Flowering Snowball....

I have received many requests for the templates to the Flowering Snowball block....sooo after many incredibly frustrating hours of trying to figure out how to get them onto my page....I think I have it figured out....sort of.....

I really enjoyed myself last night playing with this block...there are so many possibilities!  So I will first post a quick tutorial and then a few variations....

Flowering Snowball

You will need to copy the templates to quilter's template plastic or cardboard. You can  increase or decrease the size of the templates on your printer.  My finished block size was 12 inches....***Please note...You will need to fiddle with the template to get the size block you wish to piece.  This was not intended to be the actual block size just a template to change as you wish.  Just be sure that your center square is the same size square as the center edge of the petals.   

This is the center square....you will need to cut one of these per block....

I will call this the petal....you will need 4 of these per block....

Then the outside of the block....you will need 4 of these per block....

First I joined two outside sections to a center square....press seams toward the center square....

Then we get to have fun with curves!  But these are gentle curves...so don't be frightened!

I added two petals to an outside section.....begin by pinning the ends of the curve to the ends of the outside section.  It is easier to work curves if you have the concave piece on top.  Once the ends are pinned, I pin in between easing in the fullness {similar to adding a sleeve - but not nearly as scary }  Press the seams toward the petals.  You will need two of these units per block....

Now you are ready to add the petal units to the center and outside sections....this is a longer curve.  I pin the center section first so those seams meet nicely....then pin the ends and then the fullness in between.

Now you have one block!

I just wanted to share with you some of the ways you can change the look of this block....in some of the photos I have just placed pieces on top of pieces without sewing just to demonstrate the look....

If you set them on point - this is the look you get - obviously I have only finished 2 1/2 blocks...but you get the idea....I actually like this very much!

This is still on point - but I think you can see where I am going - making the petals stand out....very pretty too!

Here we are adding the blocks horizontally...with this big center section sort of reminds me of a wedding ring....lovely!

Then what if you wanted the large center section all white?

Or if you want the connecting outside sections in white....sort of reminds me of some kind of science experiment....hmmmm......

I have a different block waiting for me to try out...I can't wait to see what it looks like...

but to the grocery first...

Hope you are having a great Monday!

mary