How To English Paper Piecing

I hope you have had a wonderful time sewing and I am doing a bit of hexagon quilting (English paper piecing) during the weekend for a project. I learned this English Paper Piercing from my mom and we have made a few blankets for our family since young, all hand-sewn with love!!!

Can you guess what I making with this lock of hexagon quilting? I am not telling what it is, you got to guess. Some photos here should give you a great hint!!! I will post up the finished piece, so come back later to check out. 

Since I am doing it, I photographed the steps just to show you the process to make blocks of hexagon quilting.

How To Do English Paper Piecing in Quilting

First, you need to cut out the hexagon shape cardboards and fabrics of your choice. The size of the fabric must be big enough so that you can fold it over like the picture shown below. An estimation of double the size of your hexagon cardboard is required.

Tack stitch the fabric while folding it to the cardboard as shown. This is to secure the fabric in place in the shape of a hexagon.

The back.

 

The front.

 

With front-facing each other, sew the 2 pieces up. Only pick the fabric to sew, not the cardboard.

 

After sewing a centerpiece surrounding by 6 hexagons, you will get a 6 petals flower of hexagon quilting.

The one I made (as shown in the first photo) is slightly different where I have 2 centerpieces and that makes it look elongated like an oval shape. That is going to be my secret project that I will tell you later. So, stay tuned!

Remark: After you have finished sewing and joining with enough hexagons, you will have to remove the cardboard and go on sewing into a blanket, motif, or other creations of hexagon quilting.

Update!

I have created a pin cushion project from this hexagon quilt, please go there and have a look!