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Snowflake Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Advanced · 77 pieces · 25 sections · 20″ block

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

A six-armed snowflake in white and sky blue with a hexagon center, on a navy sky.

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

Finished size
20″ × 20″
Prints at
4 to 18″, or 20″ as drafted
Pieces
77
Sections
25
Smallest piece
about 0.7 sq in at 20″
Fabrics
4
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 Snowflake is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 20-inch square block of 77 pieces sewn in 25 sections, using 4 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 20 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.

A1A2B9B8B7B4B3B1B2B5B6F4F1F2F3C4E3E1E2C3C1C2D1D2G5J1G4G1G2G3H1H2I1I2K1K2K3L4O4O1O2O3N3N1N2L1L2L3M1M2Y4Y3Y1Y2T1S1P4P1P2P3Q1Q2R1R2R3W1W2U3U1U2V3V1V2V4X1X2X3

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, or 20 inches as drafted), 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 25 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 24 joins, in order
    1. Join section A to section B along their shared straight seam.
    2. Join section C to section D along their shared straight seam.
    3. Sew section E to the C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    4. Sew section F to the E+C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    5. Join the A+B assembly to the F+E+C+D assembly.
    6. Join section G to section H along their shared straight seam.
    7. Sew section I to the G+H assembly along their shared straight seam.
    8. Sew section J to the I+G+H assembly along their shared straight seam.
    9. Sew section K to the J+I+G+H assembly along their shared straight seam.
    10. Join the A+B+F+E+C+D assembly to the K+J+I+G+H assembly.
    11. Join section L to section M along their shared straight seam.
    12. Sew section N to the L+M assembly along their shared straight seam.
    13. Sew section O to the N+L+M assembly along their shared straight seam.
    14. Join the A+B+F+E+C+D+K+J+I+G+H assembly to the O+N+L+M assembly.
    15. Join section P to section Q along their shared straight seam.
    16. Sew section R to the P+Q assembly along their shared straight seam.
    17. Sew section S to the R+P+Q assembly along their shared straight seam.
    18. Sew section T to the S+R+P+Q assembly along their shared straight seam.
    19. Join section U to section V along their shared straight seam.
    20. Sew section W to the U+V assembly along their shared straight seam.
    21. Join the T+S+R+P+Q assembly to the W+U+V assembly.
    22. Sew section X to the T+S+R+P+Q+W+U+V assembly along their shared straight seam.
    23. Sew section Y to the X+T+S+R+P+Q+W+U+V assembly along their shared straight seam.
    24. Join the A+B+F+E+C+D+K+J+I+G+H+O+N+L+M assembly to the Y+X+T+S+R+P+Q+W+U+V assembly.
  5. Finish the blockPress, check that the block measures 20.5 inches square with seam allowance (20 inches finished), then tear the paper away.

Fabrics

  • Indigo46% of the block, 23 pieces
  • Navy35% of the block, 24 pieces
  • Snow White11% of the block, 12 pieces
  • Sky Blue7% of the block, 18 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 18″ 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 0.2 sq in
16″ × 16″about 0.4 sq in
20″ × 20″ (as drafted)about 0.7 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

Use a white with a little sparkle or texture for the arms, so the snowflake catches the light.

What to make with it

Snowflakes are perfect for winter table runners, pillows and a row of flakes across a quilt that stays up all season.

Try it in other colors

Try silver and white on a deep teal or purple sky. 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 Snowflake block?

Snowflakes are perfect for winter table runners, pillows and a row of flakes across a quilt that stays up all season.

Is this snowflake FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Snowflake 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 Snowflake block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 77 pieces in 25 sections, so there are 24 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Snowflake block have?

77 pieces in 25 sections, using 4 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 20-inch finished block, and you can print it at 4 to 18 inches, or 20 inches as drafted. At 20 inches the smallest piece is about 0.7 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.1 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Snowflake 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 snowflake 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

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