How To: English Paper Piecing

June 14, 2013
English paper piecing (EPP) involves stabilizing fabric pieces with paper before sewing them into intricate designs. It is most effective for shapes that do not have long straight sides and will require numerous set-in corners, such as hexagons. Because EPP is done by hand, it makes a terrific on-the-go project.
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Step 1: Make Templates

Many precut paper templates are available through quilt shops and by mail order. Online stores, such as Paper Pieces (paperpieces.com), sell hexagons templates in a variety of sizes.

If you wish to make your own templates, trace the pattern on a sturdy paper multiple times and cut out carefully and accurately. You also can die-cut or paper punch hexagon templates using manila file folders (do not use color folders which could bleed onto your fabric).

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Step 2: Prep Fabric and Templates

Pin a paper template to one or more layers of fabric. Cut out around the template with a 1/4" seam allowance. Your seam allowance does not have to be exact because the template will be an accurate guide.

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Step 3: Thread-Baste Templates

Place a template right side down on the wrong side of a fabric piece and fold the seam allowance over one edge. Beginning with a knot on the right side of the fabric, baste the seam allowance in place; stitch through the fabric and the paper template with 1/4"-long stitches. Finger-press the basted edge.

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Step 4: Conquer the Corner

As you approach a corner, fold the seam allowance of the next edge over the template and continue stitching. Stitch all edges in the same manner. Don't knot the thread as you finish, but do leave a thread tail of about 1/2" or so on the fabric's right side.

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Alternate Steps 3 and 4: Glue-Baste Templates

Learn how to use a water-soluble glue stick to temporarily adhere fabric to paper templates for English paper piecing.

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Step 5: Pinning Two Templates Together

Place two fabric-covered templates with right sides together, aligning the edges to be joined. Pin the pieces together at the center.

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Step 6: Begin Stitching

With a single strand of quilting thread, begin stitching about 1/8" from one corner using tiny whipstitches and catching a thread of both fabric folds. You'll feel the paper templates with your needle, but do not stitch through them.

Put old thread to use when preparing hexagons. Choose a contrasting color so basting stitches are easy to see. To join hexagons, use silk thread, which "melts" into the fabrics. If you're joining scrappy hexagons, use gray or taupe thread. These colors match most fabrics.

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Step 7: Sew Corner to Corner

Backstitch to the nearest corner. Once you reach the corner, reverse the direction of your stitching and sew across the edges to the opposite corner. Take a backstitch, and knot the thread using a backstitch loop knot.

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Step 8: Pressing the Seams

Lightly press open the joined pieces and check the seam from the right side. Stitches should not show. If they do, take smaller whipstitches through less of the fabric folds as you sew.

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Step 9: Setting In Pieces

To set in a piece, pin and sew the seam on one side. Reposition the stitched pieces so the next seam is aligned and continue sewing.

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Step 10: Remove the Templates

When all edges of a piece have been stitched to adjoining pieces, remove the paper template, pulling the basting threads and templates out from the back. Press.

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Practice English Paper Piecing

Put your skills to the test with an EPP project! Whether you just want to try a small project using this technique or go all in with a larger quilt, these patterns are fun to try!

Get patterns here.

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