A 2 1/2" square doesn't waste much fabric and, IMO, it's the only way to have it come out nicely. If you haven't done a snowball, be sure to mark the diagonal line and sew carefully. My first 9 patch/snowball was off where the diagonal seam met the seam in the 9 patch. Not awful, but disappointing. I had no pattern and it was an early quilt, so I have gotten over it. [ATTACH=CONFIG]572579[/ATTACH] It was a prayer quilt and I'm sure the recipient didn't notice.