If she's using a 9" (finished) 9 patch, and the alternating block is going to be a snowball, then the snowball needs to be cut at 9 1/2 for seam allowance and each square for a corner needs to be cut at 3 1/2" to match the finished little squares in the 9 patch block

OR MAYBE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION

Triple post :roll:

Duplicate post

There is no rule that says it has to be 3.5". Traditionally it is done that way. But so what? Why do they have to match?
Look at the diagrams I provided upthread.

And you don't have to shout.

LOL - I was covering my ears, too.

Anyway, I love the various diagrams you came up with. What a great pattern to play with.

Hi Jazzy519! The easiest way to make a snowball block that is 9 inches finished is to cut 3.5 inch squares, place the block in the corner and stitch diagonally. Press to see if it is accurate then cut off the extra (only to remove the bulk). Sometimes it is recommended that you stitch a hair width on the outside of the line (towards the inside). That process I always thought was called snowball. It is much easier then trying to sew a cut triangle in the corner. Fons and Porter may have further info on their website. It makes a really nice pattern. GOOD LUCK !!!

When I use the diagonal seam on the square in the corner on larger pieces, I generally sew a second line 1/2" away from it into the corner and trim between the sewn lines. It gives me a perfect HST for the scrap bin. Less wasteful that way AND I don't have to deal with bias edges on the scrappy corners.

Great idea, MadQuilter - thanks!

thanks all for the help. Im going to use 31/2 inch conner blocks and 91/2 blocks

I love this and it looks like so much fun. Is the second half of the square (which becomes a triangle) just waste? Or am I misunderstanding something?