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Delaware Quilts Block of the Month Special Snowball Project |
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While I was blog hopping one day I saw a darling little snowball and nine patch quilt which jumped off the page at me and screamed “MAKE ME!” (I saw it on a blog, didn't bookmark or save url, and now I can't find it again to ask permission to use photo) Since I'm not sewing these days thanks to my knee issues I am going to share my snowball and other blocks with my readers so you all can make your own darling snowball quilts. All of the patterns will be posted here, but you can follow along my snowball dialog on my blog, DelawareQuilts.Blogspot
There is more than one way to make a snowball, I'm going to show you both ways here. This is a great block for setting off other nine patch blocks. For a 12 1/2 inch unfinished (12 inch finished in a quilt)nine-patch Snowball block you will need: |
Place a 4 7/8 green block and a 4 7/8 background block right sides together. Carefully draw a line down the center, corner to corner, diagonally across the block. (This will be a cutting line when you are finished.) If you have a true 1/4 inch foot on your machine, you can sew on either side of this drawn line. If not, you will have to draw a second line on either side, exactly 1/4 inch from the first line. This will be your sewing line. After you have sewn on your sewing line, 1/4 inch on either side of your corner to corner to line, you will cut this square in half on your cutting line. You will now have two diagonal half-squares, which should measure exactly 4 1/2 inches. Repeat with the remaining 4 7/8 inch squares.
Repeat with the second 4 7/8 inch squares and assemble as shown at the top of the page.
| Now you might be asking, why would I make a snowball this way? Let's say you weren't using all the same background and you were using up scraps and leftovers. Or maybe you are using up leftover diagonal half squares from a collection you have. Then you might want to make your snowball blocks this way, so you can use those leftovers up. |  |
The other method of making the snowball starts out with a 12 1/2 inch square of your background fabric, and four 4 1/2 inch squares of what ever color you want to use. Place a 4 1/2 inch square with right sides together on the upper left corner. Sew diagonally from corner to corner as shown. (It might be helpful to mark your diagonal line.) Trim the excess leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press to the background. Continue around until your snow ball block is finished.
So that's how to make a 12 1/2 inch unfinished or 12 inch finished snowball. If you want another size, it really isn't that hard, just a little math.
Decide what size you want to make your snowballs, let's use 6 inch as an example. That would be 6 1/2 inch unfinished, or 6 inch finished in a quilt. Take the finished size and divide it by 3, which gives you 2. But we need a seam allowance, so add 1/2 and you would cut your corner squares 2 1/2 inches. (Aren't you glad you learned that easy math in school, thank a teacher next time you see one.)
If you are making the nine patch snowball, your pieces would be calculated the same way. Divide the finished size by 3, add 1/2 inch for the seam allowance, and cut your squares 2 1/2 inches. HOWEVER, for those diagonal half square corners, you need to add another 3/8, so you would cut the corner squares 2 7/8.
| Snowball's are kind of boring by themselves in a quilt, but add another nine patch block and you get WOW! Want MORE snowball quilt ideas, check Snowballs 2 |
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This pattern can be used for personal use only and can not be used commercially without the owner's permission. No copies may be made without the owner's permission. This includes the patterns as well as any graphics and/or instructions that are associated with a pattern.
Posted March 2, 2010