Spring is in the air - but snow is just around the corner!

 

OK I hope that really isn't quite right about the weather - but I did see Nik Sewell's new snowball quilt - and it's so neat and quick to make the blocks using the Big Shot machine and the Bigz dies - I'm just going to show you a couple of blocks - and think this would be a great way to use up all those small pieces that you can't bear to throw out.

So you will need the Big Shot machine http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray and 2 Bigz dies - 4" finished square http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/659838/sizzix-bigz-die-square-4-finished-4-1-2-unfinished , and the 1" finished square http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/659987/sizzix-bigz-die-squares-1-finished-1-1-2-unfinished

For each 4" finished square you will need 4 x 1" finished squares.

Put a small square on each corner of the bigger square, and stitch diagonally from corner to corner -

 

Trim the corners to a 1/4" seam allowance and then press the seam towards the middle of the square. Repeat for as many squares as you need.

 

Here you can see how the 'snowballs' come together. I think this is going to be fun to make.

If when you're cutting a quilt you have some small bits left over you could cut a couple of 4" finished squares, and keep them in a bag for when you're ready to make this quilt. If you're really organised cut a lot of 1" finished squares and then you could make a couple of blocks each time you have a couple of spare minutes, and you'll be surprised how quickly you'll have a quilt top pieced!!

Now I mentioned Nik Sewell earlier - and he is part of the CottonPatch team http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/ and I am demonstrating on their stand at the Quilt Show at Malvern this week - so if you'd like to see Nik's complete quilt come and see us. I'll be demonstrating the Big Shot, and Big Shot Plus machines, along with lots of the Bigz dies. Come along and say hello.

See you soon.

Angela