13+ quick & easy english paper piecing patterns with EPP tutorials and paper piecing patterns to hand sew with fabric scraps.

Hi everyone! I'm back from yesterday's English Paper Piecing post about how to sew the hexagons together. You can click HERE if you missed ...

You guys just loved the video tutorial last week on English Paper Piecing. Click here to watch it if you missed it. I haven't gotten so many comments on a tutorial i

Box pouch pattern - easy technique for two designs.

New to EPP? Or trying to improve your skills? We've rounded up some of our tips and tricks for English paper piecing.

A couple of weeks ago, I showed off three 12" tops I'd made, as part of my new obsession with English Paper Piecing (EPP). The centers are Alex Anderson's festive pomegranate fabric. That blog post included an EPP tutorial. I was deciding whether to combine them into one tablerunner, or finish them separately. Since then, I chose the latter. Here's #1, finished: The second one is also hand-quilted with motifs inspired by the central fabric: And below is the third, which my DD pointed out has a Thanksgiving feel. It's machine-quilted. Note: the hexagons aren't as symmetrical as in the first two. Here's why: the backs are different. I used three different finishing techniques, as a semi-scientific way to research EPP finishing, and, if possible, reduce handwork. English Paper Piecing is easier than regular piecing in many ways. Seam allowances needn't be perfect, and Y-seams are a breeze. Hexagons become child's play. But EPP can involve a lot of handwork, which is tough on grownup hands, wrists, and shoulders. Plus, finishing the edges is a challenge. Regular patchwork has only three layers at the edges: top, batting, and bottom. Stitch on a binding that takes up 1/4" of the edges, and you're done. But with EPP, the top edges are already turned inside. And somehow, the backing fabric also has to be turned under. That makes 4 layers of fabric at the edges, plus batting. A regular binding is not practical. But there's no un-fussy-way to hide the batting inside and turn the back edges inward. So I did some experimenting. MAT 1: Classic Same-Shape Lining Usually, EPPers suggest you make a backing that has the same number of paper-pieced shapes on the edges as the top has around its edges. For my first mat, I gave it a shot, just for the purposes of comparison. First, I traced the finished top (with templates still inside) on batting. Used the batting to cut out a larger piece of backing fabric. Created a set of hexagons that match the top's edges. (Hand-stitched, alas!) Put the batting down first; center the backing on top of it, and finally the back hexagon wreath on top of that. Pinned in position. Remember, the batting is on bottom - the top hasn't joined it yet. I stitched all the way around the inner edges of the hexagons with a machine straight stitch (You should use a matching thread). From the batting side, you can see the stitching. Lay the top on the batting. Whoops, remove all the templates first. THEN pin in position, and carefully handstitch all the way around the outside tucking in and/or clipping off any batting the protrudes. I used a straight hand-quilting stitch to join the edges, as you can see on the lower right corner. The quilting motifs were hand sewn with two strands of embroidery floss. Here's a closeup of the back: Not bad! I'm going to quilt the central area a bit more, to hopefully take out more of the fullness there. I'm giving this method a solid B. But it didn't achieve my goal of reducing hand-stitching. MAT 2 - METHOD 2: One-Piece Backing From the top, the edge stitching on this mat looks the same as #1. But it was easier and faster, because I made a one piece backing. First, I had to make a one-piece template for the backing. I made mine out of old file folder, onto which I traced the top. My folder wasn't quite big enough, so I taped two pieces together - but I should have used a glue stick, so the tape wouldn't melt when ironing. Pinned the template on the batting. Traced and cut out the batting. Cut the batting back further, taking about a quarter of an inch off each edge. Pinned the cardstock template on the backing fabric, and cut out the fabric 1/2"-1" larger all the way around. Clipped into the concave corners, to within a few threads of the template. Tip: If you drip a bit of fray-checking substance there, it will strengthen the corner. Pressed fabric edges inwards over the template. Removed the cardstock and replaced it with the batting. Placed the backing, good side down, with the batting inside of it. Placed the top on that, wrong sides together. Straight stitched all the way around (a whipstitch would work, too.) Closeup of my straight stitch along the right and bottom edge of this hexagon. I'm happy with the way it turned out. It was easy and required much less handsewing than method 1 (or as you'll see, method 3.) Again, I may do some more quilting in the middle to reduce the puffiness. I'd give this method an "A", except that some of the concave corners look better than others. This has to do with how far I dared to clip (the more you clip, the smoother - but the more danger of holes on the back.) So I'll give this method an A-. MAT 3 - METHOD 3: Machine Stitched Multiple-Piece Backing. This is a variation of Method 1, and also recommended by many EPPers - create a backing edging, with the same paper-pieced shapes as the front, and then stitch it to the front, wrong sides out. Finally, turn the backing to the back. I took unfortunate liberties with this approach. Like Mat 1, this approach required 12 handsewn backing hexagons, one to match each of the border hexagons on front. First, let us admire how neat and symmetrical the front hexagons were to begin with. Here's how they look before the templates were removed. Here's the backing set: It's all so perfect, right? But not for long. I used the file template I'd made for mat #2 to trace and cut out batting, then cut back all the edges 1/4" or more within the tracing lines. I discovered you can do the cutting and trimming more easily with a rotary cutter. I also used the cardstock template to trace and cut out the backing fabric. Again, I trimmed the fabric back by 1/2" or so, all the way around. This doesn't have to be neat or precise. Remove the cardstock templates, and pin the backing hexagon set to the front edges, good sides together. This is where I went off the beaten path. The experts say to whipstitch the backing hexagons to the edges of the top. But my shoulder was aching - so I thought, what the heck, what if I machine stitch all the way around? I sewed about an eighth of an inch in from the edges. ...And began turning..... It did not go well. The back was a hot mess too, with some scary creases in the concave corners, which I obviously had not clipped... Nevertheless, I persisted, smushing the batting and backing inside. Massaged it mightily to see if I could work out those creases.... Eventually, it became acceptable, though I did think seriously about ripping out all the machine stitches and doing the edges all over again with the hand whipstitch. Instead, I hand-stitched the inside of the hexagons to the backing fabric, with a running stitch that only went through the batting layer, not all the way to the front. The front remained non-magnificent. Some of those hexagons were severely distorted. (Like the one at the 7 and 8 o'clock positions.) Next, I machine quilted the outer hexagons (with Invisifil thread). That flattened everything out, and it looked better, if you don't look too close. (The 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock hexagons are weird, too.) The back looked better quilted. I am giving this technique a B-minus. I still think I blew it by using my machine instead of handstitching the backing ring of pieces to the front. That's what I will try whenever my next EPP piece comes along. Have you tried any of these techniques? What EPP finishing methods work for you? Any machine methods you recommend?

