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Tomato Pincushion Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Intermediate · 49 pieces · 10 sections · 14″ block

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

A red tomato pincushion in three lobes, each with a coral lit side and a darker shaded side, a jagged green leaf cap with two pins stuck in it, and the little strawberry hanging on its thread, 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
14″ × 14″
Prints at
4 to 18″
Pieces
49
Sections
10
Smallest piece
about 0.4 sq in at 14″
Fabrics
9
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 Tomato Pincushion is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 14-inch square block of 49 pieces sewn in 10 sections, using 9 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.

C3C1C2D4D1D2D3D5G4G3G1G2G5G6G7G8H1I5I4I6I7I1I2I3I8J1J2J3J4E4E1E2E3F4F1F2F3F5F6J6J7J5A4A3A1A2B3B1B2

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 10 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 9 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. Join section E to section F along their shared straight seam.
    4. Sew section G to the C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    5. Sew section H to the G+C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    6. Sew section I to the H+G+C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    7. Join the E+F assembly to the I+H+G+C+D assembly.
    8. Sew section J to the E+F+I+H+G+C+D assembly along their shared straight seam.
    9. Join the A+B assembly to the J+E+F+I+H+G+C+D assembly.
  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

  • Parchment61% of the block, 25 pieces
  • Ruby15% of the block, 5 pieces
  • Coral11% of the block, 3 pieces
  • Forest5% of the block, 8 pieces
  • Wine5% of the block, 1 piece
  • Snow White1% of the block, 3 pieces
  • Sky Blue1% of the block, 1 piece
  • Butter1% of the block, 1 piece
  • Charcoal1% of the block, 2 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 16″ 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 0.3 sq in
14″ × 14″ (as drafted)about 0.4 sq in
16″ × 16″about 0.5 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

Three reds a step apart (coral, red and wine) are what make the lobes look round. The pin shafts are narrow, so cut their white strips generously and trim after sewing.

What to make with it

Make it into a real pincushion cover, or pair it with the Spool of Thread and Scissors blocks for a sewing room sampler. On the real thing the strawberry is filled with emery for sharpening needles, a fun note for a gift tag.

Try it in other colors

Make it a ripe yellow tomato in butter, gold and mustard, keeping the green cap and the red strawberry. 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 Tomato Pincushion block?

Make it into a real pincushion cover, or pair it with the Spool of Thread and Scissors blocks for a sewing room sampler. On the real thing the strawberry is filled with emery for sharpening needles, a fun note for a gift tag.

Is this tomato pincushion FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Tomato Pincushion 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 Tomato Pincushion block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 49 pieces in 10 sections, so there are 9 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Tomato Pincushion block have?

49 pieces in 10 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 14-inch finished block, and you can print it at 4 to 18 inches. At 14 inches the smallest piece is about 0.4 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.1 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Tomato Pincushion 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 tomato pincushion 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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