Easy Snowball Quilt Pattern
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Looking for your next quilting project? Make a fun, modern-looking quilt with this free Snowball Quilt Pattern!
This easy quilt is put together using a shortcut snowball block method. The pattern is perfect for beginners, precut-friendly, and can be easily customized to use scraps, yardage, or your favorite layer cake!
Make one today!
Easy Snowball Quilt
Why Make this quilt
- The Snowball Quilt Pattern is another beginner quilt pattern, that looks like it could be complicated, but is actually very easy to sew.
- The free quilt pattern uses 10-inch squares and 3-inch squares to make the snowball block. So no long list of various size pieces to cut.
- The free pattern includes a printable template for you to save and use over and over, plus a design/coloring sheet for you to print and easily color/design your quilt!
- The short-cut snowball method I show you in the quilt tutorial uses 4 smaller squares sewn to one larger square to easily make the quilt blocks.
- The pattern includes 2 sizes: lap, and twin size, so you can make whichever suits your needs. The pattern would be very easy for you to make even larger if desired. Simply add more squares or a border.
What is a Snowball Quilt Block?
A Snowball Quilt Block is a traditional quilting bock that originated from Amish quilting designs. The block was originally designed to look like circles from a distance. (Depending on the colors and patterns used, of course.)
The good news is, these quilt blocks are simpler than they look. The traditional piecing method used to make a snowball block was to make a 9 patch block using half-square triangles on the corners. This created an octagon shape framed by four triangles.
Today, I’ll show you the shortcut method that starts with one large square and 4 smaller squares. We will simply sew the squares to the large block, cut and press, and Voilà, a snowball block in half the time!
You can achieve very different-looking blocks, just by changing the size of the 4 smaller squares.
Precut Friendly Quilt
Using precuts definitely speeds up a project! This Snowball Quilt Pattern is made using all ten-inch and 3-inch squares. So you can use a layer cake for the 10-inch squares.
Then depending on what pattern/combination you choose for the 3-inch squares, you can use a layer cake or yardage. It’s completely up to you!
For today’s quilt, I used yardage (and this 10-inch ruler from creative grids) for the 10-inch squares. (The black and white print is from Hobby Lobby.) And I used yardage (a gorgeous rainbow watercolor print) for my 3-inch squares as well. (I don’t have a 3-inch template yet, but if I make another one of these quilts, Martellin Notions has one I might pick up.)
Snowball quilt variations
There are so many ways to change up the look of this simple snowball quilt by changing the fabrics
- Look 1: Created by using white 10-inch squares and several different black and white print 3-inch squares for the snowball corners. Plus a white 2-inch border. (I used Create from Moda for the mock-up.)
- Look 2: This one uses a layer cake for the 10-inch squares and white 3-inch squares for the snowball corners. The printed layer cake fabric is Love, Lily from Moda.
- Look 3: Very similar to look 2, but uses red and blue prints from the Love, Lily line for the 10-inch squares, white 3-inch squares for the snowball corners, and a white 2-inch border.
- Look 4: Another version of look 2, but this time I added white 10 ich squares in between each printed snowball block and added a white 2-inch border.
Quilt Assembly Tips:
- Press and starch squares before sewing and cutting. One thing to keep in mind when cutting and sewing snowball quilt blocks with this method is that since the snowball corners are cut and sewn on the bias, the blocks can potentially stretch out or line up awkwardly when cutting and pressing, causing your squares to become “wonky.” Pre-pressing and starching helps with this.
- Don’t forget to check your seam allowance before starting to sew! Every time I start a project, I line my needle up using a seam allowance ruler. I also recommend this quarter-inch foot with the guide. (Just choose one that fits your machine.) You can use the seam allowance ruler with this foot and once I have made the adjustment to my needle, the guide helps keep all my seams perfectly aligned.
- Squaring up your corners: Do not skip the step of squaring up the corners of your snowball blocks! You can use a square ruler for this. (Just line up the square edge of the ruler with the square edge of your quilt block.
- Sewing rows together: When sewing the blocks together in a row, I recommend sewing 2 blocks together at a time, rather than one block after another, after another. If you sew the rows together one after another, the straightness of your piecing can get off.
- If you want to make the lap size quilt slightly larger, you can add a 2-inch border for a 49 by 59-inch quilt. You will need an additional 1/2 yard of fabric for the border. (Cut the fabric into 2.5-inch strips and piece them together for the border.)
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How to make a Snowball quilt block
1. Cut 1 main fabric and 4 smaller squares. (In today’s quilt project we are using a 10-inch main square and 3-inch squares for the smaller squares, but you can use any size fabric squares you want.)
2. Draw a diagonal line on each of the smaller squares. (as shown below)
Right sides together, line up each smaller square with the corners of the larger square.
3. Sew the smaller squares to the larger square, sewing right along the diagonal line you drew. Repeat for all four corners.
