Old-World Snowballs
Richly colored prints from Kathy Hall's Vegetable Dyes collection for Andover Fabrics are inspired by old-world, wood-block motifs and printed with natural dyes.
Materials
Inspired by "Optical Illusion" designer Allison Jane Smith of Plaids and Prints
Quiltmaker: Mary Pepper
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. {C}Download this Project
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 {C}Download this Project
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.
