A Few of My Top English Paper Piecing Tips

I'm no expert on English Paper Piecing but from one newbie to another, I have a few top tips to share to make things easier. I have made enough grandmother's flower garden blooms now to know what I like to use and how to stitch to get the prettiest results. The first attempts aren't great but I certainly have improved by leaps and bounds since those early days.

• Try a few different threads to see what works best for you. I like to use 100% cotton thread and Aurifil is my one and only choice. I switch between the 50 weight and the new 80 wt depending on which colour I need and have. There are others who recommend polyester thread for its strength but I prefer the natural cotton to match my fabric. Regardless of your preference, experiment with a few varieties to test how they perform with hand-stitching which is quite different than machine sewing.

 

• Match the colour of thread to your fabric. I tried using a neutral thread at first and it totally showed. Pairing the same shade of thread with the main colour of your patchwork will make a big difference in how your stitches look. Whipstitches do show but they should be tiny tick marks and not obvious, contrasting stitches.

 

• Don't make your stitches too tiny and close. Aim for stitches about an 1/8th of an inch apart. Your work will move along at a good pace, have a pleasing appearance, and will be strong and secure. I started with stitches far too small and not only did it take forever to finish a flower, my hands started to ache. The look of my seams was so much prettier when I started spacing my stitches further apart. Don't 'bite' more than a few threads regardless of spacing or the stitches will show too much.

 

• Pack a special English Paper Piecing kit so you can grab and go and have your hand-sewing wherever you are. I keep mine in a plastic pencil box from Staples. It doubles as a work surface when opened up flat and keeps everything tidy and protected. I keep my hexies sorted by colour in a stackable container but slip them into baggies for travel. I made my little small, portable design board and it's been amazing.

 

• Sample different types of needles to find which you like best. I've tried many different varieties and sizes and found the perfect ones for me. I happen to like appliqué sharps in size 9 or 10. They are fine and glide through the hexie edges and are not too long. I adore the Roxanne sharps I bought in Florida.

 

• If you are like me, over 40(!) and your eyes are not quite as sharp as they once were, I really find the LED magnifier to be a big help. It allows me to get precise placement of my stitches and helps when I need to remove a tangle or knot.

Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment and practice. Seriously, if I can enjoy hand sewing I think anybody could grow to appreciate it since I would be the last person I'd ever expect to be doing this...and liking it!

Comments

[Vireya]

I think the portability of EPP projects is their biggest draw. I never expected to enjoy hand piecing, but the fact that you can take the project with you and work on it just about anywhere is fantastic.