Earlier this year I had a great opportunity to participate in a new bloggers blog hop. Through this, I learned more about blogging. We had some great hosts Yvonne @ quiltingjetgirl.com, Stephanie @ latenightquilter.com and Cheryl @ meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com. Now they are hosting another great blog hop for us. This one is a challenge, to design a new quilt block.
cloud9fabrics.com, generously donated a bundle of fat quarters to 70 designers for the #2016cloud9newblock blog hop. They gave us all the same colors of fabrics from the cirrus collection. These are organic fabrics and they are fun to work with.
We had to use at least 3 of the 5 colors in our blocks. The blocks will be sent to one of the hosts and they will be put into some charity quilts. It is hard to come up with new blocks. We were given some resources to help us.
I ended up using two of my favorite blocks and my quilt block is called "Pinwheel in a snowball". I had fun creating this block, and am going to design a quilt pattern based on it.
Click here for a free PDF download of this block from craftsy.
PINWHEEL IN A SNOWBALL
Cutting
instructions: these are based on using fat quarters. cloud9fabrics.com, generously donated a bundle of fat quarters to 70 designers for the #2016cloud9newblock blog hop. They gave us all the same colors of fabrics from the cirrus collection. These are organic fabrics and they are fun to work with.
We had to use at least 3 of the 5 colors in our blocks. The blocks will be sent to one of the hosts and they will be put into some charity quilts. It is hard to come up with new blocks. We were given some resources to help us.
I ended up using two of my favorite blocks and my quilt block is called "Pinwheel in a snowball". I had fun creating this block, and am going to design a quilt pattern based on it.
Click here for a free PDF download of this block from craftsy.
PINWHEEL IN A SNOWBALL
4 –
4” squares of two colors. (You will need 2 light and 2 dark
colors) my colors are Amazon (dark) and sky (light).
From a
contrasting color, (mine was Shadow) cut 3 - 3 ½” strips, then sub cut the following:
2 –
3 ½” x 6 ½”
2 –
3 ½” x 12 ½”
4 - 3 1/2 inch squares from a 4th color (mine was Iris)
4 - 3 1/2 inch squares from a 4th color (mine was Iris)
Put 1
light and 1 dark square rights sides together. Sew ¼” on both
sides of the line. Then cut along the marked line. Press the seams
to the dark side.
Take
the 2 HST's (Half Square Triangles) you just made, and put them next
to each other so you have a dark and light next to each other, like
this:
Put
right sides together and sew with a ¼” seam allowance. Yours
seams will meet at the bottom. Repeat with the other 2 HST's.
Finished
pinwheel should measure 6 ½” square.
From
your 3 ½” strips of the contrasting fabric. Sew the 6 ½”
strips on right and left sides of the pinwheel, using a ¼” seam
allowance. Press the seams away from the center block.
![]() |
6 1/2" strips being sewn on 1 side of square. Do this same procedure on the other side. |
From
the 3 ½” strips of the contrasting fabric. Sew the 12 ½”
strips to the top and bottom of the pinwheel. Press seams away from
the center block.
![]() |
12 1/2" strips being sewn to the top. You will also do this on the bottom. |
We are
almost done, but we need to make our block into a snowball. Using
the 4 – 3 ½” squares. Draw a line down the center of the block,
and lay each in a corner of your block. Sew about 1/8” from the
line, on the right side of the line, then when it is pressed, it will line up with your block.
Trim
all four corners ¼” from the seam. And press. You now have a
pinwheel in the snowball. I used Aurifil thread 2024 for the piecing on this block.
![]() | ||
This block was made by my tester Krystal. |
![]() |
This block was made by tester Cindy. |
These
are 2 of my favorite blocks. Keep and eye on my blog, because I will
be doing a
pattern with this block and it will be for sale soon.
