D20 Dice Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern (20 Sided Dice)

Do you have role-playing game fans in your house?  This 20-sided dice paper piece pattern is a must!

The D20 dice is an iconic die used in Dungeons & Dragons and other RPG games (role-playing games), such as The Dark Eye, Talislanta, Palladium, Lancer, and Numenera.

Using this free printable foundation paper piecing pattern, you can make quilts, placemats, table runners, pot holders, and more for your RPG fan! Placemats are an ideal gift because dice can be rolled onto the placemat and won't bounce around.

If you are unfamiliar with paper piecing, this tutorial is for you! It will walk you through the steps of piecing this D20 Dice block.

My kids play role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, and I wanted to make some placemats for my college student. She can use the placemats while playing D&D or in her apartment. The placemats feature the D20 dice block in the center and Dungeons & Dragons themed fabrics.

Later, I plan to release a tutorial on how to make placemats like these.  These placemats are suitable for featuring a block or fabric in the center since it has an 8” center block.  Be sure to subscribe to our channel or our newsletter so you will be informed when we release the placemat tutorial.

This foundation paper piecing pattern is an entirely FREE downloadable PDF pattern available through the link at the end of this tutorial. However, if you want a printable PDF with these detailed step-by-step instructions, click the link below to visit our Etsy shop.  

BONUS: We have a FREE step-by-step tutorial on our YouTube channel.  Click the link to YouTube below to watch the full video.

WHAT YOU NEED to sew this D20 dice Pattern

• Free Instructions and Paper Piece Pattern - Scroll to the end of this tutorial past the signature for the link to the downloadable pattern.
• Foundation Piecing Paper
• Add a Quarter Ruler
• 4 shades of fabric for the dice
• 1 background fabric
• Neutral Thread (White, Cream or Black if using dark fabrics)
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter & Mat
• Small Iron

The 20-Sided Dice Pattern

I designed this pattern in Electric Quilt 8 and have put together the printable pattern and PDF instructions for this D20 block. 

INSTRUCTIONS on paper piecing the D20 Dice Block

Block Size: 8 1/2" square
Finished Size (when sewn into a quilt): 8" square

Step 1: Download Pattern and Instructions

The FREE paper piecing pattern and basic instructions are available as a PDF printable download at the end of this tutorial. Please scroll past my signature to the links section to find the free download.  

Step 2: Printing the Pattern

Open the PDF file to see the pattern and instructions. 

The first several pages are the instructions, including printing tips, a sewing order, fabric color suggestions, sewing tips, block layout, and a link to our video tutorial on YouTube.

This page also contains the video tutorial link. Click the link above the video to watch it on YouTube.

The last two pages of the PDF are the foundation paper piece pattern.  The pattern pieces are printed on two pages with three sections.

I recommend printing the pattern on lightweight paper.  I like to use Papers for Foundation Piecing, available on Amazon.com.

Print the pattern pages by selecting "Portrait" and "Actual Size" or "100% custom scale" from the print options. 

Before piecing the block, confirm the pattern printed the correct size by measuring the long straight side on the ‘A’ piece and ensuring it’s 8 ½” long. 

If this side is 8 1/2", the block will finish at 8 ½” square. Please check your print settings if it doesn’t measure 8 ½”.

This 20-sided Dice Block will be 8” finished size when sewn into a quilt.

Please review the instructions for tips on fabric colors, order of assembly, and other tips for assembling the block.

Step 3: Selecting the Fabrics

This last page of the instructions shows the block diagram. Please note that I selected the crazy colors shown in the block to help you assemble it. When the pattern is printed, EQ8 lightens the colors. When I tried to use similar colors, they blended, and it was hard to know which fabric went on in each section.  These crazy colors will help you piece the block correctly and are not meant as fabric colors to use.

When selecting the fabrics for this dice block, start with a very light color in the center.  Then, pick a light, medium, and dark fabric.  You will also need a background fabric.

