Sewing English Paper Piecing (EPP) by Machine

[@suzisaintjames]

I think this method would be fantastic for someone who loves EPP and has trouble holding a needle for any length of time (like arthritis etc.). I also think that, for me, the auto start and stop features of this method would be a must, as hand tieing all those threads, although possible, would take the momentum out of the project. 💖🌞🌵😷

[@tinawestlake-quinones-be8kf]

I’ll try this in about 5 years 😂

[@cazkiwinz4300]

Haaaa! That’s so me too! I collect hobbies…. For later…. Too busy being distracted by KZbin and watching others doing it all 😂

[@rebeccamulkern1051]

This is by far the nicest and most delicate zig zag stitching for sewing EPP I've seen, usually the zig zag is way too big, I guess to make it more secure? But it usually looks very obvious, even when they use white thread on white background. Can I ask is the quilting zig zag a different stitch to a normal one? ❤

[@rnjoynlife9348]

It’s labeled as a quilting zigzag on my Brother machine but it looks just like any other one I’ve seen. The key is to get it small and be sure you go slow and get each side by a few threads. I also recommend doing a securing stitch at each corner. When I sandwiched and quilted it, there were a few spots that seemed to be loose or not fully connected where I assume I didn’t get a good bite on both pieces. I quilted with a small meander and made sure I went over each connection well. I gave it to my DIL as a gift since she was the one that wanted to know how to do it. As a table runner, I’m sure it will service well. I doubt I would use this method for a full size quilt that would be used a lot.

[@merrim7765]

Try pale gray.

[@annemaguire657]

@@rnjoynlife9348 unless you know, you know :)

[@szimonettaneni]

Thank you. I’m going to try this on my inaugural 1 inch hexagon epp quilt. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to hand sew over 2000 hexagons, now I’m less worried 😅

[@Stampingerms]

You are not alone! I am too going to try this out! Thank you for the encouragement and the tutorial! ♥️

[@hadleywooten3689]

Thank you for this video ! I have been making a hexi quit by hand for three years and I didn’t know you could machine sew it!! 👍🏻❤️

[@AudreyAL6]

Ok I have watched twice and am heading to the sewing machine to try this out. I am in the middle of sewing my hexagons together. Thanks for the close up that was very helpful. 😊

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Great! Have fun.

[@erikacooper8348]

Thanks for the video, I have a box full cut out and was going to hand sew, but I'm now going to try this way as I love the even look of the stitches! ❤

[@jesspeak7543]

Very innovative, thank you for the explicit demonstration.

[@mrslincoln5118]

OMG!!! I am sooooo glad I found you!!! Phenomenal tutorial!!! I had given up on EPP…uncorrectable eye problems. Your technique will be a game changer for me!!! TY, TY, TY❣️

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I’m happy it helps you. Just be sure your zigzag catches both pieces to ensure a stable seam. Go slow and you’ll do great.

[@annemaguire657]

@@rnjoynlife9348 gee, this is great,I was born blind though I have a little vision, this is great, I have already epp’d by hand, but I’m very very slow, now just to figure out how to keep the joins in line with the needle, wish now I had bought a machine with a laser beam guide, I will conquer somehow :) :)

[@suzisaintjames]

This method would be fantastic if you used a leave in "template" like hexiform... that way you could use a decorative stitch and not have to be so precise. 💖🌞🌵😷

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I agree! I was just testing it out for my DIL. This method worked okay but have to take it slow.

[@karentoynton8948]

I have currently got about 4500 hexagons on my quilt currently but I like how this looks, as I have seen them together already , some look a little nester than others could I re them using this method. I do not the options you mention on my machine. I think I would use this in the future. I had just had a hand operation hence some isn’t a neat. There are a lot of hexagons to do hehe.thank you for sharing with us.

[@souled.out.soapers9397]

Do you recommend this technique for a child’s quilt? Not sure it would be strong enough to hold up. I have been itching to try EPP. Thank you for the close up on your stitching. Good video.

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Hi! If I were making for a child and did it on machine, I would use Helen Stubbings paper (that you can sew through and you won’t need to remove) and use a wider zigzag in coordinating thread. You’ll see the stitches but that’s okay, in my opinion anyway. Here’s a link to Helen’s paper on Amazon. She sells precuts also but not sure if you can get bigger than 1 inch on Amazon. She’s out of Australia. Look for her videos on KZbin for hand stitching help. a.co/d/7tt9iMv

[@brendarainwater6049]

While watching Lessons Learnt this morning Sheri have you a shout out. I'm happy to see what what you have to share😊 I do machine sew hexagons so I think I can do this. Although I love hand sewing but not easy on my hands anymore.

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I totally understand. My hands get cranky if I do too much, but I enjoy hand stitching.

[@pennylacy4764]

I have this same problem, love hand work but hard on my hands nowadays.

[@judydavis4793]

The quilt I need to finish is done in rows, so that is how I should stitch it in rows?

[@DaphnesCreativeTouch]

Nice work. I've recently discovered this technique and I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

[@Beverly2020]

I wish I had known about this years ago. Your work is beautiful!

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Thank you! It was a fun exercise.

[@lorijacobs7341]

Thank you for this tutorial! Your fabrics & detail zig zag stitch are beautiful! I have never tried EPP,but I may now!😊

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Awe, thank you. That’s very kind. It was a fun experience. I’m happy if it helps you. I still prefer to do them by hand as I find it very relaxing. Happy stitching.