I would love to see the blocks you create from this tutorial. If you are on instagram, follow me @kathyskwiltsandmore and share there under #pinwheelinasnowball or send me your pictures in am email at kathyskwiltsandmore@gmail.com or let me know your blog address and post a blog about it.
To get more free patterns go to these sites:
Monday:
Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Abigail @Cut & Alter
Janice @Color, Creating, and Quilting!
Lorinda @Laurel, Poppy, and Pine
Melva @Melva Loves Scraps
Renee @Quilts of a Feather
Kathryn @Upitis Quilts
Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Amanda @this mom quilts
Holly @Lighthouse Lane Designs
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Anne @Said With Love
Suzy @Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Kathleen @Smiles From Kate
Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co.
Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Anja @Anja Quilts
Daisy @Ants to Sugar
Janice @Color, Creating, and Quilting!
Lorinda @Laurel, Poppy, and Pine
Melva @Melva Loves Scraps
Renee @Quilts of a Feather
Kathryn @Upitis Quilts
Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Amanda @this mom quilts
Holly @Lighthouse Lane Designs
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Anne @Said With Love
Suzy @Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Kathleen @Smiles From Kate
Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co.
Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Anja @Anja Quilts
Daisy @Ants to Sugar
Tuesday:
Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs
Miranda @I Have Purple Hair
Jennifer @The Inquiring Quilter
Sarah @123 Quilt
Leanne @Devoted Quilter
Jen @Patterns By Jen
Jennifer @RV Quilting
Amanda @Quiltologie
Sharon @Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Jen @A Dream and A Stitch
Jen @Faith and Fabric
Carole @Carole Lyles Shaw
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Susan @Sevenoaks Street Quilts
Katrin @Now What Puppilalla
Amista @Hilltop Custom Designs
Nicole @Handwrought Quilts
Marla @Penny Lane Quilts
Silvia @A Stranger View
Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Carrie @the zen quilter
Mary @Quilting is in My Blood
Velda @GRANNYcanQUILT
Jennifer @The Inquiring Quilter
Sarah @123 Quilt
Leanne @Devoted Quilter
Jen @Patterns By Jen
Jennifer @RV Quilting
Amanda @Quiltologie
Sharon @Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Jen @A Dream and A Stitch
Jen @Faith and Fabric
Carole @Carole Lyles Shaw
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Susan @Sevenoaks Street Quilts
Katrin @Now What Puppilalla
Amista @Hilltop Custom Designs
Nicole @Handwrought Quilts
Marla @Penny Lane Quilts
Silvia @A Stranger View
Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Carrie @the zen quilter
Mary @Quilting is in My Blood
Velda @GRANNYcanQUILT
Wednesday:
Host: Stephanie @Late Night Quilter
Kathy @Kathys Kwilts and More
Paige @Quilted Blooms
Mary @Strip Quilts Pass it On
Allison @Woodberry Way
Seven @The Concerned Craft
Olusola @Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co.
Ann @Brown Paws Quilting
Jodie @Persimmon + Pear
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Kitty @Night Quilter
Francine @Mochawildchild
Shelley @The Carpenter’s Daughter who Quilts
Jayne @Twiggy and Opal
Geraldine @Living Water Quilter
Shannon @Shannon Fraser Designs
Lisa @Sunlight In Winter Quilts
Jessica @Quilty Habit
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Deanna @Stitches Quilting
Denise @Craft Traditions
Paige @Quilted Blooms
Mary @Strip Quilts Pass it On
Allison @Woodberry Way
Seven @The Concerned Craft
Olusola @Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co.
Ann @Brown Paws Quilting
Jodie @Persimmon + Pear
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Kitty @Night Quilter
Francine @Mochawildchild
Shelley @The Carpenter’s Daughter who Quilts
Jayne @Twiggy and Opal
Geraldine @Living Water Quilter
Shannon @Shannon Fraser Designs
Lisa @Sunlight In Winter Quilts
Jessica @Quilty Habit
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Deanna @Stitches Quilting
Denise @Craft Traditions