Snowball Quilt Block Pattern

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A snowball quilt block is a simple and classic quilt block pattern that is easy to sew. Here are the steps to sew a snowball quilt block:

Materials:

• Fabric for the center square (1)
• Fabric for the snowball corners (4)
• Sewing machine
• Fabric scissors
• Ruler
• Iron and ironing board

Instructions:

1. Cut the fabrics:

• For the center square, cut a 4 ½ inch square.
• For the snowball corners, cut four 2 ½ inch squares.

2. Place one snowball corner square onto the center square, right sides facing each other. Make sure that the corner square is positioned in one of the corners of the center square.

3. Sew the snowball corner square to the center square using a ¼ inch seam allowance. Press the seam towards the corner square.

4. Trim the excess fabric from the corner square, leaving a ¼ inch seam allowance. Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining three corners.

5. Press the seams towards the corner squares.

6. Your snowball quilt block is complete! Repeat the process to make as many snowball quilt blocks as you need for your project.

Tips:

• Use a scant ¼ inch seam allowance to prevent the block from becoming too small.
• Press the seams as you go to ensure accuracy and prevent puckering.

On the back of the lighter fabric, draw a pencil line, diagonally from corner to corner.

 

Stack a pair of light and dark squares, right sides together. Sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance on each side of the line.

You will end up with something like this.

Now cut along the diagonal line.

 

Press the seam together to set the seam. Then press towards the darkest fabric.

To trim the block to the exact size line up the diagonal 45°angle with the ruler on your seam.

And then carefully trim your block with a rotary cutter.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks:

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on the size of your finished quilt block. You can come to a decision based on a number of factors: doubling a pattern, cutting your pattern in half, or choosing the size based on your available fabric.

NOTE: When working from a pattern’s cutting instructions, make sure you remove the seam allowance before doubling or tripling the size. For instance, if your pattern calls for 3-1/2″ squares, first you’ll subtract the sum of the seam allowances (1/2″), double the finished block size (from 3″ to 6″), and add the seam allowance back in (1/2″). So, when all is said and done, you will cut a 6-1/2″ piece of fabric.

Resizing Square Blocks:

Square blocks are the easiest to resize. Simply add to your finished block measurement. For example, if you’d like your finished block to be a 4″ square, you’ll need to cut a 4-1/2″ square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks:

Similarly to the square, for rectangle blocks, you’ll add to the length and width measurements of your finished block. If you’re doubling block that measures 3″ x 4″ in your quilt, you’ll cut a 6-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ rectangle of fabric.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks:

When you want to change the size of a Half-Square Triangle block, add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. To make a 4″ finished block, you’d cut 4-7/8″ squares.

Resizing Quarter Square Triangle:

Since there are two cut lines and two seam lines in a Quarter-Square Triangle block you’ll need to add 1-1/4″ to the desired finished block size. For a finished block that’s 4″, you’d cut your squares 5-1/4″.