QOTD - Snowball Quilt

7 years ago

Had an idea for using my Kaffe Fassett charm squares, but cannot quite wrap my head around it. I want to use only the fabric I have on hand for this quilt top, which is several packs of KF Charms.

So...

If I wanted to use only charms to make a snowball block, could I use one charm for the center of the block, and cut one charm into 4 smaller squares to use those for the corner pieces?

Has anyone tried this? Do you think it would it work?

In my head, it works. I've to many activities going on at the moment to go pull out mats, cutters, dig around the fabric scraps, and pull out my sewing machine. Plus, I feel I should put all my neurons to use today, and give them a good workout just thinking about how this would work. Obviously, I haven't many since I cannot quite figure this out. :) Use it or lose it, yes?

Happy Quilting!

Featured Answer

loisflan

7 years ago

Hi, Larri. The way I figure it is this. If you use 1/4 of a charm for each corner of your snowball block, you will be covering about 1/2 of your main block. In other words, you would lose a lot of the main block. You would also not end up with a square in the middle, because your seam allowance would cut into each corner of the square, making an octagon with four very short sides (or a square with the points of the square cut off). But maybe this is the look you are going for. I think you should use some scrap fabric and try it out before you cut into that beautiful KF fabric. Or, can you draw it out on graph paper? Maybe using a corner square that is somewhat smaller than 1/4 of a charm would be better. Or, if you want a square in the center, then you need to use corner pieces that are larger than 1/4 of the charm. Only you can be the judge of that. But to answer your question, yes, I think it would work.

Another option is to cover only two opposite corners of the main block with your 1/4 squares. Most importantly, have fun with it.

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Comments (14)

Char
7 years ago
Larri, do you have a picture of that pattern. Can't picture it in my head.
LD
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi, Char! Here's a pick of the snowball block:
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bkay2000
7 years ago
Yes it will work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhSWmkxfczU

bkay
LD thanked bkay2000
LD
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, all! Definitely looking to make it a snowball, and not wanting to cover the center block. Thanks for the tutorial link and chatting it out with me. While I won't be able to play with fabric today, I'll post pics when I do start putting it all together. I really like the idea of using two squares in opposite corners. Thanks for that idea, Lois! Happy Weekend!
loisflan
7 years ago
Bkay2000, I thought that charms were all 5" square. The ones Jenny is using with the 2.5" squares are 6" square, not 5".
Char
7 years ago
Kaffe Fassett is pretty "busy" fabric. I think it would look great with those charms for the centers of the squares with a high contrast solid for the corners to break up that "busy".
LD thanked Char
colleenoz
7 years ago
This is an online YouTube tutorial showing how to make a snowball quilt using charm squares. If you Google "snowball quilt pattern using charm squares" you will find quite a few tutorials.

Link to tutorial
LD thanked colleenoz
grammyp
7 years ago
I agree with Char, it may be a little busy. I like the idea of using solid for the corner and maybe only 2 corners, like the August lotto block.
fran1523
7 years ago
I agree that a solid would look better in the corners of a snowball or shooting star block. As it is you will have one Kaffe fabric abutting another on the top and sides which is okay.
latifolia
7 years ago
Like the idea of using solids for the corners, but honestly would have trouble myself throwing away all the corners from the KF charm squares. Too much of a cheapskate, I guess!

Saw a stunning quilt last year a woman was making with KF and other fabrics. I tend to do high contrast patterns, often with white. Hers was all mediums and darks. Wish I could tell you the pattern name.
LD
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for helping work it out, y'all! Happy Quilting!
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
7 years ago
For what it's worth, I've been using this as a leader/ender using 4 1/2" and 1 1/2" scrappy squares. One of the biggest things to pay attention to is putting light corners on dark squares and dark corners on light squares. Another biggie is to always press the corner seams toward the dark fabric and that will give you a nice nesting of seams.

http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/2017/12/scrappy-snowball-sew-along.html
LD thanked geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
LD
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the tips and the link, Sharon! Still working it all out, and just playing around with those charms in my mind. Won't be able to get back into the sewing space until after this hurricane passes...son#1 took over my table with his computer gear last night.