Yes - I agree! I can get a pretty accurate "Stitch and Flip" square, but I have better luck with consistency when I use the Cut and Sew mehod. Thanks so much for watching!
Absolutely - that works too! When I subtract the 1/2" at the beginning - that's the same number I will be using when cutting the corners off the base square and it helps me keep track. Thanks for watching.
You're so welcome! AND...we're thrilled to have you as a part of our Joyful and Merry Community Quilt Guild! Be sure to attend the pre-meeting chat so we can get to know you!
I use the creative grids corner clipper to cut both pieces of fabric at once. Accurate, fast, and less math than demoed. Your video explained why method 1 can give inaccurate results.
I do have that tool as well, but not everyone does. My purpose was to show that you can also achieve accurate results without extra tools. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I knew there had to be a way to oversize and cut down to actual, but I didn't know the math to do it. Can't wait to try.
I have always hated to make snowballed blocks because of the inconsistent results, so frustrating. Perhaps this will work for me, certainly worth a try. Thanks.
I use precuts and love the first method. I also sew the second line to get a HST. Depending on size, these can be used in other scrappy projects. I hate having to cut tiny. So it solves that problem for me also.
I love this! It is so much better for me because as a beginning quilter my blocks, more often than not, are crooked or off and I don't have enough wiggle room to square them up properly. Does this formula work for all edges? Edit: Oh my! I created a block this evening and it looked so good! Better than any block I ever made- professional, even! Coming across your video feels like a game changer for me! Thank you!
As I said in the video - it just depends on the purpose of your quilt and where the block is placed in that quilt. If it's a quilt that has sashing and total accuracy is not necessary to match seams, then I would use the Stitch and Flip Method - which really can be very accurate if you take the time and are careful. If the position of the block is more critical in your quilt and you need to match and nest seams, then I would take the extra time and make the cut and sew block. Totally up to you. As for the pencil, it's the Sewline Trio Mechanical pencil. Thanks for commenting and for watching!
You don’t have to waste the excess that you trim. Just sew another row of stitches 1/2” from the first row and trim in between the two rows. You end up with a HST block you can use for something else. May be a little difficult when your squares are on the smaller size (though you can reduce the 1/4” seam allowance somewhat) but brilliant for a larger block. No waste at all.
I prefer the cut-and-sew method but sometimes use the stitch/flip method for speed - yet I always feel guilty for wasting fabric, and although my seams are very consistent and precise, there are some flipped corners that just don't come out quite square. (I do often save the little triangles and use them in other projects, but they're time-consuming to sew & trim, as they're so small). Some patterns rely on stitch & flip for practically every block in the pattern, and that's a LOT of waste. I'd rather spend a little extra time cutting and make more efficient use of my fabric.
I did answer this in a previous comment. When I subtract the 1/2" at the beginning - that's the same number I will be using when cutting the corners off the base square and it helps me keep track. Thanks for watching.
If you go back through the video, that's not what I do. You will subtract 1/2" from the finished corner triangle measurement (2" in this video) which gives you 1 1/2". You need that 1 1/2" measurement, to cut from the corners of your base square. Then you use the 1 1/2" and add 1 1/4" which gives you the measurement to cut the corner squares (2 3/4") that will then be cut on the diagonal. Doing this in 2 steps helps me to keep things straight. Hope that helps.
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I was once told to iron the flap back first before trimming. The square corner is there to iron to accurately. Then trim the excess.
I know there are some quilters who don't trim the corners at all...I'm sure there are many methods to achieve the same results. Thanks Cheryl!
Thank you for this tutorial. I can see the improved accuracy when using the cut and sew method.
Yes - I agree! I can get a pretty accurate "Stitch and Flip" square, but I have better luck with consistency when I use the Cut and Sew mehod. Thanks so much for watching!
Can you skip the subtraction step and just add three-quarter inches to the stitch and flip square?
Absolutely - that works too! When I subtract the 1/2" at the beginning - that's the same number I will be using when cutting the corners off the base square and it helps me keep track. Thanks for watching.
This doesn't make the center square to where you are matching points?
The Cut and Sew method is way more accurate. Thanks for the comparison.
Thank you and thank you for watching!
Oooh Mary I LOVE the 2nd way sooo much better & thank you!!! I’m so thankful to be in the Guild!!! Best thing I’ve done in a long time!! ❤🎉
You're so welcome! AND...we're thrilled to have you as a part of our Joyful and Merry Community Quilt Guild! Be sure to attend the pre-meeting chat so we can get to know you!
I've never seen this side by side comparison before. Nor have I heard the calculation for the cut and stitch method. Very good!
You're welcome! Both ways work - but I find this one to be a bit more accurate for me.
Thanks Mary! This was a really interesting video! ❤
You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!
Thank you! This is such a great tip! My sew and flips always turn out wonky. Tried this method and it worked so much better!
