English paper pieced quilts are so WOW. All those tiny pieces, irregular shapes and fussy cuts can be quite impressive. The thing is, this is one of those techniques that deserves to look impressive. It takes a lot of time to English paper piece (EPP) because the process is entirely sewn by hand. That said, it’s a relaxing and meditative style of patchwork which I do highly recommend.

So, how do you go from novice to EPP-maker extraordinaire? Here is how to gradually build up your EPP skills.

Stage no. 1 - Basting

Begin with hexagons. This is the quintessential EPP shape for good reason. They’re fun, super scrap-friendly and a refreshing change from the typical shapes of machine sewn patchwork.

When you first learn EPP, you fall in love with basting. It’s so fast and so fun! Before you know it you will have basted a big pile of hexagons, and you won’t want to stop.

I suggest machine appliquéing your hexagons onto a background fabric rather than joining them with tiny hand-sewn stitches, for your first EPP project. It’s a fast and fuss-free finish that’s perfect for beginners. This hexagon tree (circa 2010!) was one of my first EPP experiences. But even though I can “really” EPP now, I still like this concept. Below’s more recently created hexie purse is case in point!

Resources - Basting video (by yours truly, 2011) and The Basting Debate from Tales of Cloth

Stage no. 2 - Small Projects

In comparison to basting, joining your EPP shapes to each other takes forever. Ok, but that’s an unhelpful attitude. Think of it like knitting or embroidery, English paper piecing invites you to slow down and really live in your moments stitch by stitch.

Still, I suggest that you get your feet wet with joining by making a small project first. Don’t push yourself to commit to a quilt with your first “real” EPP project. I made pillows, a table runner and a few EPP wall hangings before I ever sewed a whole quilt. Because they look so special, these are lovely gifts! In each case, I first completed one or more EPP blocks and then appliquéd them onto a background.

Resources - Whipstitch tutorial from Tales of Cloth, plus get a free EPP Hexie Banner Project when you subscribe to her newsletter.

Stage no. 3 - Applique Quilts

Okay, now you’re a basting pro and you have sorted out your favorite whipstitch technique for joining shapes. You are ready to go big, to make a quilt, to really take this EPP thing home. Yaaay!

But wait, think strategically about which quilt you start with. Sure you are ready to make a big batch of EPP blocks, but do you also want to join the entire quilt top by hand, with all those tiny filler pieces? Hm - - -

Better to start with an applique-style quilt. You can machine applique or hand applique your finished EPP blocks to background fabric in order to yield blocks that can be joined by machine. It sounds like a small thing, but this actually saves you bucket loads of time! Thus you are much more likely to come out with a finished project. In 2018 I made Kingfisher, my first EPP appliqué quilt.

Resources - free Kingfisher quilt tutorials + Small Change quilts pattern set from Tales of Cloth

Stage no. 4 - the full EPP Quilt

Once you have reached this stage, you know what it means to commit to an EPP project. You are picky about your favorite stitching thread, have lost a dozen needles and have taken fussy-cutting to the next level. Now the world of English paper piecing stands open to you and you feel ready to sew a whole quilt by hand. Cue the trumpets!

I began my first full-on EPP quilt summer of 2019, the year we moved to The Netherlands. Since then I have savored the process of choosing fabrics, making blocks and seeing the fancy way that the blocks all come together. Finally (4 years later) that quilt top is almost complete. I will be sharing my finished Ice Cream Soda quilt top before the year is out!!! Can’t. Wait.

Resources - explore the world of EPP quilt patterns at Tales of Cloth