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Pinwheel Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Beginner · 8 pieces · 2 sections · 12″ block

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

Four half-square triangles turning the same way around the center: the simplest spinning block there is, at 8 pieces.

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
8
Sections
2
Smallest piece
about 18 sq in at 12″
Fabrics
2
Skill level
Beginner
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 Pinwheel is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 12-inch square block of 8 pieces sewn in 2 sections, using 2 fabrics, at a beginner 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.

A1A2A4A3B3B4B2B1

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 2 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.
  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

  • Ruby50% of the block, 4 pieces
  • Snow White50% of the block, 4 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 4″ and up.

Finished blockSmallest piece
6″ × 6″about 4.5 sq in
8″ × 8″about 8.0 sq in
10″ × 10″about 13 sq in
12″ × 12″ (as drafted)about 18 sq in
16″ × 16″about 32 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

Make a whole quilt of pinwheels and alternate two colorways for a playful, moving surface.

What to make with it

Pinwheels are a classic baby quilt block, and they make a cheerful table runner or a mug rug. Set many together and they seem to spin.

Try it in other colors

Try bright summer solids on white, or a soft pastel pinwheel for a nursery. 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 Pinwheel block?

Pinwheels are a classic baby quilt block, and they make a cheerful table runner or a mug rug. Set many together and they seem to spin.

Is this pinwheel FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Pinwheel 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 Pinwheel block good for beginners?

Yes. It has 8 pieces in 2 sections, which makes it one of the gentler blocks to start paper piecing with.

How many pieces and sections does the Pinwheel block have?

8 pieces in 2 sections, using 2 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 18 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 4.5 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Pinwheel 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 pinwheel 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 Classic Quilt Blocks for Foundation Paper Piecing, Easy Foundation Paper Piecing Patterns for Beginners. 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.