In the AccuQuilt Qube Facebook group last week someone asked about the Snail’s Trail Quilt Block. The last post I wrote about Snail’s Trail was in 2016 just after the Qube dies were introduced. Since then there have been many new AccuQuilt GO! dies introduced that will make a Snail’s Trail in many different sizes and in different configurations. When searching the Internet for Snail’s Trail quilts, you will see the Snail’s Trail with the center four patch set on point and you will also see it with the center four patch set straight. And in mathematics, you will find that the Snail’s Trail quilt block is the simplest of baravelle spirals.
AccuQuilt has a Snail’s Trail BOB (block on board) that will make an 8″ finished Snail’s Trail. I love the BOB’s because they give you everything you need to quickly make a block. There is also a BOB for the GO! Big cutter. The GO! Big Snail’s Trail BOB makes a 12″ finished block.
And if you don’t have one of the BOB’s, you can still make a Snail’s Trail using individual dies or one of the Qubes. There are two ways to make the Snail’s Trail with these as shown by the diagrams below. The Snail’s Trail with the center set on point can be made with any size Qube and uses only that Qube. However, the Snail’s Trail with the center set straight requires two coordinating Qubes. The 4″ and 8″ Qubes work together for a finished 8″ Snail’s Trail quilt block. And the 6″ and 12″ Qubes work together for a finished 12″ Snail’s Trail quilt block. And there may be more Qubes in AccuQuilt’s future that have a coordinate.
Check the list of free quilt patterns in the right hand column for downloadable instructions for these quilt blocks.
It’s a lot of fun to use these with other blocks to make a quilt. I love that I can make a 12″ Snail’s Trail and have a quilt finished in no time. Later this week, I will show you some pretty quilts you can make with this block mixed with other blocks. There are also some color changes you can make that will create entirely new blocks with these same shapes.
Thank you for this information. It’s very helpful.
Hi Mary, You are welcome. Enjoy.
Thank you for sharing this!
Hi Judy, You’re welcome. I hope this is helpful.
Marjorie, you amaze me, and now you are teaching me new vocabulary. I never heard the term baravelle before. I bought the GO Big Snail’s Trail in one of the recent BOGO sales. I am working my way through quilts with my new BOBs. I finished Hunter’s Star, Storm at Sea, two of your last QALs in two sizes — 9” and 12”, and now I have set up for, but not started the new QAL due to work-related travel. Snail’s Trail is in the queue. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity.
Hi Kathy, you are a very prolific quilter. Have fun with all your projects. And PS: I’m a math geek.
Thank you! I love this block.
Hi Lynn, You are quite welcome. Hope you make many of them.
Thank you!!! There is a lot of great information here. I have the smaller BOB. I like knowing I can make a snail’s trail block in every size of qube.
Hi Cathy, It is nice to know you can make this in any size. But the BOB is also really nice to have to be able to cut everything in one pass.
Thank you! I’ve always been intrigued by block; it looks so difficult.
Hi Theresa, You are welcome. This block is not difficult. Try it, I think you’ll enjoy making it.
Love this post and I’m looking forward to trying this when my 300 other projects get finished!! Thank you!
Oh Audrey, I know exactly what you mean. But it’s nice to know you’ll never run out of something new to try.