Not Your Grannie's Hexie: Exploring Modern English Paper Piecing

2. Not Your Grannie’s Hexie Modern English Paper Piecing

3. Next Guild Challenge isEnglish PaperPiecing

4. Where does EPP come from? • Dates back to late 1870s when hexagon quilts become popular in England • Also called mosaic, honeycomb or six sided patchwork • By 1830s EPP had spread to America

5. In the 1800s EPP was thought to…. • Not be confined to only the affluent • Offer a connection to home for early American colonists • Provide spiritual nourishment for female prisoners • Offer a way for soldiers and sailors to perfect needlework needed for their occupation • Relieve boredom • Pass the hours for those convalescing

6. As people began to move around the globe in the first half of the 19th century, so too did EPP This quilt was made by Prudence Jeffery in 1857 during a 6 month voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne, Australia. Measures 72” by 72” Made with ¼” hexagons Typical of the time, the pattern radiates out from the center

7. Has evolved way beyond its hexagon roots – now there are diamonds, triangles, octagons, pentagons, curved shapes Modern day quilters still love EPP because it is: • A form of relaxation – very calming to hand sew • Highly portable – can take it anywhere • Easy to socialize while working on it, or watch TV • Simple – templates ensure perfect results EPP now…..

8. Fabric is cut larger than desired shape • Fabric is then wrapped around a paper template with either a ¼” or 3/8” seam allowance on all sides • Fabric is secured to a paper template temporarily with basting stitches or glue • Completed shapes are sewn together into a pattern • Template papers are eventually removed So How is English Paper Piecing Done ?

9. Getting Started is Simple

10. Glue Thread Baste Starch Baste Fabric to Paper Template

11. Can Use a Variety of Stitches to Sew Blocks Together Whip Stitch Ladder Stitch Flat Back Stitch Feather Stitch Machine Zig Zag

12. Sue Daley’s 10 Best Tips for EPP • Pre-cut papers • Acrylic templates • Rotating cutting board for cutting & glueing • Long fine needle • Milliner's needle #11 • Good quality thread • Glue pen for basting • Knicker knot at beginning and ending • Baste in the same direction • Try new shapes

13. Fussy Cuts Unlimited Choices

14. More Fussy Cuts Incredibly Beautiful

15. Fussy Cutting Made Easy Use Mirror to Choose Design One Fabric Many Designs

16. Lots of Options for EPP Original block discovered at Brimfield Flea Market in Massachusetts Brimfield Block Story Nisha Bouri & Kim Martucci went to the Brimfield Antique Flea Market Were walking by a dealer and “smelled” something Quilt block found in a plastic bag at Brimfield Antique Flea Market Researched the block – most likely a version of the Strawberry block pattern printed in a newspaper in the 1920s Block made with flour sack fabric Knew they needed to resurrect the block Turned the pattern into EPP

17. Brimfield Block Variations Endless Possibilities

18. Lucy Boston – Patchwork of the Crosses Lucy was a children’s book author. She was born in 1892 and died in 1990. Her quilt blocks are now famous posthumously. Her daughter-in-law, Diana Boston, is now the guardian of her quilts.

19. Millefiori, LaPassaglia, Passaglia – all same Pattern Made with connecting rosettes

20. Now That’s a Lot of EPP!! Thousands?????

21. Guild Books In Our Library Now

22. Resources DIYAddict.com Sue Daley Design PaperPieces.com Missouri Star Quilt Company Pinterest Facebook Groups Fellow EPPers

23. Questions