Old-World Snowballs
Inspired by "Optical Illusion" designer Allison Jane Smith of Plaids and Prints
Quiltmaker: Mary Pepper
Materials
- 13--18x22" pieces (fat quarters) assorted large-scale prints in blue, red, black, gray, green, taupe and tan (blocks, border)
- 3/4 yard gold print (blocks, border)
- 1/2 yard red print (binding)
- 3 yards backing fabric
- 56" square batting
Finished Quilt: 49-1/2" square
Finished Block: 9" square
Quantities are for 44/45"–wide, 100% cotton fabrics.
Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.
Cut Fabrics
Cut pieces in the following order.
From assorted blue, red, black, gray, green, taupe and tan fat quarters, cut:
- 25–-9-1/2"squares
- 20–-2-1/2x9-1/2" rectangles
From gold print, cut:
- 144-–2-1/2" squares for blocks, borders and corners
From red print, cut:
- 5–-2-1/2x42" binding strips
Assemble Blocks
1. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each 2-1/2" gold print square. To prevent fabric from stretching as you draw the lines, place 220-grit sandpaper under squares.
2. Align a marked square with one corner of an assorted print 9-1/2" square (Diagram 1; note direction of marked line). Sew on drawn line; trim excess fabric, leaving 1/4" seam allowance. Press open attached triangle.
3. Repeat Step 2 to add three matching marked squares to remaining corners of 9-1/2" square to make a Snowball block (Diagram 1; again note direction of drawn lines). The block should be 9-1/2" square including seam allowances.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make 25 Snowball blocks total.
Assemble Border Units
1. Align a marked gold print 2-1/2" square on one end of an assorted print 2-1/2x9-1/2" rectangle (Diagram 2; note direction of marked line). Sew on marked line; trim excess fabric, leaving 1/4" seam allowance. Press open attached triangle.
2. Add marked square to opposite end of rectangle to make a border unit (Diagram 2; again note direction of marked line). The border unit should still be 2-1/2x9-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make 20 border units total.
Assemble Quilt Top
1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks, border units, and four remaining gold 2-1/2" squares in seven horizontal rows.
2. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row.
3 Join rows to complete quilt top. Press seams in one direction.
Finish Quilt
1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste.
2. Quilt as desired.
3. Bind with red print binding strips.