Oh, paper piecing, how do I love thee, let me count the ways…
Paper piecing (or foundation piecing) is the medium that has set my art free. It has only happened once or twice (so far!) that I have been defeated my efforts to create a new pattern. For the most part, I can look at an image and see the pattern inside it. It’s something that makes me giddy, connected to myself in a way I never knew before, gloriously happy, excited and (occasionally) frustrated all at once.
It’s what I do most, both making and designing blocks. I regularly post free patterns on Sewhooked and Fandom In Stitches. Even so, I am far from being the only free resource online.
I have lots of paper piecing books in my crafty library as well as inexpensive patterns by independent designers much like myself.
If you’re just starting or maybe a little pinched in the pocket, free patterns can get you sewing and keep you sewing!
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Here are some great free pattern resources. If I’ve missed one of your favorites or you find a broken link, please leave a comment below.
Fandom In Stitches – Multi-Fandom quilt patterns designed by fans, for fans
Artisania – Gnomes and mushrooms and Halloween, oh my! (many of Sonja’s patterns are available on the Free Quilt Pattern page here at Sewhooked).
Liljabs – free patterns from friend and fellow designer Lilja, many of which are also available on Fandom In Stitches.
Free Patterns from Carol Doak – geometrical beauties by the Queen of Paper Piecing.
Block Central – lots of cute patterns, including books to make a bookcase quilt.
Quiltmaker has a number of free paper pieced patterns in their directory. Search “paper pieced.”
Equilters has a number of paper pieced patterns that are spread throughout the site’s pages
Ulas Free Patterns – lovely patterns including a variety of New York Beauty Blocks, various animals, Coat of Arms and more
free patterns
Winnowing by Christine Thresh (free patterns are at the bottom) – Support A Cause Ribbons, flags, chicks and more
Ginger’s Paper Pieced Patterns – Cats, Christmas and more
PC Piecers Free Patterns – great patterns from Nautical to Holiday themed
Quilter’s Cache, the motherload for free quilt patterns, has a number of free paper pieced patterns for whole quilts and individual blocks. You’ll need to do a little seek and find through the directory to find the whole-quilt patterns.
Quilt design’s BOM – some free patterns, including a lovely log cabin project
The Quilted Snail – a nice sized collection with a large variety of blocks
Free Paper Pieced Patterns from Patchpieces – paper pieced patterns and projects
Quilt dot com – a nice collection of beginner blocks
Four Twin Sisters has a number of free paper pieced patterns, but they do not have their own directory. Look for the patterns marked “paper pieced”
Piece By Number – Geometrics, plants and animals and more
Regina Grewe – a wonderful site with an ever changing collection of free patterns.
Victoriana Quilt Designs, specifically the Ocean Waves quilt pattern.
Quiltiger – a variety of free paper pieced patterns
Compuquilt – a variety of free patterns, many of them paper pieced.
Kitten’s Mittens – a variety of patterns, including a complete Kanji alphabet
Charise Creates – check the sidebar under “Complimentary Patterns”
Whims and Fancies – fun fandom patterns, British themed and more
Ruthie Quilts – free wonky houses
If you’re just starting and would like to learn paper piecing, check out my
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updated February 2012
Sewhooked 
Thank you so much for these!
Thank you.
you had some sites I have never seen.
Thank you.
Ana
Oh, what a wonderful load of sites to look through and browse and have fun with. 😀 This is great! Thank you.
Hugs,
Melinda
It’s absolutely my pleasure! I hope you find loads of great patterns to try out.
Jennifer
Please help! I am trying to find a pattern for a pricess crown for my little girl. I have look everywhere and cannot find anything.
There’s a lovely pattern by owlsea on Fandom In Stitches that might work. You can get to it right here. I hope that helps!
this is the best site i ever looked at, so much to browse from..thanks so much.
Thanks for compiling the list! Found some great designers I have never seen before!
Loving the Harry Potter Alphabet, except it’s very time consuming! The Kanji Alphabet is not anywhere to be found. Dang…
Oh, that’s weird! Try this: http://kittens-mitten.com/pattern/kanjiframe.html
So Happy for you, Jennifer. Congrats on having your block showcased in 100 Blocks. My question is: will you be running the “Knock Our Socks Off” design contest again this summer? Hope so.
I seldom write remarks, but I looked through
some responses on this page Paper Piecing: Free Patterns Around
the Web | Sewhooked. I do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Is it just me or do a few of these comments look as if they are coming from brain dead visitors? 😛 And, if you are posting at additional online sites, I would like to keep up with you. Would you list of all of your social community pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
hello, i have made quite a few of your lovely patterns, but am wanting some help with a completely separate paper pieced project, that i would dearly love to do for d/h. however i have no idea how to even dream of making a pattern and was wondering if somebody on this site would be able to help me asap. i dont mind paying for your services and could forward a photo to show what i am wanting to do. help me please. loisfromdownunder
I am looking for a paper pieced rooster pattern.
There’s a simple Rooster on my Free Pattern page. Hope that helps!
https://sewhooked.com/free-quilt-patterns/#animals
You have some cute patterns thanks for sending the witch. I will use it later this month. I did not copy the rooster it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.
I am looking for a dr Seuss theme paper piecing pattern. Got any suggestion?
You can find several Dr. Seuss patterns on Fandom In Stitches under Animated/Children:
http://www.fandominstitches.com/2011/05/animatedchildren.html#seuss
I have been looking for a paper pieced Rooster pattern and so far have had no luck.
You can find two roosters on my free pattern page: https://sewhooked.com/free-quilt-patterns/ 🙂
I would like to make the “I love you” paper piecing sign. I have printed out the pattern but I need help on how to assemble it. Is there instructions piece by piece that can help me make this? Thank you.
Hi Sharon,
Are you looking for paper piecing instructions or sewing order for the pattern itself? All paper pieced patterns are assembled more or less the same way, so if you’re looking for actual paper piecing instructions, you just need to learn the basic technique and that will work on any pattern. For the assembly instructions, look for “sewing order A>B,” etc on any of my patterns for assembly of the alphabetized units. My patterns almost always assemble left to right and top to bottom. I sure hope that helps! 🙂
Jennifer
Sharon, I have to apologize. I just looked at the pattern and realized that the version on my website has not been updated and did not include sewing order. The sewing order is A>B>C>D>E. I’m so sorry about that!