English Paper Piecing made easy
- Read time: 3 minutes
- Written by: Crafter's Companion
The unique method of English Paper Piecing is a hugely popular way of quilting, particularly for projects that you can take on the go. It’s also perfect for busting your stash, so it’s amazing that more sewists don’t do it! For those that have been interested in getting started in the craft, we’ve got the perfect dies to help you out!
Back in 1770, the year that English Paper Piecing was first discovered, and the paper shapes were cut from scraps of things such as old letters and newspapers. Nowadays, people still cut their shapes by hand, but with our English Paper Piecing Dies, you can save time and get so much more precision.
What is English Paper Piecing?
Put simply, English Paper Piecing is the technique of folding fabric over paper templates and hand sewing them together. The paper template shape ensures the blocks are accurate and also makes it easier to piece angles together.
It’s a fairly simple technique that even the newest of sewists should be able to grasp!
What are the English Paper Piecing Dies?
These dies offer a perfect way to introduce beginners to the technique of English Paper Piecing, patchwork and make the preparation process easy, as dies are included for creating both the paper and fabric shapes.
Each die set features two different shapes that work individually and together to offer a variety of design options. The smaller dies of each shape cut a hole from the centre of larger shape. These holes act as an easy way to pin the paper pieces to the fabric pieces, in addition to them acting as an easy way to remove the paper pieces once the fabric pieces have been stitched together.
These Multi Media dies can help save you precious time, as they have been designed to cut through up to eight layers of cotton or paper in just one pass. They also make the cutting process much more accurate, so you’re guaranteed precise shapes every time.
Which shapes are available?
Honeycomb and Square 1″ Die Set – these have been designed to help you create 1” honeycombs and 1” squares.
Hexagon and Equilateral Triangle 1″ Die Set – these dies can create 1” hexagons and 1” equilateral triangles with ease.
Jewel and 60 Degree Diamond 1″ Die Set – cuts 1” jewels and 60 degree diamonds from fabric and paper.
How do you do English Paper Piecing?
Our resident EPP expert, Katy Jones, has made a brilliant video to show you exactly how to use the dies and how English Paper Piecing works on the whole. It’s a great watch if you’re new to the technique or if you need a refresher, so take a look below!
We can’t wait to see what you make with your English Paper Piecing Dies – they’re so versatile and there’s a whole world of shape patterns to explore! Make sure you share your photos with us on our Sew Inspiring with Crafter’s Companion Facebook page, tag us on Instagram (#crafterscompanionsews), on Pinterest (@CraftersCompUK) or on Twitter (@CraftersCompUK)!