In the diagram and on the pattern pieces, the colors are:

• Yellow – Very Light
• Green – Light
• Red – Medium
• Grey/Black – Dark
• Blue/Purple – Background

Step 4: Pattern Pieces

The printed pattern has two pages and three sections. Each section is lettered and numbered. Always start piecing #1 and work through the numbers, adding each fabric in the color indicated by the section.

After you sew all the sections, you sew them together by sewing B to C and adding A to the BC section.

So, let's get started assembling this block.

Step 5: Cut Apart Pattern Pieces

The first step is to cut apart the pattern's three sections and trim the extra paper from around the outside.  Cut outside of the dotted line as shown below.

The dark lines on the pattern are the sewing lines. The dotted lines around the outside of the pieces are the cutting lines, including the ¼” seam allowance.

Each section of the pattern has a letter and is numbered and colored to make it easy to sew. 

When foundation paper piecing each pattern section, the fabric along the edges must extend past the dotted line.  After the section is finished, it will be trimmed along the dotted line before sewing the sections together.

If you need more information on foundation paper piecing, click the link for another tutorial. 

Step 6: Piece the First Fabric

This step-by-step tutorial will show how to piece section C, starting with C1 and then adding C2 - C6.  Start piecing with the section labeled with a one and continue through the numbers. 

The colors on the pattern indicate the color fabric to use. C1 is blue/purple, the background fabric color.

Cut a piece of the background fabric larger than the C1 section of the pattern. The fabric should extend past the solid lines by at least 1/4" and past the dotted lines on the two sides of piece C1.

Place the fabric behind the pattern with the RIGHT SIDE facing away from the paper.  Center the fabric behind the C1 section on the pattern. 

Ensure the fabric extends past all sides of the C1 section by at least ¼”.  You may need to hold it to the light to ensure it’s in the correct position.

Don’t worry if the fabric is larger than needed; it will be trimmed as you sew the other pieces.

Place a pin to hold the first fabric in place. The pin should be placed away from the line between sections 1 and 2.

Step 7: Add the 2nd Fabric

Next, the fabric for piece C2 will be sewn to C1. 

For foundation paper piecing, I always use an Add-a-Quarter ruler. The ruler's back has a lip that hooks onto the folded paper, allowing the fabric to be easily trimmed to 1/4".

Lay the pattern section on a cutting mat.  Place the Add-a-Quarter ruler on the line between C1 & C2.  Fold the pattern paper on the line using the ruler to make a nice crease.

Place the Add-a-Quarter ruler along the folded paper with the lip of the ruler along the fold. Use a rotary cutter to trim the fabric to ¼” seam allowance.

The photo below shows the fabric trimmed to 1/4".

Cut a piece of fabric in the C2 color (grey - dark fabric color) large enough to cover the entire C2 area.

Note that you will need more fabric than expected when the piece is on an angle.  The fabric will fold up on an angle and may not cover the entire C2 section. 

Align the edge of the C2 fabric along the trimmed fabric with the right sides together. Test folding the fabric back to ensure it will be large enough to cover the entire C2 section with 1/4" extra around.

Hold the fabric while flipping the pattern so the printing side is face up.  Sew with a straight seam with normal stitch length along the line between C1 and C2. 

I use white or neutral thread in the sewing machine. You may want to use dark thread if the fabrics are all dark.

Start sewing 2 - 3 stitches before the end of the solid line between sections C1 and C2.  There is no need to backtack because the other sewn lines will cross over each other and secure them.

Stop sewing interior lines a few stitches past the end of the solid line.  If the line ends by a dotted line, sew across the dotted line by a few stitches.

There are not many interior lines on this D20 dice pattern. Most lines will end along the edge of the pattern, so stitch across the dotted line.

After sewing the line, cut the threads, remove the pin, and iron open the seam. Ensure the fabric covers the entire C2 section on the pattern.

When paper piecing, I like to have a small cutting mat and iron next to my sewing machine. This way, I don’t have to stand up and walk to my iron. 

I love my little Oslo Mini Iron. Its small size makes it ideal for paper piecing and ironing with a small ironing mat or table.

If the C2 fabric covers the entire area and extends past the outside seam allowance, continue to piece C3. 

