Snowballing Tip

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  • Oleg
    Senior Member
    Applique Angel
    • Jun 2013
    • 345

    Snowballing Tip

    I'm not sure if this has been posted before, but I just discovered something on a quilt I'm making. I am making Jenny's Fence Rail Quilt with Diamonds, which requires me to snowball two opposite corners of each block I'm making. I've noticed that my snowballs are a little short when I sew directly on the diagonal of each square. If I sew just a smidge (even less than a 16th of an inch) towards the soon to be cut off side, my squares lie perfectly. They press out fully to the sides of the block. If you sew directly on the line, they seem to me just shy of making it fully to the sides/corner. Just thought I would share. It was starting to stress me out, but now I feel so much better once I figured out how to fix this. Happy sewing!

    http://missouriquiltco.com -- Jenny Doan demonstrates how to quickly and easily make a stunning Fence Rail Diamond Quilt using jelly rolls (2.5" x 44" strips...
  • Sandy Navas
    Senior Member
    Missouri Star
    • Dec 2010
    • 21301

    #2
    Re: Snowballing Tip

    Sure hope I remember this when I'm ready to do some more snowballing. And that's in my future.
    Sometimes, when there's a raging fire,
    it's best not to try to put it out with gasoline.

    "...pal carajo con la negatividad..."

    Comment

    • kensington
      Senior Member
      Missouri Star
      • Jul 2012
      • 7561

      #3
      Re: Snowballing Tip

      Deffinately do it the way that works best for you, I've never had an issue using Jenny's method. I made a snowball, 4 patch and it's one of the best quilts I've done. I do the press the line method.

      Comment

      • Judy, USMC
        Senior Member
        Missouri Star
        • May 2013
        • 3086

        #4
        Re: Snowballing Tip

        Just put the Big Star on my to-do list. This tip will really help ... Thanks!

        Comment

        • Kgrammiecaz
          Senior Member
          Missouri Star
          • May 2013
          • 6232

          #5
          Re: Snowballing Tip

          I have heard this tip before and it really works. It helps get past the hump of the thread and folds much flatter and reaches the edge of the block perfectly. Just one thread over from the pressed fold is perfect.

          Thanks for the reminder.
          Karen
          Life is short - Live everyday to the fullest

          Comment

          • Suzette
            Senior Member
            Missouri Star
            • Oct 2012
            • 2391

            #6
            Re: Snowballing Tip

            Thanks for posting this! I find, just like you, that my blocks come out perfect if I am a thread or two over from the line versus sewing right on it. Your posting of this handy little tip will help others who might not have known this before.
            Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway. ~John Wayne

            Quilting is my passion . . . chocolate is a close second!

            Comment

            • Hulamoon
              Senior Member
              Missouri Star
              • Jul 2012
              • 23620

              #7
              Re: Snowballing Tip

              I don't remember this tutorial' Thanks for the tip!
              🌺 Lorie

              Comment

              • Grandma Nan
                Senior Member
                Missouri Star
                • Jun 2014
                • 2278

                #8
                Re: Snowballing Tip

                This trick also works if you have trouble with keeping Flying Geese blocks straight. I still make them the old fashioned way.
                Grandma Nan

                sigpic

                Nancy

                "Some of the best memories are created in flip flops"

                Comment

                • Cyndie
                  Senior Member
                  Quilting Guru
                  • May 2014
                  • 193

                  #9
                  Re: Snowballing Tip

                  Thank you for this tip...I was getting frustrated and stating to hate doing snowballs. Can't wait to try this!
                  Every great human achievement is preceded by extended periods of dedicated, concentrated effort-Brian Tracy

                  Life is not a rehearsal!

                  Comment

                  • Deegles
                    Senior Member
                    Missouri Star
                    • Oct 2014
                    • 2285

                    #10
                    Re: Snowballing Tip

                    Originally posted by Oleg View Post
                    I'm not sure if this has been posted before, but I just discovered something on a quilt I'm making. I am making Jenny's Fence Rail Quilt with Diamonds, which requires me to snowball two opposite corners of each block I'm making. I've noticed that my snowballs are a little short when I sew directly on the diagonal of each square. If I sew just a smidge (even less than a 16th of an inch) towards the soon to be cut off side, my squares lie perfectly. They press out fully to the sides of the block. If you sew directly on the line, they seem to me just shy of making it fully to the sides/corner. Just thought I would share. It was starting to stress me out, but now I feel so much better once I figured out how to fix this. Happy sewing!

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq0Oo3K7-1I
                    Is it possible anyone due to thread thickness? Has anyone tried smaller thread? I wonder if this would help. I will have to try this for myself.
                    Blogging ahead.....research in quilting and sewing with a dab of cooking/recipes too.

                    https://myquiltprojects.wordpress.com/

                    https://thecookbookproject.wordpress.com/

                    Comment

                    • DebbieDoodle
                      Senior Member
                      Designer Diva
                      • Apr 2015
                      • 455

                      #11
                      Re: Snowballing Tip

                      Would this be the same as using a scant 1/4"? I'm directionally impaired. Since I have never done the snow ball technique, I didn't know if that side is the same side as when you move your needle over for the scant.

                      Comment

                      • Kgrammiecaz
                        Senior Member
                        Missouri Star
                        • May 2013
                        • 6232

                        #12
                        Re: Snowballing Tip

                        Originally posted by Deegles View Post
                        Is it possible anyone due to thread thickness? Has anyone tried smaller thread? I wonder if this would help. I will have to try this for myself.
                        It is because of the thread. I use 50wt. No matter the thread it will still take up a small bit of space. So to make the fold better, sewing over one thread width helps.

                        Deegles, yes it is sort of equivalent to a scant 1/4 inch
                        Karen
                        Life is short - Live everyday to the fullest

                        Comment

                        • JCY
                          Senior Member
                          Missouri Star
                          • Jul 2013
                          • 13972

                          #13
                          Re: Snowballing Tip

                          In my quilting class I was taught to stitch the width of the needle beside the press, or marking, line when snowballing, not right on the line. It works well for me that way. The same is true when making flying geese. It always pay to square every time to make sure everything is the same & will match up ok. When doing that Diamond Rail Fence, it helps to press the seams in the opposite directions so those center diamonds match up better.

                          Comment

                          • Marty
                            Senior Member
                            Designer Diva
                            • Jan 2014
                            • 467

                            #14
                            Re: Snowballing Tip

                            This is an older post but I want to say thank you. I am working on a Diamond Fence Rail quilt with additional 1.5" corners. I am getting so frustrated.

                            Comment

                            • Suzette
                              Senior Member
                              Missouri Star
                              • Oct 2012
                              • 2391

                              #15
                              Re: Snowballing Tip

                              I take this one step further and draw the line a smidge off to the right instead of perfectly on the diagonal. That way I can still stitch right on the line and be over that tiny little bit that makes for a perfect snowball block.

                              I know some quilters don't mark their squares for snowballing, but I almost always do and this has worked well for me.
                              Last edited by Suzette; December 17, 2018, 06:09 AM.
                              Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway. ~John Wayne

                              Quilting is my passion . . . chocolate is a close second!

                              Comment

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