How to Applique and Use English Paper Piecing

Welcome to our page on applique and English paper piecing (EPP)!!  You  will  find so much valuable information here so be sure to bookmark this page!   

You will learn how to applique using various techniques, such as raw edge applique, needle turn applique, and freezer paper applique.  We have great tutorials on English paper piecing with hexagons and other shapes. 

This page also has many applique tutorials showing you how to sew or stick different shapes and patterns onto a larger background piece.  

Applique is usually used as an ornamental decoration, yet we even have tutorials showing how to use applique to patch and repair clothing! 

If you happen to be interested in the origin of the word, applique originates from the Latin applied (I apply) and from the French appliquer (attach). 

Working with hexagons, I searched for the best way to work them into my quilts.  I learned about various methods like needle turn, freezer paper, fabric glue and even glue sticks.

My first attempt was using Heat and Bond (a sticky material used to iron on the pieces) to applique designs, which worked well and was perfect for me as a beginner.

After making a few quilts and mastering the art of applique, I set my eyes on recreating a special quilt that I remember sleeping under as a child at my grandmother’s house.

I remember tracing the outline of each piece, looking to find my favorite fabric, all the while not knowing anything at all about quilts.

I now know that the quilt pattern is called Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  My grandma has long since passed, and I have done all I can to find the quilt so I can reproduce it.

Sample Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt

Of all of the beautiful quilts she had, no one knows where her Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt ended up.

I purchased 30s fabric, (Grandmother’s Flower Garden dates somewhere around 1920-1930s) scoured the internet for various Grandmother’s Flower Garden variations, and researched different ways to sew the hexagons.

After reading all I could, I decided that EEP, paper piecing the hexagons, would be the way to go with my quilt. 

I hand stitched the hexagons together; you will find various hand sewn stitches to use and even how to sew the shapes with a machine in the links below.

English paper piecing is most often a hand sewing technique where you wrap the fabric pieces around a paper template to create a very neat and precise design.

The shapes are then stitched together into a pattern. Once the quilt top is finished, the paper templates are removed.

EPP is great for designs that have many set-in corners, such as hexagons and diamonds. English paper piecing is very portable; I loved having a project that was easy to carry with me, and we all know that hand sewing can be very relaxing and meditative.

For applique and English paper piecing, there are several types of threads I’ve tried.  Silk thread makes my stitches nearly invisible, but I found it a bit expensive.  I also tried thin polyester thread, which is strong and is great to use when you machine applique or EEP. I did not like it for hand sewing.

The thread that I prefer for my hand applique and EPP is most definitely cotton thread. 50wt thread works just fine, but a thinner thread would be perfect! 

With Aurifil’s 80wt cotton thread, this finer thread makes for almost invisible stitching and costs much less than the silk threads.

The links below will help you to learn the basic techniques and various forms of applique and English paper piecing. We have both written and video tutorials. 

You’ll also find some great patterns to work with!  For even more patterns, check out our free applique pattern page and the free patterns for English paper piecing.

It’s time to get started! Browse the links below!!