- I'd like to thank Skillshare for sponsoring this video.
What is English paper piecing?
Not only is it a great way to use up your scraps,
it's a great way to play with your fabrics
to make these amazing patterns.
In this quilting tutorial, I'll show you the basics
and the supplies you'll need to get going.
I'll have my favourite tips,
including how to make a quilter's knot.
And there's some free downloads to share.
So stick with me, and I'll show you how to do it.
(enthusiastic music)
Hi, I'm Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts.
I give you tips, tricks and strategies
to help you make the quilt that you want to make.
And please support this channel
by hitting that Subscribe button.
English paper piecing, or EPP, is a technique
where you wrap fabric around a paper shape,
and then you sew those shapes together.
Not only can you make a quilt out of those shapes,
but they can also be used to add texture to a design
or hide a couple of imperfections.
And it's truly one of the most inexpensive ways
to get into quilting,
as you probably have everything you need to get started.
And you can take it on the go
or use it to slow down and relax.
Now, before we get started,
this video is about English paper piecing, or EPP.
Do not confuse EPP with FPP,
which is foundation paper piecing.
What is the difference between EPP and FPP?
EPP is hand sewing.
FPP is with your sewing machine.
With EPP, you use card stock.
With FPP, you use newsprint.
And the results are very different, too.
EPP is all about a centre
with symmetrical shapes around them.
And FPP is about angles and flipping fabric.
If you're interested in foundation paper piecing as well,
and you'd like me to make a video about it,
please leave a comment down in the notes.
English paper piecing is a two-step process.
(enthusiastic music)
There are many shapes that you can make,
but we're going to start with the gateway shape,
the hexagon.
You grab a hexagon paper, a scrap of fabric,
a threaded needle, wrap it around the shape
by folding at the corners, and then baste it
around the folds to secure the shape.
But let's back up a bit.
The paper, this is cardstock.
And you can make the shapes several different ways.
You can print out your shapes,
and then using paper scissors, cut them out.
I have a free download on various sizes of hexagons
and pentagons from my video,
English Paper Piece Soccer Ball.
I'll leave a link to that in the notes below.
You can also use a template to trace your shapes
and cut them out.
You can also use a punch, which has the advantage
of using up old greeting cards
and those advertising postcards that fill up your mailbox.
You can also purchase pre-cut papers,
which is a huge time saver
and saves your hands from the stress of cutting.
The fabric, this is an ideal place
to use up your scrap fabric,
but you can use the good stuff, too.
With your good scissors,
you can roughly cut out a shape quarter of an inch
to 3/8 of an inch larger than your paper.
Or use a template to mark the cutting line.
Or on a small rotary cutting board,
you can use a plexiglass template
and a 28-millimeter rotary cutter to cut out your shapes.
I have also met quilters who don't bother with any of that
and just use squares a half an inch larger than the shape,
and they don't even bother to trim it.
The last part of the wrapping is the baste.
This is a great place to use up that thread
that's on the end of the spool or on the end of your bobbin.
And we're using a single strand of thread.
The colour does not matter.
Use whatever sharp needle you have,
and start with a quilter's knot.
How do I make a quilter's knot?
Lay thread across your forefinger.
Cross your needle over the thread.
Twist your thread two to four times around your needle.
Transfer to your opposite forefinger and thumb.
Drawn needle up through the twist, keeping twist secure
until all the thread has been pulled through.
And this is a quilter's knot.
Tuck your fabric at the edge of the shape,
and just use a backstitch where the fold lies.
Then continue around the shape,
folding and backstitching as you go.
(energetic music)
And then make a knot at the end.
You can also baste with a glue stick.
I suggested this in my second
Dollar Store Sewing Hacks video.
Just be sure that it's water soluble.
And if you use this purple glue stick,
it will be easier to see where the glue goes.
So here's a tip.
You do not want the glue to be on the edge of the paper
because that's where the needle's going to go through
when you sew your pieces together,
and you don't want to gum up your needle.
So you put the glue just above the edge,
and don't worry about the colour
'cause it disappears when it dries.
Or you can use these specialty glue pens
for better accuracy.
Another really common shape is the honeycomb.
This is just an elongated hexagon,
and they make up this traditional Lucy Boston block.
Hexagons can also be cut in half,
which can be shaped into larger hexagons.
Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes.
A popular one is the 60-degree diamond,
as it can be turned into tumbling blocks
or a six-pointed star.
And you make these shapes the same way
that you make hexagons.
However, you will find that any time
that the angle is less than 90 degrees,
you will get this tail.
And you leave this tail on.
Don't trim it off.
They can fold this way,
or they can fold that way,
and you'll find that you'll need to pay attention to that.
But I'll talk about that more in the next step.
I know this seems like a choose your own adventure
with all the various options,
but it really shows how much room there is
for personal preference.
(enthusiastic music)
So you take two pieces, you align them side by side
so that the corners match, and then you sew up the side.
Let's take this one slow.
I started with cotton thread,
but found it shredded and broke before I finished the seam,
no matter how careful I was.
So now I use a double strand of Invisafil.
To help get those tiny stitches,
you also need a thin needle.
I like the size 10, and I use a milliner's needle.
