Arkansas Snowflake

About this block

This nine-patch star block is built from four solid corner squares, four "peaky and spike" units, and a single hourglass unit at the center, a combination that gives it a sharp, faceted look somewhere between a star and a snowflake. It also goes by the name Periwinkle, and records place a version of the pattern in the Kansas City Star newspaper in 1931, one of the most influential outlets for spreading quilt patterns across the country in the early 20th century. Despite the name, its actual tie to Arkansas is unclear. Even quilters familiar with the block have wondered aloud whether it snows in Arkansas often enough to explain the name, which is a good reminder that plenty of quilt-block names were chosen for their sound and charm rather than any literal geographic connection.