Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Advanced · 143 pieces · 36 sections · 24″ block

Pattern diagram in the suggested fabrics. Every line is a seam.

A sixteen-point Mariner's Compass with long gold points north and south, shorter blue and white points between them, and a solid red center, on navy.

Open and print this pattern

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

Finished size: 24″ × 24″
Prints at: 4 to 18″, or 24″ as drafted
Pieces: 143
Sections: 36
Smallest piece: about 0.4 sq in at 24″
Fabrics: 9
Skill level: Advanced
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 Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 24-inch square block of 143 pieces sewn in 36 sections, using 9 fabrics, at a advanced 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, or 24 inches as drafted. 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.

How to sew it

Open and printOpen the pattern in the free FPP tool, pick your fabrics and a block size (4 to 18 inches, or 24 inches as drafted), and print or download the PDF. Print at 100% and check the 1-inch test square.
Cut the foundations apartCut each section's foundation apart just outside its dashed line. The dashed line is the 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Sew each section in number orderSew all 36 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 35 joins, in order
1. Join section A to section B along their shared straight seam.
2. Sew section C to the A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
3. Join section D to section E along their shared straight seam.
4. Join the A+B+C assembly to the D+E assembly.
5. Join section F to section G along their shared straight seam.
6. Sew section H to the F+G assembly along their shared straight seam.
7. Join the A+B+C+D+E assembly to the H+F+G assembly.
8. Sew section I to the A+B+C+D+E+H+F+G assembly along their shared straight seam.
9. Join section J to section K along their shared straight seam.
10. Join section L to section M along their shared straight seam.
11. Join section N to section O along their shared straight seam.
12. Join section P to section Q along their shared straight seam.
13. Join section R to section S along their shared straight seam.
14. Join section T to section U along their shared straight seam.
15. Sew section V to the T+U assembly along their shared straight seam.
16. Join section W to section X along their shared straight seam.
17. Join section Y to section Z along their shared straight seam.
18. Sew section AA to the Y+Z assembly along their shared straight seam.
19. Join section AB to section AC along their shared straight seam.
20. Join the Y+Z+AA assembly to the AB+AC assembly.
21. Join section AD to section AE along their shared straight seam.
22. Join the Y+Z+AA+AB+AC assembly to the AD+AE assembly.
23. Join section AF to section AG along their shared straight seam.
24. Sew section AH to the AF+AG assembly along their shared straight seam.
25. Join the Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE assembly to the AF+AG+AH assembly.
26. Join section AI to section AJ along their shared straight seam.
27. Join the Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH assembly to the AI+AJ assembly.
28. Join the W+X assembly to the Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
29. Join the V+T+U assembly to the W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
30. Join the R+S assembly to the V+T+U+W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
31. Join the P+Q assembly to the R+S+V+T+U+W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
32. Join the N+O assembly to the P+Q+R+S+V+T+U+W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
33. Join the L+M assembly to the N+O+P+Q+R+S+V+T+U+W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
34. Join the J+K assembly to the L+M+N+O+P+Q+R+S+V+T+U+W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
35. Join the A+B+C+D+E+H+F+G+I assembly to the J+K+L+M+N+O+P+Q+R+S+V+T+U+W+X+Y+Z+AA+AB+AC+AD+AE+AF+AG+AH+AI+AJ assembly.
Finish the blockPress, check that the block measures 24.5 inches square with seam allowance (24 inches finished), then tear the paper away.

Fabrics

Indigo37% of the block, 30 pieces
Navy36% of the block, 28 pieces
Ruby7% of the block, 1 piece
Sky Blue4% of the block, 23 pieces
Butter4% of the block, 11 pieces
Mustard4% of the block, 11 pieces
Slate4% of the block, 15 pieces
Snow White3% of the block, 12 pieces
Cornflower3% of the block, 12 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.

Finished block	Smallest piece
6″ × 6″	about 0.0 sq in
8″ × 8″	about 0.0 sq in
10″ × 10″	about 0.1 sq in
12″ × 12″	about 0.1 sq in
16″ × 16″	about 0.2 sq in
24″ × 24″ (as drafted)	about 0.4 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

Press every seam toward the points and trim each section before joining; at 24 inches it rewards slow, careful sewing.

What to make with it

The Mariner's Compass is a classic showpiece for a medallion quilt center or a nautical wall hanging. It's also a great gift for a sailor.

Try it in other colors

Try faded blues and creams for an old map look. 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.

1Open itEvery pattern opens in the free FPP tool, no account needed.
2Change anythingSwap fabrics, change the size, move or add seams. The sewing order and sections update on their own.
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 Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass block?

The Mariner's Compass is a classic showpiece for a medallion quilt center or a nautical wall hanging. It's also a great gift for a sailor.

Is this mariners compass FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass 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 Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 143 pieces in 36 sections, so there are 35 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass block have?

143 pieces in 36 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 24-inch finished block, and you can print it at 4 to 18 inches, or 24 inches as drafted. At 24 inches the smallest piece is about 0.4 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.0 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Sixteen-Point Mariner's Compass 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 mariners compass 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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