From Janet Wickell,
Your Guide to Quilting.
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Snowball Blocks with Novelty Centers

Sophie's March Block Lotto selection is the Snowball block, a 6" finished block with kid-friendly fabrics in the center. If you've never made a Snowball block, you'll be pleased to discover that they are very quick and easy to assemble, especially when you quick-piece them.

Read the March Block Lotto Forum discussion for complete guidelines before you make blocks for the event.

Snowball Block Fabrics

Block Centers

Use I Spy type fabrics, fussy cutting to put the motif within the square that makes up the central body of the quilt block. For instance, if your fabric depicts cowboys, be sure to cut it so that the cowboy's arm or leg isn't chopped off or within a seam allowance. The motif doesn't need to be centered, but should be completely visible in the frame.

If you do not have novelty fabrics, use brightly colored prints that children will love.

Snowball Block Corners

Choose coordinating, very dark tone-on-tone or solid fabrics for block corners.

Cutting Instructions for Each Quilt Block

1. Cut one 6-1/2" square of I Spy or bright print fabric for the Snowball block center
2. Cut four 2-1/2" inch squares of a coordinating, very dark tone-on-tone or solid fabric for block corners

Make the Snowball Block

Use the instructions and illustrations in the Joyous Celebration quilt pattern to make a Snowball block. The proportions are different, but the technique is the same. A hera marker or white pencil will come in handy for marking center lines on your squares.