How to Make Snowball Quilt Blocks of Any Size

Intro to Snowball Quilt Blocks

This version of a Snowball quilt block, a plain square with triangles at its corners, is one of the most versatile quilt blocks you'll encounter. Snowball quilt blocks can be used as the only block in a quilt, but the design is always one to consider when you're looking for an alternate block—something to sit beside other designs. Think of the design as a connector—when the triangles align with the patches of a neighboring quilt block, the combination makes one block seem to flow into another and adds diagonal movement within the quilt.

The star quilt above, called A Joyous Celebration, alternates star quilt blocks with snowballs, and the green corners of the Snowballs link with the red star tips along the diagonal. The neutral print used in the Snowball blocks blends into the printed fabric used for the star backgrounds, making the snowballs appear to be set on point, even though they are in a straight setting.

You can alter the Snowball quilts block to make the patchwork mesh with nearly any layout. If you're new to quilting, it would be helpful for you to get familiar with patchwork bone structure before you decide how to construct your snowball blocks because there's no single corner configuration that works with every block.

Snowball Quilt Blocks With a Churn Dash Variation

The corner triangles of this Churn Dash (variation) are smaller than normal to flow with the narrower frames that surround the block's center square. Make the corners of the snowball smaller too, so that they link with the Churn Dash to create a secondary design where corners meet.

The patchwork divisions at the Churn Dash block's corners take up 1/6 of the length of each block side. For this tutorial, make your snowball tips the same length so that they intersect with the Churn Dash patchwork.

Finished Dimensions

• one-sixth = 2 inches for a 12-inch finished block
• one-sixth = 1 inch for a 6-inch finished block

Make a Snowball Block

1. Cut a 12-1/2 x 12-1/2 inch square or a 6-1/2 x 6-1/2 inch square to match the unfinished size of your Churn Dash quilt block

• • Add 1/2 inch to desired snowball tip dimensions to accommodate seam allowances. Cut four squares equal to the result:
    cut (4) 2-1/2-inch squares for the 12-inch block
  • cut (4) 1-1/2-inch squares for the 6-inch block

1. Use the quick snowball corners method to sew a small square to each corner of the large square. Trim and press—the snowball quilt block is complete.

Snowball Blocks With Friendship Star Quilt Blocks

The Friendship Star is a nine-patch quilt block, with three equal divisions along each side. The tips of your snowballs will flow in sync with the stars if you make them with triangles that take up the same space—one-third of the block's sides.

For a 12-inch block, one-third = 4 inches.

1. Cut a 12-1/2-inch square of fabric.
2. Cut four 4-1/2-inch squares and use the quick pieced Snowball method to sew them to the corners of the large square. Clip and press.

To use a snowball as an alternate with a 9-inch Friendship star quilt block, one-third = 3 inches. Make the snowball by sewing 3-1/2-inch squares to the corners of a 9-1/2-inch square.

For a 6-inch block, one-third = 2 inches. Sew 2-1/2-inch squares to the corners of a 6-1/2-inch square.

Do you see a pattern? We're adding 1/2 inch to the finished size of the block segment that you want the tips to match.

Look closely at your patchwork to determine where you want the Snowball tips to meet the segments on an adjacent block. Calculate the finished length, add 1/2 inch, cut squares that size and you're good to go. Be sure to add 1/2 inch to the large Snowball square's finished size, too, so that it matches the unfinished size of the quilt block it will rest against.

More on Snowball Tip Lengths

There might be times you want snowball tips to be larger than the patchwork in the adjacent quilt block. Analyze the pattern to determine how the layout will look if you increase or decrease the size of your snowball tips.

Choose the Best Size for Snowball Corner Triangles

The Double Nine-Patch quilt block has three natural divisions along its corners, at the end of each small patch in the corner units.

For comparison, here are snowball blocks drawn in three different tip sizes that correspond with the small squares. Which one do you like best?

• In the top left illustration, very small triangles at the corners of Snowball quilt blocks give the layout somewhat of a circular appearance.
• Top right, the triangles are a bit larger, ending at the midpoint of each small nine-patch. Do you think it makes the snowball blocks pop out just a bit more?
• The snowballs in the bottom illustration do more than add flow to the layout—they are a prominent part of the quilt.

Keep in mind that color and color value selection can make even tiny triangles more noticeable.

Snowball Blocks as the Sole Design

Snowball quilt blocks can be used as the quilt's sole design element. This Floral Snowball quilt is one example of snowball quilt blocks that look great without any help from another block.

If you enjoy applique, sew a shape within the snowball blocks—take a look at this Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern.