Midnight Circus: November Flying Goose Units

vafibrearts
Nov 4, 2025
5 min read

Hello Friends and Happy November!

Over the weekend, Daylight Savings came to an end, giving me an extra hour of sleep and poor Meara an existential crisis!

Like most dogs, she can't read a clock and doesn't understand why bedtime and walkies are delayed. In time, her internal clock will sync up with Standard time, but for now, she'll have a few extra hours of pouting each day.

And along with the change to Standard time, we've also started a new month, which means a new update to the Midnight Circus quilt pattern!

Let's take a look at this month's units!

November Units

The next units we'll be making for the Midnight Circus quilt are a selection of Flying Geese!

These units are a little more challenging to assemble than the Four Patches we made in October, but are found in just as many quilt patterns!

To make our Flying Goose units, we'll be using fabric B for the central body of the goose, and fabric C for the smaller, background triangles. And for unit assembly, this month we have three methods to choose from; patchwork piecing using templates, stitch and flip piecing, and four at a time assembly.

You can test each of these methods using remnants to determine which you prefer before cutting into your project fabric!

Pattern Notes

pattern assumes 44" usable width of fabric (WoF)
sew all seams using a ¼” seam allowance
press each seam before sewing the next and before trimming units
read all pattern instructions and notes before beginning to piece
optional printable templates can be downloaded here:

Patchwork Pieced Flying Goose Units

This method makes one unit at a time using smaller pieces, accommodating the use of fabric scraps and remnants.

Pieces are cut using printable templates.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.

Single Flying Goose Unit:

Fabric B - 1 medium triangle

Fabric C - 2 small triangles

Small Quilt:

Fabric B - 12 medium triangles

Fabric C - 24 small triangles

Medium Quilt:

Fabric B - 44 medium triangles

Fabric C - 88 small triangles

Large Quilt:

Fabric B - 92 medium triangles

Fabric C - 184 small triangles

Piecing Instructions

Select one medium triangle of fabric B and one small triangle of fabric C.

Place them right sides together with the long side of the small triangle aligned with one of the short sides of the medium triangle. Sew along that side.

Place the remaining small triangle of fabric C with its long side along the other short side of the medium triangle, right sides together. Sew along that side.

Trim the finished Flying Goose unit to 4½” x 2½”.

For a small quilt, make 12.

For a medium quilt, make 44.

For a large quilt, make 92.

Stitch and Flip Flying Goose Unit

This method makes one unit at a time using smaller pieces, accommodating the use of fabric scraps and remnants, but does produce some fabric waste.

Pieces are cut using quilting rulers.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.

Single Flying Goose Unit:

Fabric B - 1 rectangle at 4½” x 2½”

Fabric C - 2 squares at 2½”

Small Quilt:

Fabric B - 12 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

Fabric C - 24 squares at 2½”

Medium Quilt:

Fabric B - 44 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

Fabric C - 88 squares at 2½”

Large Quilt:

Fabric B - 92 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

Fabric C - 184 squares at 2½”

Piecing Instructions

Select two squares of fabric C. Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of both squares, running from corner to corner.

Place one fabric C square on one end of the fabric B rectangle, right sides together with the drawn line facing up. Sew along the drawn line.

Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving ¼” for seam allowance.

Place the remaining square of fabric C on the fabric B end of the pieced unit, right sides together, with the drawn line facing up and crossing the seam of the pieced unit. Sew along the drawn line.

Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving ¼” for seam allowance.

Trim the finished Flying Goose unit to 4½” x 2½”.

For a small quilt, make 12.

For a medium quilt, make 44.

For a large quilt, make 92.

Four at a Time Flying Goose Unit

This method makes multiple units at a time using large squares of fabric, requires yardage or large fabric remnants.

Pieces are cut using quilting rulers.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.

Single Flying Goose Unit:

Fabric B - 1 square at 5½”

Fabric C - 4 squares at 3¼”

Small Quilt:

Fabric B - 3 squares at 5½”

Fabric C - 12 squares at 3¼”

Medium Quilt:

Fabric B - 11 squares at 5½”

Fabric C - 44 squares at 3¼”

Large Quilt:

Fabric B - 23 squares at 5½”

Fabric C - 92 squares at 3¼”

Piecing Instructions

Select four squares of fabric C. Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of each square, running from corner to corner.

Place two squares of fabric C in opposite corners of the large square of fabric B, right sides together with the drawn lines facing up and aligned to form one long diagonal line.

Sew ¼” to either side of the drawn line, then cut along the line to separate the pieced units.

Place one of the remaining squares of fabric C on the fabric B corner of the pieced unit, right sides together, with the drawn line facing up and crossing the seam of the pieced unit.

Sew ¼” to either side of the line.

Cut along the drawn line to separate into two units.

Repeat with the remaining pieced unit and fabric C square.

Trim the finished Flying Goose units to 4½” x 2½”.

For a small quilt, make 12.

For a medium quilt, make 44.

For a large quilt, make 92.

Full instructions for all three methods, including some additional tips, can be downloaded here:

Midnight Circus Sample Quilt

I've continued working on the quilting of my Midnight Circus sample, and in doing so, have removed some of the basting and made my quilt smaller again.

Though it's smaller than it was a month ago, I've made a lot of progress on the quilting! The three star blocks are finished and I've figured out what I want to quilt in the sashing areas too!

I really love the texture and movement the quilting has added to the pieced motif and can't wait to see it spread across even more of the quilt!

Friends, I'm so glad you've joined me for another visit to the Midnight Circus this month!

I've really enjoyed following along with the progress each of you is making on your quilts, and can't wait to see how your Flying Goose units turn out!

When you're ready to share, I would love to see photos in the comments below, in my email, or on social media! Remember to use #midnightcircusquilt so I can find your posts!

And since I know this month is a little more work than the others have been, please don't worry about falling behind! The instructions will be here to come back to, and next month we won't be making nearly as many units, so you'll have time to catch up!

I hope you'll visit again on 02 December for the next unit!