Tuesday, July 2, 2013

FEPP (Fans of English Paper Piecing)

We have just recently finished up with our Busy Fingers Hexie Club and I wanted to share some of the wonderful work and inspiration from our talented stitchers.  These samples were all done by hand using the English Paper Piecing technique.  In case you aren't familiar with this method, the simple explanation is that we used die-cut paper templates and basted fabric pieces to stitch up some fabulous blocks.  Probably the most commonly seen use is for the traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden block, which is the basis for the placemat shown below:


The hexagon pieces are all stitched together, then sewn down to the whole piece of background fabric. This example was then machine quilted with straight lines and edges bound.  Our long-distance club member, Jan, made a set of these.  Too good to spill on!
Our Busy Fingers Club used the same concept with variations in combining triangles, hexagons, half-hexagons, diamonds and parallelograms to make unique designs.
Here are some examples of the possibilities:


 One club member, Cindy, used the blocks she had made and put them together with applique flowers to make this --

 Alice (on the left) added fussy-cut borders to surround her blocks--

Don't limit your possibilities to the traditional reproduction fabrics.  Use some bright batiks and create a neat little stash bag!


 And next up on my list is learning to make these clamshells.  
So many possibilities, so little time!  But if you would like to learn more, or try more, or continue with an English Paper Piecing project you are working on, watch for a fall class listing that will be tailored to  fit your needs!  
Pam

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