I admit I was a bit confused when I first watched this. I just got my first sew sampler box (love it!) and the mini was in there. I have probably made a thousand snowballed blocks in my lifetime and no matter what I do - draw a line, iron the line, pray etc, they rarely come out as perfectly as I would like. I came back and watched this again with the mini one in hand and then I understood how it works. I tried it on a ton of my scraps and all of them were absolutely perfect. I am so thrilled! I will be buying this larger size. I would give you a big kiss for designign this but that would be awkward so I'll just say thanks instead :)
This ruler is meant for accuracy NOT to simplify the method. So if accuracy is what you want then this is the ruler for you! If not......then don't buy it! WOW! I thought quilters were nice, kind people! Such mean comments while the poor guy is trying to sell his product to try and help you with your piecing. UNBELIEVABLE!
I want to provide an important update to this superlative product. While you might consider this a specialty ruler, it is not. It is an *essential* ruler for your workroom. Because it has 1/4" spaced 45 degree markings, you can ......drum roll.....TRIM FLYING GEESE among the other things you can use it for that requires accurate 45 degree lines. Yes, there are lots of specialty rulers for making flying geese. You don't need them with this ruler. Get the measurements for the size that you need off the ever helpful internet (and the no waste, 4 at a time is the charm), and this ruler will square them up perfectly. Use the 45 degree line to line up the inner triangle and use the 1/4 inch in side line at the tip...trim the top and side and you have a perfect 1/4" top and trimmed side. Then spin your block and line it up for the perfect rest of your trim. You will NOT be sorry to have this ruler.
I bought this ruler and mini. I'm still confused. You need more instruction videos and maybe not use the ruler against the cutting mat with lines ,my eyes went wonky and couldn't follow along.
+ Gina Growe - It would've been helpful to have a solid background cutting mat vs. the one with all the lines. Maybe they can do an updated video and with camera closeups of where to place the ruler.
I did not find this at all confusing. I like to oversize then trim down to be more precise. I use a similar ruler from creative grids to do this technique. I find it much more accurate to cut first then sew the diagonal seam as opposed to drawing the line and trimming after you sew. I do agree that there are so many rulers on the market that you can't have them all. The technique is easier than it looks for those of you who found it confusing.
Cindy McFarland Fine, if you want to throw away your money when yardage is $13 a yard and up. That’s what fabric sellers want you to do. Personally, I’d rather cut the correct size 1st time, then there is zero wastage. (But to each their own.)
@@donnanorris2939 Wow, someone took too many crabby pills today. Did you pay attention to the video at all? The first explanation was for exact piecing and the 2nd was for extra. People are given a choice of how they want to do it. I love this ruler, as drawing lines and then cutting dog ears off were a painstaking and took too long. Now I know precisely what I need. Unless you are trying to say that you have zero scrap when doing snow balls, flying geese or the long list of blocks this ruler helps with. There is NO WAY you have "zero wastage" when making these blocks! At least not that you can use in your block. Lots of us save our scraps for scrappy quilts or borders.
expensive, I think its cheaper to lay the squares on and just sew and cut, I like to double sew on both sides and then cut down the middle, then I have the waste already done with a half square triangle. I find later when i buy all these rulers, I end up going back to just laying the squares on the fabric and sewing them.
I think my brain doesn't work as other brains. I didn't understand how to use it and admit I find all these helpful rulers really confusing. I don't know why you would do an oversized unit. 😐 sorry. I'm sure others will find it helpful
I just got the mini version of this ruler because I was struggling with accuracy on folded corners, and I'm loving the oversized method. I noticed a lot of comments about waste, but I find it to be less waste than drawing lines because you use both triangles rather than just one. With the lines method there are 2 scrap triangles that are waste. With the oversized method I only have 1 wasted triangle and tiny slivers from the corner fabric.
I was having the same issue with folded corners and joining strips together for borders and binding. I got the mini version in my Sew Sampler box and couldn't figure out how to use it even after reading the instructions. After watching the video I did a few tests and it came out perfect every time. I ordered the larger version for some of my new projects. I agree with you - there is hardly any waste. This has become my go to for so many blocks.
Wow, just looked up Doug's webpage. He started quilting at 6, and started his business at 14. You go Doug! I appreciate the ruler as it's intended to assist with accuracy, and I am so inspired by your story and website! Thank you
I just bought this ruler and absolutely love it. For some reason, even though I draw a line, my snowballs just are as good as I would like them to be. With this ruler, they are perfect. Plus, I hate drawing that line and I love that when your done sewing, your done. No trimming because you already did that part.
