Folded Corners Quilt Block

🧵 A Brief History of the Folded-Corners Quilt Block

Origins & Early Use

• One of the most common names associated with this technique is the snowball block. The term “snowballing” refers to sewing small squares onto the corners of a larger square to give the illusion of rounded corners or triangles.  
• According to quilting historians, this style dates back to at least the 17th century, making it one of the more “vintage” blocks in the quilter’s repertoire.  
• The snowball block was especially popular among Amish quilters, who appreciated its simplicity and the way small, contrasting triangles (created via folded corners) could soften a block, visually rounding it off.  

Technique & Names

• Over time, the folded-corner technique came to be known by several names:
  • Folded corner or connector corner  
  • Cheater corner  
  • Quick-corner method in more modern tutorials  
• Mary Ellen Hopkins — in her book “It’s OK If You Sit on My Quilt Book” — helped popularize this technique, introducing many modern quilters to “connector corners.”  

Why It Took Off

• Efficiency & economy: Instead of cutting perfect triangles, quilters can start with squares and use this folded-corner method, reducing waste and making piecing simpler.  
• Visual versatility: Despite its simplicity, folded corners can create many effects — snowballs, stars, flying geese, or even impression of round shapes.  
• Tools & innovation: As quilting tools evolved, rulers like the Perfect Corner Ruler (developed by Ruthanna Grihalva) and the Corner Pop ruler from Studio 180 made folded-corner work more precise and easier.  
• Modern revival: Quilting blogs, pattern designers, and digital quilting software (like Electric Quilt) have incorporated and promoted folded-corner methods in contemporary quilts.  

Cultural Significance

• Folded-corner techniques show up across many quilting traditions because they strike a balance between simplicity (using squares) and design flexibility.
• For example, the Freedom Quilting Bee, a historically significant quilting cooperative in Alabama, used the snowball block pattern among their repertoire.  
• While not always the star of a quilt, folded-corner blocks often serve as alternate blocks, providing visual rest or framing for more complex designs.  

Final Thoughts

The folded-corners block is a wonderful example of how quilting is both practical and creative. What began as a smart way to piece triangles without cutting them has become a beloved staple. Its long history, adaptability, and ease make it a block that’s both timeless and continually reinvented.