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Snail's Trail Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Advanced · 28 pieces · 24 sections · 14″ block

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

A tiny teal and butter four-patch at the center, then six rounds of triangles in the same two colors, so two light arms and two dark arms curl out to the corners.

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
28
Sections
24
Smallest piece
about 0.8 sq in at 14″
Fabrics
2
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 Snail's Trail is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 14-inch square block of 28 pieces sewn in 24 sections, using 2 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. 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.

A1A2B1B2A3C1B3D1E1F1G1H1I1J1K1L1M1N1O1P1Q1R1S1T1U1V1W1X1

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 24 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 23 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. Sew section D to the C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    4. Sew section E to the D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    5. Sew section F to the E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    6. Sew section G to the F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    7. Sew section H to the G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    8. Sew section I to the H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    9. Sew section J to the I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    10. Sew section K to the J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    11. Sew section L to the K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    12. Sew section M to the L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    13. Sew section N to the M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    14. Sew section O to the N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    15. Sew section P to the O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    16. Sew section Q to the P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    17. Sew section R to the Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    18. Sew section S to the R+Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    19. Sew section T to the S+R+Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    20. Sew section U to the T+S+R+Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    21. Sew section V to the U+T+S+R+Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    22. Sew section W to the V+U+T+S+R+Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B assembly along their shared straight seam.
    23. Sew section X to the W+V+U+T+S+R+Q+P+O+N+M+L+K+J+I+H+G+F+E+D+C+A+B 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

  • Butter50% of the block, 14 pieces
  • Teal50% of the block, 14 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

Work from the center out and keep each color going in its own arm. The paper holds every bias edge steady, so leave it in until the block is joined to its neighbors.

What to make with it

Set several blocks side by side and the arms meet across the seams in an all-over swirl, a good fit for a two-color baby quilt or a table topper.

Try it in other colors

Navy and white gives it a crisp two-color look; for something softer, try sage and cream. 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 Snail's Trail block?

Set several blocks side by side and the arms meet across the seams in an all-over swirl, a good fit for a two-color baby quilt or a table topper.

Is this snail's trail FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Snail's Trail 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 Snail's Trail block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 28 pieces in 24 sections, so there are 23 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Snail's Trail block have?

28 pieces in 24 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 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 Snail's Trail 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 snail's trail 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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