 26: Make section 23: join the muslin background rect at grid column 4, row 6 above the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 4, row 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 27: Make section 24: join the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 4, row 5 above section 23, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 28: Make section 25: join the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 5, row 7 above the dark square at grid column 5, row 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 29: Make section 26: join the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 5, row 6 above section 25, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 30: Make section 27: join the dark square at grid column 5, row 5 above section 26, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 31: Make section 28: join the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 6, row 5 on the left of the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 7, row 5, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 32: Make section 29: join the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 6, row 8 on the left of the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 7, row 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 33: Make section 30: join the muslin background square at grid column 6, row 6 above section 29, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 34: Make section 31: join section 28 above section 30, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 35: Make section 32: join the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 8, row 7 above the dark square at grid column 8, row 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 36: Make section 33: join the dark/muslin background hst at grid column 8, row 6 above section 32, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 37: Make section 34: join the dark square at grid column 8, row 5 above section 33, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 38: Make section 35: join the muslin background rect at grid column 9, row 6 above the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 9, row 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 39: Make section 36: join the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 9, row 5 above section 35, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 40: Make section 37: join section 36 on the left of the muslin background rect at grid column 10, row 5, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 41: Make section 38: join section 34 on the left of section 37, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 3 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 42: Make section 39: join section 31 on the left of section 38, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 5 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 43: Make section 40: join section 27 on the left of section 39, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 6 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 44: Make section 41: join section 24 on the left of section 40, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 45: Make section 42: join the muslin background rect at grid column 3, row 5 on the left of section 41, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 46: Make section 43: join the deep square at grid column 9, row 9 on the left of the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 10, row 9, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 47: Make section 44: join the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 8, row 9 on the left of section 43, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 3 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 48: Make section 45: join the muslin background rect at grid column 6, row 9 on the left of section 44, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 5 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 49: Make section 46: join the deep/muslin background hst at grid column 5, row 9 on the left of section 45, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 6 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 50: Make section 47: join the deep square at grid column 4, row 9 on the left of section 46, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 51: Make section 48: join the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 3, row 9 on the left of section 47, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 52: Make section 49: join the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 9, row 10 on the left of the accent square at grid column 10, row 10, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 53: Make section 50: join the muslin background rect at grid column 5, row 10 on the left of section 49, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 6 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 54: Make section 51: join the accent/muslin background hst at grid column 4, row 10 on the left of section 50, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 55: Make section 52: join the accent square at grid column 3, row 10 on the left of section 51, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 56: Make section 53: join the muslin background rect at grid column 4, row 11 on the left of the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 10, row 11, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 7 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 57: Make section 54: join the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 3, row 11 on the left of section 53, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high.
Step 58: Make section 55: join section 54 above the muslin background rect at grid column 3, row 12, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 59: Make section 56: join section 52 above section 55, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 60: Make section 57: join section 48 above section 56, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 61: Make section 58: join section 42 above section 57, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 8 1/2" high.
Step 62: Make section 59: join section 22 above section 58, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 9 1/2" high.
Step 63: Make section 60: join section 16 above section 59, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 64: Make section 61: join section 12 above section 60, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 11 1/2" high.
Step 65: Make section 62: join the muslin background rect at grid column 3, row 1 above section 61, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 66: Make section 63: join the medium square at grid column 11, row 11 above the light/muslin background hst at grid column 11, row 12, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 67: Make section 64: join the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 11, row 10 above section 63, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" high.
Step 68: Make section 65: join the muslin background rect at grid column 11, row 4 above section 64, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 9 1/2" high.
Step 69: Make section 66: join the medium/muslin background hst at grid column 11, row 3 above section 65, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 70: Make section 67: join the medium square at grid column 11, row 2 above section 66, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 11 1/2" high.
Step 71: Make section 68: join the light/muslin background hst at grid column 11, row 1 above section 67, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 72: Make section 69: join the light/muslin background hst at grid column 12, row 11 above the light square at grid column 12, row 12, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 73: Make section 70: join the muslin background rect at grid column 12, row 3 above section 69, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 74: Make section 71: join the light/muslin background hst at grid column 12, row 2 above section 70, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 11 1/2" high.
Step 75: Make section 72: join the light square at grid column 12, row 1 above section 71, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 1 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 76: Make section 73: join section 68 on the left of section 72, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 77: Make section 74: join section 62 on the left of section 73, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 10 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 78: Make section 75: join section 10 on the left of section 74, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 11 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 79: Make section 76: join section 4 on the left of section 75, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 12 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 80: Press the completed block flat. All joins above run from edge to edge; no set-in or Y-seams are required.