I agree! Thanks so much for watching!
I always struggle with the stich and flip. I will certainly try using the cut and sew!!
I really do find that the little bit of extra time it takes really is worth the accuracy. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the 2 methods for snowballs!!! ❤
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I use the creative grids corner clipper to cut both pieces of fabric at once. Accurate, fast, and less math than demoed. Your video explained why method 1 can give inaccurate results.
I do have that tool as well, but not everyone does. My purpose was to show that you can also achieve accurate results without extra tools. Thanks for watching!
This is good to know! I never took the time to find the difference, so your tutorial was very helpful.
You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this!!!! Great tips!!! Happy Tuesday
Happy Tuesday to you and thank you so much for watching!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I knew there had to be a way to oversize and cut down to actual, but I didn't know the math to do it. Can't wait to try.
You're welcome! I really feel it's a good alternative to the Stitch and Flip. Thanks for watching!
This is brilliant! Thank you!
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Great 2nd option ty so much
You’re welcome 😊 Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the great tip, Mary!
You're so welcome Debbie! Thanks for watching!
I have always hated to make snowballed blocks because of the inconsistent results, so frustrating. Perhaps this will work for me, certainly worth a try. Thanks.
You're welcome! I find that it works well when it comes to accuracy. Thanks for watching!
I use precuts and love the first method. I also sew the second line to get a HST. Depending on size, these can be used in other scrappy projects. I hate having to cut tiny. So it solves that problem for me also.
Thanks for sharing - and for watching!
Really great video! Thank you.
You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!
Great tip . the cut and stitch is more accurate for me too.
I agree! Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for this tutorial. ❤😊
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I like this! Thanks!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I love this! It is so much better for me because as a beginning quilter my blocks, more often than not, are crooked or off and I don't have enough wiggle room to square them up properly. Does this formula work for all edges?
Edit: Oh my! I created a block this evening and it looked so good! Better than any block I ever made- professional, even! Coming across your video feels like a game changer for me! Thank you!
I'm so glad!!! Thanks for watching!!!
Great. Thanks ❤
You're so welcome Pam! Thanks for watching!
Hi Mary, I love your tips and your tutorial. Where can I purchase the Soline Pencil you are using to mark your blocks ?
Thanks so much, Patricia! We have an affiliate link for it here: Sewline Trio Pencil - amzn.to/3Tz2qry
What is the name of the pencil you used? This tutorial was great (although it seems an awful lot of work for ONE block). 😅 Thank you!
As I said in the video - it just depends on the purpose of your quilt and where the block is placed in that quilt. If it's a quilt that has sashing and total accuracy is not necessary to match seams, then I would use the Stitch and Flip Method - which really can be very accurate if you take the time and are careful. If the position of the block is more critical in your quilt and you need to match and nest seams, then I would take the extra time and make the cut and sew block. Totally up to you. As for the pencil, it's the Sewline Trio Mechanical pencil. Thanks for commenting and for watching!
thx
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Checking the seam before cutting to make sure your seam is correct not under or over may help you with accuracy.
Thanks for your input and thanks for watching Connie!
You don’t have to waste the excess that you trim. Just sew another row of stitches 1/2” from the first row and trim in between the two rows. You end up with a HST block you can use for something else. May be a little difficult when your squares are on the smaller size (though you can reduce the 1/4” seam allowance somewhat) but brilliant for a larger block. No waste at all.
That is a great option. Thanks for sharing!
Are you using a 5” Sq or 5-1/2” Sq. You mention both.
I used a 5" square. I misspoke at the beginning and said 5.5".
I prefer the cut-and-sew method but sometimes use the stitch/flip method for speed - yet I always feel guilty for wasting fabric, and although my seams are very consistent and precise, there are some flipped corners that just don't come out quite square. (I do often save the little triangles and use them in other projects, but they're time-consuming to sew & trim, as they're so small). Some patterns rely on stitch & flip for practically every block in the pattern, and that's a LOT of waste. I'd rather spend a little extra time cutting and make more efficient use of my fabric.
Yes! Thanks for sharing!
❤
Thanks for watching!
Why not just add 1.25?
I did answer this in a previous comment. When I subtract the 1/2" at the beginning - that's the same number I will be using when cutting the corners off the base square and it helps me keep track. Thanks for watching.
F your adding 1-1/2 inch then subtracting 1-1/4 inch why don’t you jus subtract 1/4 inch?
If you go back through the video, that's not what I do.
You will subtract 1/2" from the finished corner triangle measurement (2" in this video) which gives you 1 1/2". You need that 1 1/2" measurement, to cut from the corners of your base square. Then you use the 1 1/2" and add 1 1/4" which gives you the measurement to cut the corner squares (2 3/4") that will then be cut on the diagonal. Doing this in 2 steps helps me to keep things straight. Hope that helps.