[@merrim7765]

Seems like hand-stitching isn't that much slower.

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I agree. 🤣 I love hand stitching and do a lot of it. My DIL doesn’t want to hand stitch and asked how she could do it by machine. This works, but isn’t my preferred method.

[@karenraabis5296]

This is game changing for me. I hate hand stitching! I loved making the hexies though. Thanks

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I hope it helps. Have fun with it.

[@seaside2001]

What size needle are you using? It is probably just the lighting, but it seems to be making noticeable holes.

[@tanyaperrin1218]

On my bucket list of things to try! Wishing you the best on your new channel!

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Thanks so much

[@catherinesofikitis179]

You remind me of the way Ricky Tims teaches appliqué stitches. Thank you

[@janicemaxfield]

What a cool idea, but then what would I do sitting in my recliner with my feet up watching Hallmark movies? LOL

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Haha, me too!! I love EPP by hand but my DIL wanted to know how to do by machine, so that’s the result.

[@ingerrasmusson3247]

That is why I love hand sewing my bindings!

[@mamaofpurl]

Very convincing, I‘m definitely giving this a try. Thank you!

[@henny5272]

Bueno un poco menos dispendioso per también cuidadosa. ❤ Gracias

[@carollong4997]

What kind of Brother machine are you using? Thank you. Your quilt is lovely.

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I have a Brother Luminaire XP2. It was my retirement gift to myself. 😀

[@carollee7832]

Sherri at LessonsLearnt sent me. Welcome.

[@kathygannonOBWQF]

Very clever! I have a group and we make one Block wonders, hexagons made from 6 triangles, and a few Laura will attempt epp from time to time. This may be helpful. May I ask what your camera settings is. I need to find a better way to make my videos, private ones for my group. Thank you

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Hi Kathy, its so funny you ask. I’m pretty old school so I film using my iPhone. 🤣 I started this channel to help my DIL learn based on things she asked to see. I have a phone selfie stick type arm clamped on to my sewing table. I zoom in or out based on what I’m showing using the basic iPhone video options. Hope that helps.

[@peggersf9709]

Just subscribed. Sherri from LessonLearnt talked about your channel today on her channel.

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I heard that! It was very kind of her. Thanks for stopping by.

[@pattiadams3968]

How well does this method hold up to repeat washing? I love the look of hexagons, but I hate hand stitching. I may play around with decorative stitches. This is brilliant!

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Hi Patti, I can’t say for sure as I’ve only made the one table runner used for the video. I would expect it to hold up as well as any other method, as long as you ensure the stitches get both pieces evenly. The whole reason I made this video was at the request of my DIL who didn’t want to hand stitch but wanted hexi’s. So I played around with it until I found what worked. I gave her the table runner after it was finished and it seemed quite strong.

[@AAD2698]

Looks interesting but question. How do you deal with adding hexis once the connected pieces are wider than the throat on your machine?

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Just fold/roll them up in the throat like you would do any quilt or larger project. Once you are fully around a Hexi you can take the paper out (if using cards) and it smushes up just fine. Have fun.

[@Kathleen58]

I use a stablizer in my epp and zig zag my shapes. I never have to take out card stock now .

[@rnjoynlife9348]

That’s a great idea! I’ll try that next time. Thanks

[@lucyscott736]

New subscriber

[@LisaLisa-zl9vu]

I wonder if this would work on older machines. I need to use one hand to hold the reverse button and my zig zag stitch confuses me on what side it is going to travel to on a turn!!

[@rnjoynlife9348]

It should work on any machine that can do a zigzag. I suggest you just try it and practice. If you go slow enough you will get the hang of the stitch and where it’s going.

[@joyaquilts]

Love this!

[@jannmier3487]

How will the seams hold up after continuous use and washing?

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Time will tell🤣. I made it into a table runner for my daughter in law. Once I quilted it, it seemed to be pretty solid.

[@lesliex7894]

Interesting

[@catherinesofikitis179]

Beautiful

[@catherinesofikitis179]

I came from Lessons Learnt Sherri said to say hello

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Hello! Thanks for stopping by👋

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

Sherri at LessonsLearnt gave you a shout out so I came to say “hi”.

[@rnjoynlife9348]

How nice! Hi back👋 Thanks for stopping by.

[@ellenhofer3343]

Could you use an edge joining foot instead?

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Hi there! I don’t see why not. Give it a try and see how it goes.

[@SoniaMariaGeraldes-jw8ll]

Perfeito!😊

[@coquetscache]

Great video, thank you!

[@rnjoynlife9348]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

[@zainylainy1]

It looks beautiful!

[@rnjoynlife9348]

Thanks! It was fun.

[@bethpatrick5063]

I have a luminaire 3. What is the stitch you are using?

[@rnjoynlife9348]

On my Lumi 2 it was a quilting zigzag. I took the stitch width and length down small. I can’t recall now but I said in a previous video about prepping.

[@bethpatrick5063]

@@rnjoynlife9348 thanks! I will find the other video and give this a try. My hands just won’t let me do handwork easily any,ore😞

[@rnjoynlife9348]

@@bethpatrick5063 I totally understand! Happily, I’m still able as long as I don’t overdo it.