For the background you want it dark enough to contrast with the whites you will be using, but still neutral so that it doesn't over power the other colours.
I made my first snowflake last night and it was a teeny bit tricky with the small pieces, but I used sizing every time I pressed and that seemed to really help keep the points. I also used a single hole throat plate. Now I will go back to chain piecing, but I had to make one entire square first.
This is really fun!
Janie