English Paper Piecing by Hand & Machine

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Nancy shares the basic techniques for English paper piecing quilting. She shows you how to do it by hand and then by machine. Also showing how to use the Gemini machine to cut the papers and the fabrics.

[@zainylainy1]

I learned years ago how to sew them by machine. You put right sides together and do the Y seam thing. It worked beautifully, and you had no zigzags on the top.

[@torontokat54]

Oh my goodness, I am so happy to have found you. I was given 50 completed flowers by my daughter in law. Her mother was a very accomplished quilter and she died before she was able to finish this particular quilt. My daughter in law has also since died but I would like to complete the quilt for my granddaughter, as it would be a gift from her other grandmother and her mother. I have not done a lot of quilting but have done a lot of sewing of various other things over the past 50 years, so all I needed was some guidance as to how to piece these flowers together without having to do it all by hand. This video of yours is a godsend for sure, thank you so very much, I wish I had found you earlier. I did have suggestions from other quilters as to how to finish the quilt but none of them had actually ever done any paper piecing and I was not really sold on any of the suggestions and that is why it is still here after 7 years waiting for me to get to it. Now I can actually finish the quilt for my granddaughter. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

I'm very glad you found me!! Can wait to see your project finished :) - Nancy

[@beautyandtech1515]

I’m sure your grand daughter will cherish the quilt, I’m 40 years old and my most cherished possession I’d a blanket my grandma crocheted for me when I was a child from her old sweaters she’d unravelled. It’s not always on my bed but it’s always nearby, thrown on my desk chair, on the back of the sofa etc, it brings me happy memories of my grandma. I used to call in every day after school and she’d let me pick the colour order and do a few rows while trying to teach me. Best of luck with the quilt :)

[@lesleytaylor3581]

Hi, i am english, living in england and i was taught to just stitch the corners down fabric to fabric, not going through the paper, and certainly no glue involved, makes taking out the paper pieces very easy once you have stitch 6 hex`s round a central one you take out the central one, makes folding the patchwork to sew further pieces on much easier. gluing is a very new idea to me x

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

I understand - lots of new techniques to try :)

[@tonizeni8758]

Hello, I just watched several of your videos. Your such a delight. You explain everything so well. Thank you. Just watched your videos on quilt as you go. I'll be doing that this afternoon. Your awesome TJ's Blessings for a fabulous day!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Thank you 😊

[@margaretWestminster]

I love this , you are so good at demonstrating this technique. I have never done this before , Even though I am English , orn in London . Thank you very much ❤.

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

You are so welcome! Have you checked out my latest up-dated video on EPP? kzbin.info/www/bejne/opymkmmrbaZnjsk

[@missyb.623]

Your "cheap" thimble made me smile. Some of the best tools and gadgets are not the most expensive ones! Great tutorial. Thanks

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Thanks!

[@Mrsmuffin1958]

Oh. My. Goodness!! I've been sewing almost all of my 62 years of life and have always been frustrated with the needle coming unthreaded because I wasn't paying attention or the thread got too short. I watched and re-watched the few seconds, Nancy, in which you secured the thread to the needle (or vice versa,) and I just couldn't replicate it. So getting the general gist of it, I used my very old fashioned aluminum needle threader and made a loop to pull through the eye of the needle. I then (somehow) managed to get the short end through the loop and drew it up to the eye of the needle and VOILA! Thread secured to needle, and no more unthreading of the needle!! Amazing!! I've been working, off and on for years, on a GM Flower Garden quilt using authentic flour and feed sacks which I imported from the US to the UK to make a quilt for my mother. So mum's pinwheel QAYG quilt is finished and finally home in SC. And I have lots of scraps left over to play with. I have about a dozen or 15 big flowers made and sewn together. I use freezer paper for my hexie papers and lately I use a glue pen, carefully, to stick down the fabric edges. I'm hoping to end up with a 5 flower x 5 flower throw-sized quilt to toss on my bed, but I have miles to go before I sleep under it!! Thanks for all of your great lessons, Nancy. You rock!! xx

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Phyllis - I found the more i did the easier it got :) Here's a video i did that might help you also kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX6lgp6GfquksM0

[@Mrsmuffin1958]

@@QuiltingWithNancy thank you very much, Nancy. I seem to remember, now, having seen that video! It's been a few months. That's going to help me a lot, thanks. God bless and stay well! xx

[@donnacrimmins789]

Well, I am an American 75 year old lady and piece with all glue then hand stitch. Also I don't take the paper out. It just disappears when machine washing. After watching your video I thought I'd try sewing the whole thing but need to buy thread. Your videos are great. You are so talented. I am not a talented sewer but like to sew anyway and admire all you talented ones. My talent is the gift to gab. I can talk to anyone any time.

