Tulip Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Free to print · Intermediate · 31 pieces · 11 sections · 12″ block

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

A tulip cup of three pointed petals, shaded coral to red, on a long stem with two leaves.

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: 31
Sections: 11
Smallest piece: about 0.4 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 Tulip is a free foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern from NiftyFifty: a 12-inch square block of 31 pieces sewn in 11 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.

How to sew it

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.
Cut the foundations apartCut each section's foundation apart just outside its dashed line. The dashed line is the 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Sew each section in number orderSew all 11 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 10 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. Join the A+B assembly to the E+C+D assembly.
5. Join section F to section G along their shared straight seam.
6. Join section H to section I along their shared straight seam.
7. Sew section J to the H+I assembly along their shared straight seam.
8. Sew section K to the J+H+I assembly along their shared straight seam.
9. Join the F+G assembly to the K+J+H+I assembly.
10. Join the A+B+E+C+D assembly to the F+G+K+J+H+I assembly.
Finish the blockPress, check that the block measures 12.5 inches square with seam allowance (12 inches finished), then tear the paper away.

Fabrics

Muslin79% of the block, 17 pieces
Ruby7% of the block, 3 pieces
Coral7% of the block, 4 pieces
Forest4% of the block, 6 pieces
Sage2% of the block, 1 piece

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 14″ and up.

Finished block	Smallest piece
6″ × 6″	about 0.1 sq in
8″ × 8″	about 0.2 sq in
10″ × 10″	about 0.3 sq in
12″ × 12″ (as drafted)	about 0.4 sq in
16″ × 16″	about 0.7 sq in

A sewing tip for this block

A row of tulips in different colors makes a spring table runner.

What to make with it

Tulips are a classic spring block for an Easter table runner or a garden sampler. A row of tulips in different colors makes a cheerful border.

Try it in other colors

Try a yellow tulip, butter to mustard, on a soft blue background. 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.

1Open itEvery pattern opens in the free FPP tool, no account needed.
2Change anythingSwap fabrics, change the size, move or add seams. The sewing order and sections update on their own.
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 Tulip block?

Tulips are a classic spring block for an Easter table runner or a garden sampler. A row of tulips in different colors makes a cheerful border.

Is this tulip FPP pattern free?

Yes. The Tulip 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 Tulip block good for beginners?

It's best once you have a few paper pieced blocks behind you: 31 pieces in 11 sections, so there are 10 joins to line up. Printing it larger makes every piece roomier.

How many pieces and sections does the Tulip block have?

31 pieces in 11 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 0.4 square inches; at 6 inches it's about 0.1 square inches.

Can I sell quilts I make from the Tulip 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 tulip 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 Spring and Easter Foundation Paper Piecing Patterns, Free Nature Foundation Paper Piecing Patterns. 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.