Meine Papierschablonen haben eine Kantenlänge von zwei Inch. Passend lege ich die Schablone mittig auf den Stoff, damit sich an allen Seiten genügend Nahtzugabe befindet. Dann lege ich die erste Nahtzugabe ziemlich scharfkantig um die Schablone herum und nähe diese mit Reihgarn durch das Papier fest. (Ach ja, ich fertige meine Schablonen immer entgegen des Uhrzeigersinns!) Jetzt falte ich die zweite Seite wieder ziemlich scharfkantig um. Die obere Ecke des Stoffes wird ebenfalls mit gefaltet, so dass sie wieder auf der ersten Seite liegt und sich das Fähnchen bildet. Nun schlage ich das Fähnchen wieder so um, dass sich die beide äußeren Stoffseiten des Fähnchens auf die Kanten der Schablone legen und ich den Stoff so lange schieben kann, bis sich die Spitze wieder bildet. Und so sieht dann die fertig gefaltete Spitze aus, die dann nur noch festgereiht werden muss. Ich hoffe, diese Bildbeschreibung hilft all denen weiter, die nicht gerne mit "Stofffähnchen" lieseln.

Hexie EPP ladybird, caterpillar, butterfly and bee English Paper piecing PDF instruction bundle including a free dragonfly design. This is a PDF bundle download. You get ALL of the instructions for the designs in the pictures aswell as a free Dragonfly design too!! If you love hand stitching whilst relaxing infront of the tele then this download is for you. The instructions are in full colour and talk you through how to create these fun insects in a modern take on English Paper piecing. You can create the designs in any size Hexie you wish. The images are showing the designs made in 1/2 inch hexies but if you chose to use larger or even smaller hexies that is up to you. These designs are a great stash buster and you will not need to go out and buy massive amounts of material to complete these designs. The download will include five files, one for each insect. The files are for the insects only and how to attach them to a backing fabric. The final project and how you use them is completely up to you. You could make them into cushions, mini quilts, big quilts, bags and so much more. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Happy sewing With love and cupackes P.S You can purchase these designs individually as kits with materials included should you wish. Check out my other listings for more details

English Paper Piecing specialist, fabric designer, author and international tutor. Join Sue Daley as she shares her passion for patchwork, quilting and hand sewing.

The colors in this hexie give us a counterpoint to the wicked summer heat most of the US is experiencing this week. The designer uses cool greens, a bluish pink and a touch of white to create the t…