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Thanks for watching Donna!

[@janschubart4419]

Hi from South Africa enjoying your video.😊

[@freedragonfly]

My machine pieced hexies looked awesome! The secret was that bobbin thread on top and bottom. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it for myself! Wish I could all show you my first time doing it!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

I want to see it - can you send a picture to my email? [e-mail]

[@ianhunt9397]

Chris Hunt - UK I pinned my light cardboard template to the fabric then simply over sewed each folded corner as I got to it - through the fabric only, not through the paper or card inner template. the length of threat between each fold helps hold down the seam allowance. Done in seconds, no glue and the paper/cardboard template comes out for re use later. Cheers - love your programmes.

[@lesleytaylor3581]

thats how i was taught x

[@rsbyrd929929]

I am going to try the octagan English paper piecing. You make it look so easy . Thanks

[@charuverma6471]

I'd like to try this and this video is so detailed and makes it so easy to learn although I'm sure the practical is going to be more complicated for a first timer like me. Thank you so much. You are a wonderful teacher!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Thank you!

[@patg8932]

I punch a hole in the center of the papers with a paper punch, makes them much easier to remove (using a crochet hook).

[@brennap3310]

😍

[@tonyadrake4475]

terrific video! Loved learning about joining the flowers by machine. Will definetly do this with mine for a more meandering effect

[@cazkiwinz4300]

I’m too impatient for slow sewing by hand so I’ve been playing with machine sewing epp… it’s fun!

[@maryredick9894]

Amazing that you’d come up with the idea of using your machine! I’m going to share this one for sure!

[@LisaLisa-zl9vu]

I like how you secured the short thread on the needle! I've never seen this technique ever!!!!!!!!!!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Glad you liked it! - Nancy

[@claudettebettis9463]

Thanks for sharing your English paper piecing techniques.

[@briteddy9759]

Great video. I made a grandmother’s flower garden this past year. It is a great project for on the go. I had purchased the paper hexies and they had holes I could use to pin the fabric to the paper. Then I used a glue stick to hold the seam allowance down. I tried both Elmer’s glue sticks and SewLine glue sticks. While both worked, the Elmer’s glue sticks was harder on the paper. With SewLine, I think I was able to reuse the papers at least four times or more. The project was done before the papers wore out.

[@claudinejacquier-gisclon8182]

Brit Eddy J. J. J. J.

[@trduesing4117]

ANOTHER great video! Informative and personal!

[@montsemck3183]

I like your machine technique. Thanks so much for sharing your technique.

[@mrscalifdreamer]

I use freezer paper to cut my hexagons. I iron them shiny side down onto the hexagonal fabric. They’re also reusable! No glue or sewing needed!

[@petmomful2260]

There is a paper called applique paper, that you fuse to the hexie. Then you do not have to pull it out. The first time you wash the item, the paper sort of melts away. I want to try this cause it sounds easy! I have never tried freezer paper, but that sounds good, too. I also want to figure out how to cut out the hexies on my Cricut.

[@jeanieboo9838]

Hi, your way of speaking is very much like Donna of Jordan Fabric! 👍👍👍

[@wjoyes]

Really helpful - thank you!

[@Marialla.]

My favorite way to baste the hexies to the papers is to take a quick little backstitch only through the fabric fold at each corner. I don't go through the paper at all, and I don't use any glue. That way I can leave the basting in place when I pop out the papers, and when I do my quilting and finishing. The basting never has to be removed, so it saves me a step. It also helps the hexie hold its shape even if I have to remove the paper early for any reason, such as maybe when I'm using hexies to edge the quilt back for a clean look. Each fold is secured in shape even if the hexie is a little floppy, so I can still do precise corner matching for my finishing ladder stitch.