It's a little bit longer.
Notice the clips that I've used here.
This stops the pieces from shifting while you sew.
And that means you don't need to clench
to hold those pieces together.
You can also use these small binder clips or magnets.
Make a quilter's knot and thread it
between the paper and the fabric into the corner
and do a double stitch to secure.
I am using a whip stitch here,
and I'm just picking up a couple of threads on either side.
Then sew up the length of the seam,
ending with a double stitch.
(energetic music)
Now, you want to keep your thread short.
Not only does the thread break less,
but it's a lot easier on your wrist and your elbow.
And note how small these stitches are.
It's about 16 to 18 per inch.
And that means there's a lot of friction on your thread.
Note there's two different parts to the whip stitch.
You want the short part of the stitch
holding the two fabrics together,
and then use the whip part to advance up your seam.
This makes stitches a lot less visible on the other side.
And you'll want to use a thimble.
This is the best one for me.
It's part silicon, and it's made by Clover.
But there are metal ones and leather ones out there.
You might also find that other parts of your hands
and your fingers are tender,
so you might need more than one.
If thimbles don't work for you,
try these stick-on pads or even a Band-Aid.
What is a Y-seam?
When there's an intersection of three pieces,
this is called a Y-seam.
Now, Y-seam is one of those scary terms,
but truly once you understand what you need to do,
it's a lot simpler.
What we are looking is for these three seams to intersect.
And though it can be a little bit challenging
on a sewing machine,
in hand sewing it's really not that bad.
So now we have a third piece,
and we're sewing piece number one to piece number three.
And we're just going to sew down the seam
until we get to the end, where we'll do a double stitch
to secure it in the corner.
(energetic music)
Then we reorient the pieces
so that now we're sewing number two to number three.
First, we align piece number two with piece number three.
We use some clips, if necessary,
to keep it in the same spot.
We can also fold the piece of number one
because the paper is not precious.
We start with a double stitch
and then just whip stitch down the length of the seam
until the end, where we do another double stitch.
(energetic music)
Now, these hexies are not that fussy,
but there will be times when your work gets larger,
and it will be harder to handle.
Use as many clips as you need
to stop your work from shifting,
and turn your work if necessary.
As long as the short part of the whip stitch
is holding the fabrics together,
and you're using the whip part to advance,
you really don't need to worry
about which way the whip is going.
Sometimes on a seam because it's so fiddly,
I have to turn the work back and forth several times.
But from the front, you'd never know it.
And this is where you need to consider where your tails lie
if you have them.
You want to avoid them pointing together
because that's just too much bulk in your seam.
So fold them so that you have them rotating
or lying in the opposite direction.
And if you get to sewing your pieces together,
and you find that you've got it wrong,
just lift up your fabric
and glue it back down the opposite way.
When do you remove the papers?
When all the edges of the piece
are secured to another piece with stitches,
then you can remove the paper.
Most of the time, they come out easily
and you can reuse them.
Sometimes I need to get out my stick and give them a nudge.
From experience, I don't use anything sharp,
so I don't damage the fabric.
And remember, it's only paper,
so it doesn't matter if you have to sacrifice one or two.
Just be sure if they rip that the whole piece comes out.
Let me take a moment and tell you about Skillshare.
When I am slow sewing, this is another great opportunity
to watch a Skillshare class.
Most classes are less than two hours long
and are divided up into smaller chapters.
Sometimes it's a class I need to learn more of.
Sometimes it's totally random.
Skillshare has thousands of inspiring classes
on design, illustration, video creation and so much more.
They include a combination of video lessons
and a class project to test out new ideas and practise.
They are also classes for a variety of skill levels,
from beginner to advanced.
Skillshare is also incredibly affordable
when compared to in-person classes and workshops.
The first 1,000 people to use this link
will get a one month free trial of Skillshare.
Once you're comfortable with the basics,
it's time to start fussy cutting
by taking pieces of fabric with the same pattern
and laying them out in either rows or the round.
The symmetry, both rotational and sometimes mirror,
just takes it to a whole new level of spectacular.
I recommend that you start small
with a pin cushion or a pillow.
Remember Emma Jones of Vintage Sewing Box?
She has a number of simple projects on our website
and YouTube channel.
I have been making Katja Marek's new hexagon Millefiore
for the last 4 and a half years.
I'm on the last 2 rosettes, so the end is near.
If you want to see how it ends, be sure to subscribe.
Since you can do English paper piecing in stages,
this is an excellent candidate for sewing on the go.
I have made a video on how to make a kit and a project bag,
and I'll leave a link to it in the notes below.
This technique falls under the umbrella of slow sewing.
You might find when you're doing slow sewing
that your thoughts lighten and lift,
or maybe it just gives your brain some space
to work through some problems.
So it's important to find your own flow,
using the shapes, fabrics and patterns that support you.
Emma Jones and I had a chance to talk about slow sewing
on Karen's Quilt Circle.
If you missed it, check it out right here.
If you're wanting to try
to make your own English paper piece soccer ball,
I'll leave a link to that one, too.
If you like this video,
please make sure you hit that Subscribe button.
Take care, and I'll see you next time.