I'm planning to make one of those quilts where you alternate snowball and 9 patch blocks and it looks very complex when it's really simple. So anyway my blocks will be 6" so I'll use my 6.5" go die for the snowballs and my 2.5" strip die for the 9 patch. But I need to hand cut the squares that will go on the corners of the snowball. EQ7 says they should be 2-7/8" and this website says they should be 2-1/2". That's a big difference... so who is right? (note that the website is showing a 12" block because it's 4 blocks sewn together).

eta: if the website is right I can use my strip die for those too. And I have the 4.5" strip for the borders and can use the 2.5" for the binding.

I would go with EQ, they have never failed me yet :D:D:D

I would make a block with scrap fabric of each size. Then I would choose the one I like best.

I taught the one from Quilter's Cache to beginning quilters and it was very pretty.

gale, I think they tell you to cut them 2-7/8" and then you trim them done to fit, this method would probably be easier, sewing squares to make a triangle can sometimes be a little dicey. Sadiemae's idea would be good to follow also.

Not good at explaining but here goes...

It doesn't matter which one you use because you will still end up with a 6 1/2 inch block. BUT I would use the 2 1/2 inch square that Marcia shows because you are using 2 1/2 inch strips in your 9 patch and the seams will/should match up. Do a test snowball and 9 patch and put them side by side and you'll see what I mean.

Also remember quilters cache does a scant 1/4" and EQ may be using a regular 1/4"

I just finished making this quilt, and I cut the corner triangles the same size as the strips...2-1/2". It worked great.

I'd suggest making a sample block with both sizes and see what works for you. Make up several 9-patch blocks then one each of the snowball. You will find which matches better for you.

Here's another side I just thought of. Even though they appear to match up (the snowball and the 9 patch) on EQ I guess that doesn't mean they really do-the image is pretty small on the computer. Maybe if I did a giant 4-block quilt to see it would show up as being a bit off. When I think about it, the 2.5" does make more sense. I have plenty of scraps so I can do a quick block first. I need to do test cuts on my Go anyway.