Riley Blake Snowballs and Stars - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Snowballs and Stars Quilt Pattern by Tasha Noel – Pattern Summary

About This Pattern

The Riley Blake Snowballs and Stars pattern is a free downloadable PDF designed by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs. It is an intermediate-level quilting project that produces a stunning bed-sized quilt measuring a generous 76" x 86". The design combines two classic quilt block styles — the rounded, soft-looking Snowball block and the sharp, geometric Star block — creating a visually dynamic and timeless quilt that works beautifully as a throw or full bed covering.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single large quilt with a finished size of 76" x 86". The quilt is constructed from 8" x 8" finished blocks, combining Snowball and Star block designs in a coordinated layout. The interplay between the curved visual effect of the Snowball blocks and the angular points of the Star blocks gives the finished quilt a rich, layered appearance that reads as both traditional and modern.

Fabric and Materials

This pattern is specifically designed to be made using Riley Blake Designs fabrics, and it is built around the Pixie Noel Fat Quarter Stack (FQ-5250-21) by Tasha Noel. The key fabrics referenced in the pattern include:

• White Main – C5250 White, requiring 2 yards (1.85 m)
• White Floral – used for multiple cut pieces including 2½" x 2½" squares
• Aqua Snow – used for squares, rectangles, and additional accent pieces
• Navy Snow – used for coordinating strips and cut pieces

The pattern is designed to work with the full Pixie Noel Fat Quarter Stack, making fabric selection and coordination straightforward for quilters who purchase the bundle. All measurements include a standard ¼" seam allowance, which is the quilting industry standard and ensures accurate block sizing throughout construction.

Cutting Instructions Overview

The pattern involves precise and detailed cutting from multiple fabrics. Key cutting steps include:

• White Floral: 4 strips cut at 2½" x WOF (width of fabric), then sub-cut into 56 squares at 2½" x 2½"
• Aqua Snow: 2 strips at 2½" x WOF sub-cut into 28 squares at 2½" x 2½"; 25 strips at 2½" x WOF sub-cut into 97 rectangles at 2½" x 8½"; 6 strips at 3" x WOF sub-cut into 70 squares at 3" x 3"; and 2 strips at 4½" x WOF sub-cut into 28 rectangles at 2½" x 4½"
• Navy Snow: 4 strips cut at 2½" x WOF for coordinating block elements

The variety of cut sizes — including small accent squares, medium rectangles, and sashing strips — reflects the complexity typical of an intermediate quilting pattern.

Quilting Techniques Used

This pattern requires a basic to intermediate knowledge of quilting techniques and terminology, as noted in the pattern instructions. Key techniques involved include:

• Snowball block construction – A classic technique where corner squares are sewn diagonally onto the corners of a larger square, then trimmed and pressed back to create the illusion of a rounded or "snowball" shape. This is achieved using the stitch-and-flip or corner triangle method.
• Star block construction – Typically involves flying geese units or half-square triangles arranged to form star points radiating from a central square, requiring accurate cutting and consistent seam allowances.
• Strip piecing – Cutting fabric into strips across the width of fabric (WOF) and sub-cutting into smaller