Stitchtale

Small-Corner Snowball quilt block

A classic block that sews up in an afternoon and looks right in almost any fabric.

Start to finishWatch the Small-Corner Snowball sew up, cut to press.

Try it in your colours

Tap a colourway, or pick each fabric. The film at the top changes too.

Colourways

Or pick each fabric

Love it? Find real fabric in these colours at the fabric shop.

Cut sizes for one Small-Corner Snowball block

Pick the finished size. Every cut includes the ¼″ seam allowance.

Cutting for one 6″ finished Small-Corner Snowball block
PieceCutQty
Corner-flip basebackground fabric6½″ × 6½″1
Corner squaremain fabric2.3″ × 2.3″4
Cutting for one 9″ finished Small-Corner Snowball block
PieceCutQty
Corner-flip basebackground fabric9½″ × 9½″1
Corner squaremain fabric3.1999999999999997″ × 3.1999999999999997″4
Cutting for one 12″ finished Small-Corner Snowball block
PieceCutQty
Corner-flip basebackground fabric12½″ × 12½″1
Corner squaremain fabric4.1″ × 4.1″4

Good to know

What size should I make a Small-Corner Snowball block?

Any size that suits your quilt. 12″ is the easiest to sew, and 9″ or 6″ look lovely in a busy, scrappy quilt. It sits on a 2 by 2 grid, so a finished size that divides by 2 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.

How many Small-Corner Snowball blocks do I need for a quilt?

At 12″ you need 9 blocks for a wall quilt, 12 for a baby quilt, 30 for a throw, 48 for a twin quilt and 72 for a queen quilt. Sashing or a border between them means fewer blocks for the same size.

Is the Small-Corner Snowball good for a beginner?

Yes, if you take it slowly. The one new skill is the stitch-and-flip corners, and the film at the top shows every cut, seam and press.

What's the trick to a neat Small-Corner Snowball?

Sew a test Small-Corner Snowball first and measure it. If it comes out the right size, the rest will too.