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New York Beauty Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Intermediate · 33 pieces · 9 sections · 12″ block

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

A teal quarter circle in the corner, an arc of six gold spikes on navy, and a red outer arc, on parchment.

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

Finished size
12″ × 12″
Prints at
4 to 18″
Pieces
33
Sections
9
Smallest piece
about 2.3 sq in at 12″
Fabrics
5
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 New York Beauty is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 12-inch square block of 33 pieces sewn in 9 sections, using 5 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.

A5A4A3A1A2B5B4B3B1B2C1D5D4D3D1D2E5E4E2E1E3F1G5G4G2G1G3H5H4H2H1H3I1

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 9 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 8 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. Sew section F to the D+E assembly along their shared straight seam.
    5. Join section G to section H along their shared straight seam.
    6. Sew section I to the G+H assembly along their shared straight seam.
    7. Join the F+D+E assembly to the I+G+H assembly.
    8. Join the C+A+B assembly to the F+D+E+I+G+H assembly.
  5. Finish the blockPress, check that the block measures 12.5 inches square with seam allowance (12 inches finished), then tear the paper away.

Fabrics

  • Parchment42% of the block, 6 pieces
  • Navy20% of the block, 12 pieces
  • Ruby16% of the block, 6 pieces
  • Teal13% of the block, 3 pieces
  • Mustard11% of the block, 6 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 6″ and up.

Finished blockSmallest piece
6″ × 6″about 0.6 sq in
8″ × 8″about 1.0 sq in
10″ × 10″about 1.6 sq in
12″ × 12″ (as drafted)about 2.3 sq in
16″ × 16″about 4.1 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

The points are the whole show. Use a short stitch, sew each spike seam right to the end of the line, and trim to a scant quarter inch so the gold tips stay sharp where they meet the red arc.

What to make with it

Turn four blocks so the corners meet in the middle and you get a full circle of spikes, or point them all the same way across a table runner.

Try it in other colors

Gold spikes on black with a turquoise hub and a coral arc make it bold and bright. 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 New York Beauty block?

Turn four blocks so the corners meet in the middle and you get a full circle of spikes, or point them all the same way across a table runner.

Is this new york beauty FPP pattern free?

Yes. The New York Beauty 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 New York Beauty block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 33 pieces in 9 sections, so there are 8 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the New York Beauty block have?

33 pieces in 9 sections, using 5 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 12-inch finished block, and you can print it at 4 to 18 inches. At 12 inches the smallest piece is about 2.3 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.6 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the New York Beauty 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 new york beauty 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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