What is English Paper Piecing? A Beginner's Guide

English Paper Piecing — or EPP as we all call it — is one of my absolute favourite things to talk about in the shop. It's the technique that converts the most people. You come in sceptical, you leave with a project bag full of hexagons and a very happy expression.

So let me tell you what it actually is.

The basics

English Paper Piecing is a hand-sewing technique where you wrap fabric around paper (or card) templates, then stitch the wrapped pieces together by hand. The paper holds everything in perfect shape while you work, and you remove it once the pieces are joined.

It's been around for centuries — some of the oldest surviving quilts in the world were made this way — and it's having a very well-deserved revival.

Why do people love it so much?

Honestly? Because it's portable, it's meditative, and it's incredibly precise. There's no rotary cutter, no sewing machine, no rushing. Just you, a needle, some thread, and a pile of beautiful fabric scraps.

It's perfect for using up those precious small pieces you can't bear to throw away. A charm square, a fat eighth offcut, a scrap from a favourite old shirt — EPP gives them all a second life.

It's also wonderfully forgiving for beginners. Because the paper holds the shape, your pieces are always accurate. No stretching, no distortion. Just neat, satisfying little shapes that fit together perfectly.

What shapes can you make?

Hexagons are the classic — think Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts — but EPP works with all sorts of shapes. Diamonds, triangles, pentagons, clamshells, and more complex combinations that create stunning secondary patterns when joined together.

What do you need to get started?

Not much, which is part of the appeal:

• Paper templates — you can buy pre-cut packs or cut your own
• Fabric — scraps work beautifully
• A needle and thread — a fine appliqué needle and matching thread are ideal
• Small scissors and a few clips or pins to hold pieces while you stitch

That's genuinely it. You can start an EPP project for just a few pounds and carry it in your handbag.

Ready to give it a go?

Browse our English Paper Piecing collection for templates, papers, and everything you need to get started. And if you're not sure where to begin, just get in touch — I love helping people find their first EPP project.