Sew-fun dog quilts! 3 free Foundation Paper Piecing Patterns

Sewing your own FPP pups with Juliet Van Der Heijden's three free quilting patterns. These adorable minis look fab on their own but can be combined into a trio for total puppy power! Test your Foundation Paper Piecing techniques to make a set of matching fabric hounds.

FFP dog quilt pattern: Download the templates for all three projects

The templates for this fun FPP project are full-size, so all you need to do is print and cut.

Foundation paper piecing patchwork dogs patterns

Some of these templates have had to be split across pages, so double-check them against the layout diagrams in the magazine when piecing them together.

Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) tips

Remove papers in reverse order – starting with the final sections sewn and working back to the beginning.
Remember that the marked side of the foundation (the side you will be stitching) is the reverse of the finished block.
To check fabric placement, increase your stitch length and baste two sections together before you sew. Large stitches are easy to remove if you need to sew the seam a second time. If you're happy, sew the seam directly on top of the basting, using your standard FPP short stitch.

If you're looking for more advice, head over to our how to do Foundation Paper Piecing guide.

FPP dog quilt pattern: How to make the boxer dog quilt

You will need

Background fabric: 5/8yd
Body fabric: ¼yd
Ear fabric: one (1) 3in square
Batting: 24in square
Backing fabric: 24in square
Binding fabric: 1/8y
One paper copy each of Templates A–J

Finished size

20in square approx

Layout diagram

Preperation

Step 1

Template J is provided as two sections and the paper pieces need to be joined before you start stitching. To do this, position the pieces on top of each other so that the dashed lines on each piece match up, and then glue them in place. Hold the template up to the light to check that everything is aligned.

Piecing the sections

Step 2

Take template A and use it as a guide to cut a fabric piece for section 1, referring to the layout diagram to see which fabric to use. Place the fabric right side up on the unprinted side of your template against the section marked ‘1’.

Ensure that the fabric covers the whole of section 1 plus at least ¼in all around. Pin in place, making sure that the pin is clear of the seam line between sections 1 and 2.

Step 3

Cut a piece of fabric for section 2. Place right side down on fabric 1, matching up the raw edges on the side where sections 1 and 2 will be joined and making sure that when folded back along the seam line section 2 will be covered by the fabric, plus at least ¼in all around.

If you are unsure of your placement, place a pin along the seam line and gently fold the fabric back to ensure that the whole of section 2 is covered (remember to take this pin out before you sew). You can hold your templates up to a light source to check fabric placement.

Step 4

Turn the pieced section over so that it is printed side up and stitch on the marked line between sections 1 and 2, extending the stitching by a few stitches at each end of the seam line.

Step 5

Fold the pieced section away from the seam and trim to ¼in. For the smaller sections, you may need to trim the seam allowance to 1/8in. Fold the pieced section back, turn the work over to the fabric side, flip section 2 open and press.

Step 6

Continue working in this way in numerical order until all of the sections have been added to the template.

Step 7

Press the pieced section and then trim to size on the marked outer line.

Step 8

Piece the remaining templates (B–J) as described in steps 2–7.

Making the mini quilt top

Step 9

Join the pieced sections together in the following order, referring to the layout diagram for placement:

A to B;
C to D;
AB to CD;
E to F;
G to H;
GH to I;
EF to G–I;
E–I to J;
A–D to E–J.

Step 10

Remove the paper templates from the quilt top by tearing carefully along the seam lines, then press.

Quilting and finishing

Step 11

Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then the quilt top centrally and right side up. The backing and batting are slightly larger than the quilt top. Baste the layers together using your usual method.

Step 12

Quilt as desired – Juliet used a walking foot to quilt concentric spirals, starting at the centre and working outwards.

Step 13

Trim the excess batting and backing level with the mini quilt top edges.

Step 14

From the binding fabric cut two (2) 2¼in x WOF strips and join end-to-end using a diagonal seam. Press the seam open, then fold in half lengthwise, WST, and press.

Step 15

Sew the binding to the right side of the quilt, folding a mitre at each corner. Before completing your stitching, neaten the short raw end of the starting piece and insert the ending piece into it. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and then hand stitch in place to finish.

FPP dog quilt pattern: How to make the Scottie dog quilt

This sweet Scottie dog might just be the team's fave – he's bursting with character!

Foundation paper piecing patchwork dog quilt pattern free