Step 8: Continue with the Remaining sections

Continue sewing sections C3 – C6 in the same way.  Lay the section on your cutting mat and place the ruler along the line between C2 and C3.

Fold the paper along the line.  Place the ruler along the folded paper and cut off the extra fabric along the ruler's edge.

Cut a piece of fabric in the C3 color (green - light fabric color) larger than the C3 area on the pattern.  This piece is more angled than the last one, so you will need a larger piece of fabric.  Place the C3 fabric with the right sides together along the trimmed edge.

Flip it over and sew along the line.  On each end of the line, stitch a few stitches past the end of the line and/or seam allowance.

Press the seam open and check to ensure the fabric covers the C3 area completely.

Continue piecing sections C4 – C6 in the same way.  Fold the paper on the line, trim the seam, place the next fabric with the right sides together, and sew the seam and iron.

Once you have pieced C6, the section is complete. The fabric should extend past the dotted line around the section.

Step 9: Trim the section along the Dotted Line

The next step is to trim the fabric along the dotted line. Use the add-a-quarter ruler or another ruler to cut around the section.

Place the ruler along the dotted line and cut with a rotary cutter.  The back of piece C will look like the photo below.

The front of the piece has fabric that extends to the edge of the paper all the way around.

This first section is complete.

Step 10: Sew The two Remaining Sections

The other two sections of the block, A and B, are pieced similarly. 

Start by pinning the fabric for section 1 to the back of the paper, with the right side of the fabric facing away from the paper.

Fold the paper on the line between sections 1 and 2, trim the fabric, sew along the line, and iron the seam open.  Continue for all of the sections on the piece.

Foundation paper piece the sections A and B.

Step 11: Sew Sections together

Once all three sections are pieced and trimmed along the dotted line, it's time to sew them together into the final block.

As shown below, lay the three sections on the cutting mat in the correct orientation to make the block.

Turn them over so the paper side is face up.

Sew sections B and C together first.  After B and C are sewn together, the A section is added on last.

It's important that the seams on the dice align. Place the B and C pieces with the right sides together.

Fold back the fabric at the seam allowance and adjust it so that the seams of the dice match up.

Pin at these points first. Then, match the ends of the seam and pin.

Sew along the line from edge to edge—Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure the seam.

Open the seam to make sure your points match up. 

If the seams don't align to your satisfaction, remove the seam and try again. If you plan to quilt over the seams, it won’t be as important if they don’t match up exactly. I quilted a zig-zag stitch over the seams on my placemats so any slight alignment mistakes were hidden. See the photos below.

Remove the paper from the seam allowance.  This helps to reduce the bulk when sewing the last seam.

Iron the seam to one side or open.

Pin, sew, and iron piece A to the BC section using the same technique.

The block is complete and ready to be sewn into a quilt top.  The photo below shows the back of the finished block.

And the front.

The quilt block can be sewn into a quilt or other project. It would be fun to include it in an RPG-themed quilt. Please scroll down to see some projects we've made with this block.

When To Remove the Paper Backing

When paper piecing, it’s recommended to leave the paper on the back until you sew the block into the final project.  This keeps the block from distorting. Once the quilt top is complete, remove the paper before layering the quilt.

The foundation paper will tear easily along the sewn lines.  If you have a lot of paper to remove, you can work on it while watching TV.

Projects We've Made with this Block Perfect for D&D Fans!

When rolling the dice on a table during RPG games, they bounce around and end up on the floor.  Contain the dice by rolling them on a placemat.

This RPG placemat is made with the D20 Dice pattern and Dungeons & Dragons fabrics!  

We will soon have a tutorial on how to make placemats like these. They are lovely for featuring any large print fabric or an 8" block.

Annette made potholders with the D20 block and D6 block patterns.

We hope you enjoyed learning how to sew this D20 or 20-sided Dice Paper Piece pattern.  Get the free PDF Printable pattern by scrolling down to the links below.

Other Paper Piecing Patterns you may be interested in are:

• Butterfly Wall Hanging
• Paper Pieced Veggie Potholders