I’ve had several people ask me about the cow block, so I decided to share the pattern. This is a fairly complex paper pieced block, so if you’ve never tried paper piecing (foundation piecing) before, you might want to start with something a little more basic. Okay, a LOT more basic. Like this:
If you click on the image, you’ll open a PDF of the foundations (two to a page).
To try something just a little more interesting, try the heart blocks (also posted on my Patterns page). All Heart Blocks finish at 6″.
Or, if you’re ready to jump in with the cow block, click on the image below for the PDF. You will need to foundation piece several separate sections, then put those sections together to form the cow. Each section is numbered with the order to add pieces.
Use your favorite paper piecing method, or download my freezer paper piecing tutorial. Of course, foundation piecing is a topic we’ll cover in future Skill Builder posts.
Piecemeal Quilts 
Now, how did you know I was thinking of making a paper-pieced heart block for someone? I’m not ready for the cow yet, but I’m going to try one of your hearts. Thanks for these!
Thank you SO MUCH for posting the cow pattern. I fell in love with your block as soon as I saw it!
Thanks so much for sharing
Thank you so much for posting the paper piecing pattern!! I LOVE cows….my kitchen is full of them!!!
Hugs,
Pati
MINE TOO!
Love the cow pattern!!! Thanks for sharing with all of us. Love to paper piece and will have to try the freezer paper technique, haven’t done that before.
The baskets are gorgeous–glad to find your web-site and thanks.
Thanks for sharing the cow block pattern. I love it.
Hi Sandi, thank you so much for the lovely, long and interesting comment on my blog about the Farmer’s Wife blocks and where I’m going with them and using the fabrics. I usually just click to reply but, as you are a wordpress blogger, I cam through to your blog and boy am I glad I did, it looks absolutely wonderful and is going striaght onto my sidebar – there is just so much information here – it’s like getting a whole book in a blog!
thank you for sharing your cow pattern. so creative and generous.
What is the finished size of the very cute cow block?
The block finishes at 12″ square.
there is another cow pattern i would love to have it cows in my living room
Thank you! This is great!
I’m going to make the cow for a bay shower gift. The new mom showed steers with my daughter all thru high school….only seem right. Thanks for a great pattern.
Sounds wonderful! We used three cow blocks plus a bunch of Hole in the Barn Door blocks to make a fundraiser quilt for a new dairy barn at the county fairgrounds. You can see the quilt here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151607779184150&set=t.100001998023819&type=3&theater
Sandi Piecemeal Quilts
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I need to learn to paper piece just for this pattern! It is gorgeous, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this beautiful cow block pattern. I wanted it to be my first paper pieced block, but took you advise to start with something less complex. I will show it on my blog with a link to your website.
I’ve piece my separate blocks, but I can’t seem to locate any directions on how to combine blocks? Anyone have suggestions?
I, too, have paper pieced my sections, but don’t know the order in which to combine them.
Did you remove the paper? Whenever I download a pattern without numbered sections, I get 2 copies and number them before I cut one. That way I can always relate to the full picture and match. If you haven’t removed the paper yet, try matching the forms with the full picture.
Hope that helps.
Love your cow, could you tell me in what order you stitch the sections. Do I start with the numbers and then a-j or is there another order? I have the sections sewn together but have no idea how to sew them together. Thank you,