Flying Geese Log Cabin Quilt Tutorial: Jenny Doan's Jelly Roll Pattern

🧵 1 Jelly Roll — one packet of 2½" precut strips (Jenny used Primo Batiks by Molly B Studio for Marcus Fabrics). Shop precut fabrics.

🖤 1½ yards of solid fabric — for the snowball corners (geese). Black, navy, or any solid that contrasts with your jelly roll. Shop solid fabric.

🔲 1¼ yards border fabric

✂️ Rotary cutter, ruler & mat — for cutting those 2½" corner squares. Shop rotary cutters.

🪡 Sewing machine with a ¼" presser foot

🔥 Iron and pressing board

Step 1: Cut Your Corner Squares

Take your solid fabric (1½ yards) and cut it into 2½" strips — you'll need about 12 strips. Then sub-cut each strip into 2½" squares. These small squares are the secret to the flying geese — you'll sew one diagonally onto the end of each log cabin strip.

You'll need a lot of these little squares (about 100+), so cut them all at once and keep them in a pile next to your sewing machine.

Step 2: Create the Center Half-Square Triangle

Each block starts with a half-square triangle made from your jelly roll strip. Take a 2½" square of your solid fabric and place it on the end of a jelly roll strip, right sides together. Iron a crease corner-to-corner (or draw a line) to mark your sewing line.

Sew right on that crease line, then trim the excess to ¼" seam allowance and press the triangle open. This creates your block's center unit.

Jenny demonstrates how to build the block strip by strip around the center.

Step 3: Add the First Log Cabin Strips

Now start building your log cabin! Working from the center outward, add strips from your jelly roll around the center unit. After sewing on each strip, trim it flush with the block edge and press the seam.

Work your way around in the traditional log cabin sequence — add a strip to the right, then the top, then the left, then the bottom, and keep spiraling outward.

Step 4: Add Flying Geese Corners

Here's what makes this block special! On specific strips (the ones along one edge of your block), add a snowball corner using your 2½" solid squares. Place a square on the end of the strip, right sides together, sew corner-to-corner, then trim and press open.

This creates the flying geese effect along one side of each log cabin round. Keep adding these corner triangles consistently on the same side as you build outward.

Step 5: Build Out to Full Size

Continue adding strips and geese corners until your block reaches the desired size. Each block should have about 3-4 rounds of logs around the center, depending on how large you want your finished blocks.

Make sure to press after each strip addition. Consistent pressing keeps your blocks square and your seams flat.

Step 6: Arrange and Sew the Blocks

Once you have all your blocks made (you'll need about 20 for a lap quilt), lay them out in rows. The fun part is deciding how to arrange them! Try rotating blocks so the geese point in different directions — you can create pinwheel effects, diamond patterns, or barn-raising layouts.

Sew the blocks into rows, then sew the rows together. Press seams in alternating directions for nesting.

Step 7: Add Borders and Finish

Add your border strips (cut from the 1¼ yards of border fabric) to frame the quilt. Layer with batting and backing, quilt as desired, and bind to finish!

The log cabin pattern looks beautiful with stitch-in-the-ditch quilting along each log, or try an all-over meander pattern for a softer look.

🎯 High contrast geese. Choose a solid that really stands out from your jelly roll prints. The geese triangles need a strong contrast to pop visually.

✂️ Pre-cut all your corner squares. Having all your 2½" squares ready to go means you can get into a sewing rhythm without stopping to cut.

🔥 Press after every strip. Log cabin blocks can get wonky fast if you skip pressing. Take the time — your blocks will be perfectly square.

🔄 Play with block rotation. Before sewing blocks together, try different arrangements on your design wall. Rotating blocks creates completely different secondary patterns!

📐 Iron your diagonal line. Instead of drawing a line for the snowball corners, fold the square in half diagonally and press a crease. It's faster and there's no pen line to worry about removing.