Summer Garden: February Snowball Block
- vafibrearts
- Feb 7, 2023
- 3 min read
Hello Friends and Welcome Back!
Now that January has ended, the most challenging block, Dove at the Window, is behind us. And that means the blocks only get easier from here!
While Dove at the Window was the block I was most excited to make, I will admit, I did fall behind on making that one for my own quilt along quilt. I haven't finished those blocks yet, so I'll need to get caught up once I've finished the easier block this month.
That easier block will be the Snowball block! It introduces the stitch and flip piecing method and has far fewer corners to match than last month.
Personally, I think this block is one of the easiest in the Summer Garden pattern and I'm sure none of us will have any trouble completing it. So let's jump right in!
Pattern Notes
But before we do, here's a brief reminder of a few basic pattern notes;
Summer Garden uses a 1⁄4” seam allowance. To ensure accurate piecing, check your seam allowance before beginning.
It is also recommended to press each seam after sewing. This will also improve the accuracy of blocks by keeping pieces flat and easy to work with.
Making the Snowball Block
Follow the instructions below to continue your Summer Garden quilt!
To make one Snowball block, cut the following:
From background fabric:
16x squares at 1 ½", draw a diagonal line on the back of each
From fabric A:
2x squares at 5 ½"
From fabric B:
2x squares at 5 ½"
To assemble the Snowball block:
Select one 5 ½" square of fabric A and one 1 ½" background square. Place the background square in one corner of the fabric A square so the drawn line runs across the corner as shown below. Sew directly along the drawn line.
Trim away the excess fabric from the corner before pressing. Repeat this with each of the other three corners using three more background squares to make a snowball unit.
Make 2.
Repeat these steps using a 5 ½" square of fabric B and four 1 ½"
background squares.
Make 2.
Using two fabric A snowball units and two fabric B snowball units, assemble the block as shown below.
Trim block to 10 ½" square.
For a lap quilt, make 4.
For a twin quilt, make 9.
For a queen quilt, make 14.
Full block instructions can be downloaded as a PDF here:
Summer Garden Snowball Block
The original sample version of the Summer Garden pattern, Snowball was made in various shades of green.
This colour choice was inspired by the leaves of the clover. Clover is not native to Southern Ontario but is a common backyard wildflower. It has small clusters of round green leaves, typically in groups of three, but on some occasions, you may find a four leaved clover! Does that mean my blocks are lucky?
I chose to use a combination of light and dark greens for the leaves to give the block more variety and to represent the way light and shadow give each leaf a totally unique colour!
To make your own Snowball block, you can follow the colours used above or reference colours found in your own garden! For even more alternative colour schemes, check out the Fabric Requirements post from last September!
Garden of Cards Snowball Blocks
For the quilt along version of the Summer Garden pattern, I was inspired by the Queen of Hearts' rose garden from Alice in Wonderland.
The big, round blocks of colour are reminiscent of a fully opened rose, so I used the red and white prints to piece them. These big blobs of colour add some contrast among the other blocks made so far and really stand out! I really love the effect they add!
For the playing card block variant, I made two versions. The first uses four black snowball units while the alternate version uses just two. This change gives the block a totally different effect!
I think on their own, I prefer the two unit variation; the shape of the snowball unit is more defined. But since I'm planning to add sashing to the finished quilt, I think the four unit version of the block will look great too! All that black will have a little more breathing room with the addition of the white border.
With the newest block released, I should probably take a step back and finish my Dove at the Window blocks from last month. I'm planning to bring those with me this weekend when I get together with Mom to work on this BoM project, so I'll be caught up soon!
And I would love to see your progress as well! You can share photos, questions, and stories in the comments below or on Instagram by tagging me @v.a.fibre.arts! Or use #summergardenbom to share your progress on other platforms!
There are another four weeks until the release of the next Summer Garden block. Visit me again on 07 March for the next instalment!
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