[@suejohnson457]

Marialla do you snip off every corner or continue with one thread

[@bella-bee]

I used to do this too, and used a continuous thread. The basting also has the advantage of keeping the seam allowances tidy when you come to quilt the Layers. It’s much easier with small hexagons though. I prefer no more than about 1.25” sides, which makes them easier to handle.

[@lorikorstanje2964]

Love the different ways

[@carolvanleer3386]

I really like the colors you chose in the hexis.

[@debglastetter851]

Just so happens that I was sewing hexies and watching videos when this one came on. I glue baste do to tremors in my hands. I have tried to sew baste many times but just could not get it right. I never thought to use clover clips. I will try them and hopefully it will go faster. When I am sewing I continully un-thread my needle. Putting a knot at the end of my needle will be such a help to me. Now if I only can master is. Nancy, I am new to EPP and this video will be a great help. I watch all your videos and love them. Thank you Nancy!

[@lmmartyn8846]

Great lesson on hexes. Thank you

[@elliew.9007]

Great tutorial.....thanks for making it!

[@violet2048]

There are repositionable glues, like what's on Post it Notes. It removes easily. There is also a repositionable acid free double sided tape. Your machine should have an entredeau stitch that is almost invisible. You may have to get the entredeau foot. I don't know much about Pfaff, except that it sounds beautiful when it sews.

[@PrettyAliceNight]

Nice video! I’m working on hand sewing my EPP hexies right now while watching :)

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Perfect!

[@kareema2001]

i saw a lot of videos on epp but yours was the most beautiful one

[@katherinewong2901]

I’m making a whole quilt with leftover hexis from my “Cancer Quilt” with Grandmother’s Flowers. Got the idea of using my machine because I don’t want to take the time to do Another handstiched quilt. So far it is going along fine, kinda like what you are doing, I am just doing rows with no particular arrangeing of color. Using glue for all the sides is Not recommended! Lol! 🌺💗🌺

[@tammyk73881]

So very useful!!!!!!!

[@gingertea5006]

Enjoyed the video - very helpful thanks!!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@judypatterson994]

great video. I learned a lot Thank you

[@karentoynton8948]

The hardest bit is getting your needle in without getting the paper as well. It’s the only bit I dislike with sticking. Thanks for video. From uk

[@MsTiLaJ]

I love the zig zag stitch option😉

[@MomAsol]

thanks for sharing.

[@beckyezra1]

thank you , love the video.

[@syedq8]

Good information👍

[@janwebster3749]

That so helpful thank you. Jan Wales Uk

[@jennyfong6980]

love it

[@Kate98755]

i'm doing this now, i clipped the fabric to the templates, ironed to set them, removed the template, then glued the folds down, clipped for them to dry, they have remain folded while i'm sewing them together

[@DSLAlex4]

It was 116 in CA yesterday. HOT! Thank you for another informative video. 8-)

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Stay inside Sherri - or come visit Michigan :)

[@DSLAlex4]

Not a bad idea! 8-)

[@MrsChonkeyMonkey]

Great video love all you and Athena’s videos. Do you mind me asking what length and width of zigzag you used. God bless y’all

[@barbarahartford908]

Great video, but, just thinking about the cutting and removing of the papers..what if, you used Vilene stabilizer and cut them out and then they would disappear with a washing.....???? I have used those plastic pattis and they last forever....

[@bjquilts29]

I love straw needles for paper piecing.

[@bierjip1]

Gluing is actually much faster. No need to do extra sewing though paper or taking basting thread out.

[@maymilton1701]

I use ordinary paper clips to hold down the seams in Hexagons. They work well but like the clips you show here, the basting threads do get caught in them a bit .

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Great idea May,Nancy

[@Kiss_My_Art]

English here, I never glue, ever, nor do I stitch through the papers, just corners to corners....you don't need to phaff about taking all the tacking stitches out then ...and for me it's not EPP if it's not hand stitched ...just what my Granny taught me 60 years ago ! 👵

[@claudettemonty4077]

When you glue on the paper, it’s not more difficult to sew because you put the glue not at the end of the paper but at a distance around 1/8 from the end. And you can have glue stick for fabric and the end is more small than your glue stick.

