How to Sew a Snowball Quilt Block – Tangled Threads by Jen

Hey there! Today, I’m excited to guide you through my favorite beginner-friendly quilt block. To start, let’s delve into the history of this block and take a look at an historic example featuring the snowball block.

Next, we’ll dive straight into step-by-step instructions to create a sample block. After you’ve given it a try, you’ll likely be eager to craft more and maybe even transform them into a comfy lap-size quilt. Ready to jump in? Let’s get started!

History of the snowball block

The snowball pattern is a classic quilting design with its roots in Amish quilting traditions. This timeless pattern can be traced back to numerous historic American quilts crafted during the mid-1800s. Take, for instance, this meticulously hand-pieced and quilted snowball quilt dating back to 1840.

The design, while seemingly simple, relies on just three fabrics: a red print, a solid red, and a solid white. When viewed from afar, the snowballs may resemble circles, but in reality, they take the form of octagons. To add visual balance and a point of reprieve for the eye, the quilt features a striped border adorned with traditional 9-patch block corners.

Fabric Requirements

Below are the fabric requirements to make one sample snowball block. To make a lap size quilt, you will need 48 blocks. Download the free pattern from Cloud 9 Fabrics here. I have a few kits left in my shop here – Creatures Great and Small Snowball Quilt Kit.

8″ x 8″ print fabric per block
4 – 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ solid white fabric per block

Step 1: Draw diagonal lines on the back side of your small squares.

Draw a diagonal line corner to corner on each of your 4 white squares.

Step 2: Place one small square in the corner of your large square, aligning the edges.

Place a 2 1/2″ solid white square in the corner of your 8″ x 8″ print square. Be sure you position the marked lines across the corners and not pointing in toward the center of the block.

Step 3: Sew corner squares to printed square

With your drawn line as your guide, sew the two squares together following this line from corner to corner of each white square. Repeat on the three remaining corners.

Step 4: Cut away all four corners, leaving a ¼” seam allowance.

Cut away all four corners of the white fabric, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance. I like to line up my small ruler 1/4″ away from my sewn line, and cut with my rotary cutter.

Repeat with remaining 3 corners.

Step 5: Press your snowball corners out.

The final step is to give your snowball block a nice press. When pressing quilt blocks, don’t push the iron all around, simply apply pressure straight down without too much movement for a few seconds, this ensures you don’t distort your block.