EPP FAQs

Tools – What tools do I need? You only need a few essential tools to get started with English Paper Piecing: Fabric, needle and thread, scissors and the paper pieces themselves. Some quilters also like to use an acrylic template to cut their fabric. Fabric: It is advisable to stick to good quality 100% cotton…

Some paper pieces have sharp points, rather than blunt corners and many quilters become unstuck when they first encounter these and are at a loss of how to deal with them. But rest assured: Points are easy!! No matter which EPP technique you use: It all comes down to the direction of turning the paper…

‘English Paper Piecing’ (or EPP) is a popular hand-sewing method used in traditional patchwork and quilt-making. Originating in England in the late 1700’s it was also known as ‘Mosaic Patchwork’ and it is one of the old patchwork techniques that has survived through the ages. The method involves the stabilisation of a fabric patch by…

‘Foundation Paper Piecing’ is a sewing technique done by sewing machine. This technique is also known as ‘Paper piecing’ in some parts of the world and therefore often gets confused with ‘English Paper Piecing’. However, the techniques used are entirely different: In Foundation Paper Piecing the entire quilt block, or part of a larger pattern,…

Briefly: English Paper Piecing is a pure hand-sewing method used in traditional patchwork and quilting. The method involves the stabilisation of a fabric patch by fixating it to a heavy paper template (the ‘paper piece’). These stabilised fabric patches are then sewn together by hand into larger patterns, or quilt blocks, usually using an over-sew…

‘Paper piecing’ is often confused with ‘English Paper Piecing’. However, the techniques used are entirely different! Paper Piecing is simply a type of ‘Foundation Piecing’. In Paper Piecing a design is drawn directly on a sheet of paper (the foundation), usually a quilt block or part of a design, the fabric patches placed on top…