[@Momzie808]

I’m just curious but instead of paper could you use a stiff batting, it would work better on the machine, my thoughts!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

i don't think the stiff batting but if you choose a tear away stabilizer like what is used in embroidery, I think that would be a good option - and you won't have to take the paper out - you could leave it in - THAT'S A GREAT IDEA! I think i will try it :) Thanks , Nancy

[@susanktromble7992]

That last little tool you used to take out your basting stitches a then the paper pieces. Where do I find it?

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Susan, I got mine from Superior threads at a show but here is the link to them on their website - www.superiorthreads.com/superior-snippers/p/126-01

[@janeway4eva]

Use a sewline glue pen it makes it so much easier

[@kathrynsvendsen8319]

If you sew the pieces together using your machine before you remove the paper, how easy is it to remove the paper after, since you will catch it when sewing? Also, the edge of the paper will be damaged, so then it will no longer be reusable.

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Kathryn, with the zig zag being so narrow it doesn't catch much of the paper. Some are reusable and some are not.

[@patg8932]

Much faster to just baste the corners, not through the paper. No need to remove the thread then. But then, I make smaller hexies, so not sure how well it works with the larger ones.

[@sandycummings3602]

when is your New York Beauty coming out ? I am goin to International Quilt Festival in Houston month end and will be taking Peggy Martin's class on it.

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Sandy :) - the New York Beauty videos are done - have you watched them yet? I will be at Quilt Festival also!! I'm so excited, it's my first time - maybe i'll see you in a class :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKSxhYZqmL10rqM

[@lidiamatildemarini5671]

My question is do you quilt it after or this type of work don't get sandwich and quilted

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi - yes, they are quilted - traditionally by hand, but i will probably do mine by machine - but i have to finish it first, Nancy

[@jackienadeau8021]

How you finish the back

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

There are a couple of different ways to finish up but I think the facing method is my favorite.

[@mariamarfil1620]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️

[@traceyfranks1081]

How do you get the papers out once you've aching stitched them? Are they still reusable?

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Tracey - to remove the papers you want to first make sure you have the piece you want to remove completely stitched to it's neighbors. Some people say to not remove the paper until the whole quilt top is pieced - i actually move them sooner, when they are stitched around as it gets too hard to handle the piece when there is all the paper. Before I remove the paper i do give the piece a nice press with some spray sizing then take out the stitches and pull it out. depending on the paper you have used you can reuse them 2 or 3 times :)

[@traceyfranks1081]

OnPoint-TV thank you, does this also apply to those that have been machine stitched or are they dealt with differently?

[@fernlintner65]

Hmm once you have the blocks why cant you take the paper out before putting them together on the machine? Also if you put freezer paper on the paper then you just have to iron it no glue or basting.

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi - I leave the paper on to get stability when putting them together, and i did do some by machine, did you see that part? it really worked out well. You can do this with freezer paper, but you would still need to iron it as far as i can figure out. Happy Quilting , Nancy

[@virginiapiotrowski9792]

Do you happen to have the address for the die cut hexagons?

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Virginia, i think you can purchase all the Gemini items on www.quilting-warehouse.com - contact her :)

[@paradisoperduto4900]

What is the name of that little gadget you use to thread the needle, please?

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Paradiso Perduto hi - that is s Clover Needle Desk Threader - it’s GREAT!!!

[@paradisoperduto4900]

Thank you so much.

[@StephRenee812]

Question. I'm very nee to sewing. Very... could u donthis without the paper???

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi - not really, the paper is what gives the shape and makes it possible to sew them together and keep the shape.

[@bella-bee]

What size machine needle copes with 4 layers of fabric and two of paper?!

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

Hi Bella, i had a Microtex 70 in my machine - not a big needle, but it is a very sharp needle.

[@carmenbailey8209]

👍❤️😊

[@StephRenee812]

They thread reminds me of fishing wire..

[@QuiltingWithNancy]

It is but it is very very fine - .004

[@marienaailes]

Freezer paper is quicker en kost less