I've been working on the first Rosette for the millefiori hexagon quilt along. Its the largest one in the quilt: its the orange one in the diagram below. This is a little photo journey of my progress First up is to get organized.... figure out how many of each shape to prepare, gather supplies, then cut out the fabric pieces to baste to each template while sewing the first round, I wasnt sure about the hexagone I made for the center, which was the orange one. I had sewn several hexies from the book, so I auditioned them, while laying out the pieces of the first round, I tried placing the second round hexies with the pink bits on the outer edge, then with them on the inside edge of the round. in the end I decided to have them on the inside. I sewed another possible center, and then I sewed a third one... which is the one I decided to use, This is how it looked with the second round Then, to prepare the pieces for the third round.. glue basting is saving my bacon. I probably wouldnt do this with thread basting the pieces, but glue basting goes way faster, There are 18 pieced hexies on the third round, so I had to play with them before I sewed them on to the rosette, that was fun. then, I sewed them on. And this is what it looks like now! It is quite big, over thirty inches across, I did a little bit of fussy cutting in the white ring fabrics, Well, now I am all ready for next months blocks!, Remember, if you want to participate in this project, its easy. All you need to get is a copy of the book, The New Hexagon, and sign up on Katja's web site and she will email you the instructions each month, there is a facebook group for it, and hashtags for instagram too, so its easy to see what fabrics others are using... (just check my previous post for the links, )

Quick and Easy way to cut shapes for English paper piecing: half-hexagons, diamonds, triangles. Download templates in 6 sizes.

English Paper piecing hearts made by jewels

Drei Tage habe ich mich damit beschäftigt. Bei Pinterest hatte ich ein Foto davon gesehen und mich gleich verliebt. Ich mag ja so relativ nutzlose Kleinigkeiten. Eine Anleitung gab es nicht, so hab

Grab your fabric scraps because these DIY hexagon projects are so inspiring and easy to make. No sewing machine required on some.

Do you need hexagon templates NOW? Learn a quick and easy technique for cutting hexagon templates. Click through to download printable hexagons in various sizes.

Another variation of BlockBase #160--- repeating stars. Mid-19th century quilt. I don't think I've ever seen a name published before 1970 for this shading pattern of stars, Sometimes alternated with rosettes. Marina Jones Gregg 1852 Charleston Museum of Art http://charlestonmuseum.tumblr.com/post/3582243226 The museum calls this one Stars and Diamonds. Elizabeth Docton Perry Charleston Museum of Art The pattern seems to be a Carolina regional favorite. Deborah Tritt and Laurel Horton examine a pair of South Carolina hexagon stars. Both by Marina Jones Gregg? See an article about this pair of twins (the quilts---not the quilt historians) in the Aiken Standard here: http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20150728/AIK0401/150729499 Hexagon Star by Keturah McElroy from the Kentucky Historical Society They were fond of hexagons in Kentucky too. The vivid color in some of these striking antiques is due to the wool and silk combination fabrics that take dyes differently from cotton. Although the one below is cotton---Turkey red and green. From Mary Kerr's hexagon collection By Mrs. Cruse of Hastings, Nebraska Collection Hastings Museum http://www.nebraskahistory.org/exhibits/depression_quilts/patterns_kits.htm A few more cotton examples: By Hannah Wallis Miller The D.A.R. Mueum has one that's a variation of Diamond Field. The red dot focuses your eye on the star shape. See an all-over shot at the Quilt Index: http://www.quiltindex.org/basicdisplay.php?pbd=DARMuseum-a0a1b7-a It's very much like an unfinished top that Presidential daughter Maria Hester Monroe started By Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur, collection of the James Monroe Museum in Fredericksburg, Virginia but never finished. Diamonds are Forever Carol Mahoney, Auckland NZ, 2008 http://www.aqg.org.nz/portfolio/calico-christmas-2008/#jp-carousel-276 If you shade carefully you get a real 3-D appearance, a combination of tumbling blocks and diamond field. But I couldn't find any antique examples that were successful at that illusion. Below: Contemporary versions. ThreadBenders Quilts http://threadbendersquilts.com/?p=1234 Libby at Plain and Simple Quilts http://simplylibby.blogspot.com/2012/01/h-is-for-h-exagons.html Mrs. Baldwin's Star 48" x 48" 2010 Joan Leahy Blanchard was inspired by another antique star at the Charleston Museum to do her 2010 AQSG Star Study quilt. Read more here: http://www.americanquiltstudygroup.org/qs_star_study21.asp The original: http://www.charlestonmuseum.org/research/collection/?person=Baldwin,%20Martha

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Make a hexagon template with an old plastic container, or some card stock (like I did). If you're just beginning, you should start with at least a 1.5 inch template, although I used a 2 inch hexagon for this tutorial.

I was digging through some of my scrap bins the other day and decided to liberate some of them. I realized that I had some really good red scraps and that they needed to be used and not just stored away. So I started a new English Paper Piecing (EPP) project to work on while I sit at karate classes, wait in Dr offices, and watch tv in the evenings. My last project was these pink hexdens. The hexdens have been stitched to a background square and the blocks are just needing to be sewn together into a quilt top. For this next project I chose to make pentarings. It's a ring shape made up of 10 pentagons. These are the pentagon pieces I chose to use (I purchased them here). What do you think? Cute, huh? I love the little pair of scissors. I made a tester one, and decided that I love it. I've now ordered more papers and cut my favorite red scraps into 2.75" squares - ready for basting!

See a beautiful English Paper Pieced Hexagon quilt made from hand stitched hexies. Modern fabric scrap I Spy quilt with unique borders!