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Cupcake Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Intermediate · 28 pieces · 4 sections · 16″ block

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

A cupcake in a pleated paper cup of butter and gold stripes, three tiers of pink and white frosting lit on the left, and a red cherry on top, on teal.

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

Finished size
16″ × 16″
Prints at
4 to 18″
Pieces
28
Sections
4
Smallest piece
about 0.5 sq in at 16″
Fabrics
9
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 Cupcake is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 16-inch square block of 28 pieces sewn in 4 sections, using 9 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.

A1A2A3A4A5A6C1C2C3C4D4D1D2D3B1B2B3B4B5B6C5C6C7C8D5D6D7D8

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 4 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
    • Join section A to section B along their shared straight seam.
    • Sew section C to the A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    • Sew section D to the C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
  5. Finish the blockPress, check that the block measures 16.5 inches square with seam allowance (16 inches finished), then tear the paper away.

Fabrics

  • Teal57% of the block, 14 pieces
  • Dusty Rose8% of the block, 2 pieces
  • Blush8% of the block, 2 pieces
  • Mustard8% of the block, 3 pieces
  • Butter8% of the block, 3 pieces
  • Parchment3% of the block, 1 piece
  • Snow White3% of the block, 1 piece
  • Ruby2% of the block, 1 piece
  • Coral2% of the block, 1 piece

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 16″ and up.

Finished blockSmallest piece
6″ × 6″about 0.1 sq in
8″ × 8″about 0.1 sq in
10″ × 10″about 0.2 sq in
12″ × 12″about 0.3 sq in
16″ × 16″ (as drafted)about 0.5 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

The cup's stripes fan out a little toward the top, so mark the grain on the paper and cut each stripe with extra room. The frosting tiers share one long 45 degree line down each side, so line up their shoulders when you join the sections.

What to make with it

A birthday wall hanging, a baker's apron pocket or a set of mug rugs in different frosting colors.

Try it in other colors

Go chocolate with brown frosting and a cream cup, or mint frosting with a pink cup. 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 Cupcake block?

A birthday wall hanging, a baker's apron pocket or a set of mug rugs in different frosting colors.

Is this cupcake FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Cupcake 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 Cupcake block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 28 pieces in 4 sections, so there are 3 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Cupcake block have?

28 pieces in 4 sections, using 9 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 16-inch finished block, and you can print it at 4 to 18 inches. At 16 inches the smallest piece is about 0.5 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.1 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Cupcake 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 cupcake 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.

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