Appears I am late to the party here given that comments are from a couple of years ago! I just watched this and I am thrilled to see this to help with accuracy. I like to have perfect seams/points but do not always get the results I would like. This is going to DO IT! Thank you for still having this video available. Added to my “saves”.
I agree, made a quilt for my son and had to snowball all the blocks, none of them matched perfectly, this would have made my job much easier. I did buy the ruler and love using it.
I already ordered and received my ruler! Thanks Kimberly and Doug for the awesome video demonstration. I really like the method of making the pieces bigger and trimming!
First time I watched a tut on this I didn’t quite get it. Watched this one and light bulb! This will definitely save time and skip the boring drawing lines on squares. And more accurate! I’m past the point of buying a gazillion specialty rulers but this one looks like a keeper.
First I APPLAUD a young man in quilting design! Looking forward to seeing more from Doug. Second, agree with those who say that the colors of the fabric made it impossible to see what he was doing. As far as the ruler, everyone is different in how their brains work and whether a ruler is better, or whether they prefer a different method. So, I think this is one of those kinds of rulers, great for some, others won't need/want it. And that's ok, that is the beauty of quilting, we adapt it to our own interests.
Best part of this vid is that young man, Doug. I am sure his product would be a help to many quilters, just not me. It is far too complicated and confusing.
I don't see how this is faster then drawing the line and your back to having biased edges. Maybe for perfection, however this is really just the original way of doing any of this.
I would much rather trim corners than draw lines any day!! Bonnie Hunter did a demo of this on her Quilt Cam tonight! She thinks this is worthy of carrying in her online store as well as FQS. Thank you Doug! Great tool!!
Pamela Casey Sure, she sells fabric. She doesn’t care if you cut oversized bigger pieces, to cut off and trim wasted yardage at $13 a yard and up. Too much wasted fabric for my wallet. Also if you’re having to trim down later, doesn’t that take the same length of time that drawing a line with a pencil takes?
Donna Norris do you follow Bonnie Hunter? She does not sell fabric and she is all about using all but the smallest scraps. Watch her video. She explains why she likes the tool.
I think the oversize method creates less waste. One oversize square can make 2 units with no extra triangles to sew. I dont lik snowballing because of all the extra triangles. Not sure ai need this ruler though others may love it.
Big thumbs up on the ruler! It will definitely save time when the discard triangles are too small to save or use. Also when the base is string-pieced as in Bonnie Hunter's string pieced snowball blocks. The ruler is very simple to use when using the cut to size method. (I agree that the "cut oversized and trim down" variation is complicated and more work. But some people like to work that way. I'm not one of them, but that's okay.) It is unfortunate that the video was shot against a gridded cutting mat. That makes it difficult to focus on the examples. Otherwise, the video was easy to understand.
I'm not clear on why you would use the oversize/trim down method over the exact size method. Can you explain? It seems that the no trim method is much faster with far fewer steps. Thank you. :-)
The quilt hanging is called Dovetail designed by Doug. Here is a link to the FREE pattern: static.fatquartershop.com/media/wysiwyg/pdf/Dovetail-Pattern.pdf and here is a link to our video tutorial: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0y2dYme-hDo.html
What fabric did you use for the light fabric for the folded corner? It looks like it has very pale writing on it. I looked at the fabric link but could not find it. As for the ruler, I don't make very many flying geese or folded corners. Looks good though!
Check out the Cutting Corners ruler by Sharon from Cozy Quilt designs. I think u may find it easier than his. However, I thought it was pretty easy. Not sure why you would want to oversize.
I like the idea of his method for oversize. 1 square, larger than normal, cut in half on the diagonal gives you 2 triangles. Sew one to each corner of the base square. Or, an even larger square cut 2 times diagonally sewn to the base for square in a square. I have a feeling the chart that Doug provides in the instructions to cut larger squares than a pattern instructs, is what can simply this immensely. I don't like drawing lines, sewing, adjusting, sewing again, then cutting, then trimming. And, since it can still be used for measuring ... a win-win!
you had me till you got to the oversize.... I never understand oversized? I need another tutorial...hey Kimberly could this be a livestream with Doug for us....for the whole hour maybe? PRETTY PLEASE 🙏🏼💕💜❤️😘😘🥰😍😇🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 because it seems like a great all around ruler
Video is nicely done, however ...ruler just not for me. I don't do scant quarter seams and this just seems too complicated with extra steps. Wish you well in the marketing ....there will be others that can use this and it'll be a better fit.
I like the idea of making the block oversized and trimming it up to the exact size. There is nothing that makes me happier than a block as perfect as I can make it.