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Christmas Lights Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Intermediate · 50 pieces · 10 sections · 14″ block

Open and print this pattern
Pattern diagram in the suggested fabrics. Every line is a seam.

Four big old-fashioned Christmas bulbs in red, gold, green and blue hanging from a dark wire, the outer two lower than the middle two, each lit on the left, on a navy night.

Opens in the free FPP tool. Pick your fabrics and block size, then print or download the PDF. No account needed.

Finished size
14″ × 14″
Prints at
4 to 18″
Pieces
50
Sections
10
Smallest piece
about 0.8 sq in at 14″
Fabrics
11
Skill level
Intermediate
Price
Free, no sign-up
Using it
Use it for anything you sew, including quilts you sell. Please don't resell or repost the pattern itself; share a link to this page instead.

About this pattern

The Christmas Lights is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 14-inch square block of 50 pieces sewn in 10 sections, using 11 fabrics, at a intermediate skill level. It opens in NiftyFifty's free browser-based FPP tool, which prints mirrored foundations with 1/4-inch seam allowance at 4 to 18 inches. Every seam is a straight line, so the whole block is sewn with the flip-and-sew method.

Piece map

Letters are sections, numbers are sewing order. Dashed lines outline each section's foundation.

J2H7H2H4H3H5H6H8H9G3G2G7G6G5G4G8G9H1G1I2I3I4I5I1F4F3F2F1B6E2E1B5B4B3B2B1A3A2A1C3C2C1D7D6D5D4D3D2D1J1

How to sew it

  1. Open and printOpen the pattern in the free FPP tool, pick your fabrics and a block size (4 to 18 inches), and print or download the PDF. Print at 100% and check the 1-inch test square.
  2. Cut the foundations apartCut each section's foundation apart just outside its dashed line. The dashed line is the 1/4-inch seam allowance.
  3. Sew each section in number orderSew all 10 sections on the foundation, piece 1 first, then 2, 3 and on. Flip, press and trim the seam to 1/4 inch after each one. When a section is done, trim it on its dashed line.
  4. Join the sections
    Show all 9 joins, in order
    1. Join section A to section B along their shared straight seam.
    2. Join section C to section D along their shared straight seam.
    3. Sew section E to the C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    4. Join the A+B assembly to the E+C+D assembly.
    5. Sew section F to the A+B+E+C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    6. Join section G to section H along their shared straight seam.
    7. Sew section I to the G+H assembly along their shared straight seam.
    8. Join the F+A+B+E+C+D assembly to the G+H+I assembly.
    9. Sew section J to the F+A+B+E+C+D+G+H+I assembly along their shared straight seam.
  5. Finish the blockPress, check that the block measures 14.5 inches square with seam allowance (14 inches finished), then tear the paper away.

Fabrics

  • Navy56% of the block, 26 pieces
  • Charcoal6% of the block, 6 pieces
  • Cornflower4% of the block, 1 piece
  • Coral4% of the block, 1 piece
  • Forest4% of the block, 2 pieces
  • Ruby4% of the block, 1 piece
  • Sky Blue4% of the block, 1 piece
  • Mustard4% of the block, 2 pieces
  • Butter4% of the block, 3 pieces
  • Sage4% of the block, 2 pieces
  • Slate3% of the block, 5 pieces

Suggested colors. The printed pattern lists rough-cut sizes for whatever fabrics you choose.

Choosing a block size

Smaller blocks mean smaller pieces. Under about half a square inch, pieces get fiddly, so this one is most comfortable at 12″ and up.

Finished blockSmallest piece
6″ × 6″about 0.1 sq in
8″ × 8″about 0.2 sq in
10″ × 10″about 0.4 sq in
12″ × 12″about 0.6 sq in
14″ × 14″ (as drafted)about 0.8 sq in
16″ × 16″about 1.0 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

Each bulb is split down its middle into a light and a dark half, so pick two values of each color that are clearly apart. The wire runs edge to edge, which makes the block easy to join in a long row.

What to make with it

Sew several blocks side by side for a strand of lights across a mantel runner or the top border of a Christmas quilt.

Try it in other colors

Try pastel bulbs on white for a soft look, or all white and gold bulbs on dark green. Every fabric can be swapped in the FPP tool before you print.

Make it yours: every pattern is a starting point

These patterns are free and open to change. Think of each one as a starting point, not a finished rule: remix it into your colors, your size, your idea.

  1. 1Open itEvery pattern opens in the free FPP tool, no account needed.
  2. 2Change anythingSwap fabrics, change the size, move or add seams. The sewing order and sections update on their own.
  3. 3Save it as yoursSave your version to a free account and share it. Other quilters can then remix yours, credited to you.
Open and remix this pattern

Questions

What can I make with the Christmas Lights block?

Sew several blocks side by side for a strand of lights across a mantel runner or the top border of a Christmas quilt.

Is this christmas lights FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Christmas Lights pattern is free to open, recolor and print, and you don't need an account. It opens in NiftyFifty's free FPP tool, which prints the foundations or downloads them as a PDF.

Is the Christmas Lights block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 50 pieces in 10 sections, so there are 9 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Christmas Lights block have?

50 pieces in 10 sections, using 11 fabrics. Each section is sewn on its own foundation, then the sections are joined along straight seams. The printed pattern numbers every piece in sewing order.

What size does it print?

It's drafted as a 14-inch finished block, and you can print it at 4 to 18 inches. At 14 inches the smallest piece is about 0.8 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.1 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Christmas Lights pattern?

Yes. Use it for anything you sew, including quilts you sell. Please don't resell or repost the pattern itself; share a link to this page instead.

Is there a PDF of the christmas lights pattern?

Yes. The FPP tool downloads a PDF with a 1-inch test square, a color key, an assembly map, the sewing order and every foundation drawn at exact size with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Print it at 100%.

Can I change the colors?

Yes. Open it in the FPP tool, click a piece, then click a fabric: over 600 real Kona and Bella solids plus thousands of prints. You can also move seams or add new ones before you print.

More like this

Part of: Free Christmas Foundation Paper Piecing Patterns. Or browse all free FPP patterns.

Want to draw your own? The free FPP pattern maker turns any drawing into a printable pattern, and the Pattern Designer builds pieced blocks on a grid.