4. Trim ¼” past the sewn line, cutting off the corners of the square. Repeat for all 4 corners.
5. Press all four corners open, pressing the seams toward the darker fabric.
6. Use a ruler to square up/trim any wonky corners.
That’s it, you have a Snowball Quilt block! An easy quilt block with endless design possibilities and size options.
Where to get the Snowball Quilt Pattern
The link for the free Snowball Quilt pattern/template is under the materials needed section. Click the link, add the pattern to your cart and check out. (takes about 15 seconds for the process.) A copy of the pattern will be emailed to you.
Ready to make the quilt?
Read on for the fabric amounts, sewing instructions, and downloadable templates.
Fabric Amounts needed for the Snowball Quilt
- Throw:
- 30 – 10 inch squares (1 layer cake or 2 1/4 yards)
- 120 – 3 inch squares (1 layer cake, you’ll need at least 13 squares or more depending on how you mix up the colors or about 1/4th yard)
- Twin:
- 80 – 10 inch squares (2 layer cakes or 5 3/4 yards)
- 320 – 3 inch squares (1 42-square layer cake or 3 yards)
Other Materials Needed
- Pattern/Template
- Ruler
- Rotary cutter/cutting mat
- Iron
- Basic Sewing Supplies
Snowball Quilt Sewing Instructions
Instructions for quilt top only, quilt and bind using your preferred method. (I plan to bind with the rainbow fabric and do some sort of echo design for the quilting.)
- Skill: Beginner Friendly
- Pattern Sizes: lap size – 47 by 57 inches, twin size – 76 by 95 inches
- Time needed: 8 to 10 hours (just an estimate)
- Block size: The unfinished snowball block is 10 inches.
Step 1: Cut/Gather Fabrics
For the throw size quilt top, you need:
- 30 – 10 inch squares
- 120 – 3 inch squares
Step 2: Make The Snowball Quilt blocks
1. Make the Blocks. (See photo tutorial above)
2. Press blocks flat and trim/square up the corners of your snowball blocks.
3. Repeat till you have the specified amount of blocks needed for your quilt size. (30 for the throw quilt and 80 for the twin.)
Step 3. Assemble The Quilt.
- Use the provided template to lay out the quilt pattern. (I love my portable quilt wall for this. It hangs right on my wall, so no more laying my quilts out on the floor! Even better it folds up when not in use.)
- Sew your blocks together row by row with a quarter-inch seam allowance.
TIP: when sewing the blocks together in a row, I recommend sewing 2 blocks together at a time, rather than one block after another after another. If you sew the rows together one after another, the straightness of your piecing can get off. - Sew rows together 2 at a time and then sew the row/blocks together.
That’s it, your quilt top is done.
Add batting, backing, binding, and quilt as desired.
Quilting suggestions:
For my quilt, I am contemplating adding a border of the rainbow fabric, as I have quite a bit leftover. For the quilting, I think I will do some sort of echo stitch around the inside of the larger fabric piece.
Share Your Finished Project!
Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. If you share an image on Instagram, be sure to tag me and use #scatteredmompatterns! You can also share an image to my private Facebook sewing group!
Want more Easy Quilts to Sew?
Be sure to check out these beginner-friendly quilt patterns:
- Herringbone Quilt
- Chevron Quilt
- Summer Vibes Geometric Quilt Pattern
- Modern Strip Quilt
- Easy Plus Quilt Pattern
- Simple Square Blocks Quilt
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Feedly, Bloglovin', your favorite feed reader, or signing up via email and have new posts delivered to your email box each week!How to Make a Snowball Quilt - Sewing Instructions
Make a fun, modern-looking quilt with this free Snowball Quilt Pattern! This easy quilt is put together using a shortcut snowball block method. The pattern is perfect for beginners, precut-friendly, and can be easily customized to use scraps, yardage, or your favorite layer cake!
Materials
- Fabric
- Pattern/Template
- Ruler
- Rotary cutter/cutting mat
- Iron
- Basic Sewing Supplies
Instructions
Step 1: Cut/Gather Fabrics
- For the throw size quilt top, you need:
- 30 – 10 inch squares
- 120 – 3 inch squares
Step 2: Make The Snowball Quilt Blocks
1. Make the Blocks. (See photo tutorial in post)
2. Press blocks flat and trim/square up the corners of your snowball blocks3. Repeat till you have the specified amount of blocks needed for your quilt size.
Step 3. Assemble The Quilt.
- Use the provided template to lay out the quilt pattern. (I love my portable quilt wall for this. It hangs right on my wall, so no more laying my quilts out on the floor! Even better it folds up when not in use.)
- Sew your blocks together row by row with a quarter-inch seam allowance.TIP: when sewing the blocks together in a row, I recommend sewing 2 blocks together at a time, rather than one block after another after another. If you sew the rows together one after another, the straightness of your piecing can get off.
- Sew rows together 2 at a time and then sew the row/blocks together.
That’s it, your quilt top is done.
- Add batting, backing, binding, and quilt as desired.
