Snowball

About this block

This block is built by "snowballing," or stitch-and-flipping, all four corners of a large center square, giving the finished shape softened, rounded corners that read as a circle when several blocks are set together against contrasting fabric. It's a genuinely old design with roots in Amish quiltmaking, appearing in Amish and non-Amish quilts alike throughout the 19th century. Snowball rarely stands alone: it's most often paired as an alternate block with a Nine Patch, a combination so classic it's frequently recommended as a first quilt project for beginners, since the two blocks together create far more visual interest than either would on its own.