Paper Piecing Quilts Resource Library
Paper piecing quilts is one of my favorite things! I have created lots of great patterns and found lots of great patterns across the internet. I wanted to put together a list of ALL the great paper piecing resources I have found. There are tons of great patterns, tutorials, and inspiration so look no further for your paper piecing needs!
Paper Piecing Quilts Resource Library
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. There are two main kinds of paper piecing. There is English Paper Piecing and Foundational Paper Piecing.
What is English Paper Piecing in Quilting?
English Paper Piecing is done by hand with paper templates. These paper templates are often hexagons. But there are also triangles and other shapes that you will see in English Paper Piecing. There are lots of great tutorials for EPP. This book is perfect for beginners. And this post explains another great book for EPP for beginners.
The basics of EPP are as follows:
- Cut a template from paper, or use a pre-cut template.
- Cut your fabric 1/4″ larger than the template.
- Baste the fabric around the template.
- Sew the hexagons (or other shapes) together.
- Remove the paper template.
If you are interested in EPP the Missouri Quilt Co has a great tutorial for beginners. I also follow several great people on Instagram, Giucy_giuce is one of my favorites and VioletCraft has some seriously amazing patterns!
Craftsy has two great EPP classes. THIS class for beginners and THIS class for more advanced EPP techniques.
What is Foundation piecing in quilting?
What is FPP in quilting? FPP stands for foundation paper piecing. Foundation piecing is using paper patterns to create intricately pieced quilt blocks and quilts.
The supplies for FPP are a bit different than for EPP since it is a different method. For a more detailed look at FPP check out THIS post. Here are the things you need for FPP:
- Paper – I use these Quilt Sheets in lieu of actual paper but it is the same idea. You can totally just use printer paper but these quilting sheets are a bit more user friendly! Some people also use freezer paper for their FPP patterns. Freezer paper can be pressed to the fabric which helps keep it in place when sewing. It is then easily peeled off once sewing is complete.
- Sewing Machine
- Pins
- FPP Pattern – You can find a TON of amazing patterns for FPP on Etsy. I have also put together several collections of patterns >>> Animal Paper Piecing Patterns, Easy Paper Piecing, Heart, Flamingo, & more!
What is the difference between Foundation and Paper Piecing?
The difference between Foundation Piecing and English Piecing has to do with the paper template and how the block is sewn.
Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) is typically done using a sewing machine. You print your pattern onto paper or a special quilt sheet that you can use in your printer (these are what I use!!) These patterns range from very simple to much more complex. The FPP pattern will be a larger template where you add multiple pieces of fabric whereas the EPP pattern is one small shape and then you put lots of these small shapes together to form a larger pattern or picture.
There are several great classes for this as well. HERE (Start Foundation Paper Piecing), HERE (Quick Strip Paper Piecing), and HERE (Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing.)
English paper piecing is done almost entirely by hand. You cut a paper template and then cut fabric just wider than that template. Then you baste the fabric to the paper. Last you sew all the shapes together to create unique and fun pictures. When you are more advanced in EPP you are cutting the fabric in a way so that it helps to form more shapes like THIS.
There are pros and cons to each method and you have to think about your end goal when deciding which method to use. FPP typically results in a block that fits more neatly into a larger quilt. EPP is built of shapes so it rarely fits nicely into a standard quilt block. EPP is much easier to take with you since you are doing a lot of hand work. This makes it portable so you an work on it in the car, at the doctor’s office, or even on your lunch break.
What supplies do I need for Paper Piecing?
Since EPP and FPP are so different you will need a different set of supplies.
For EPP you want supplies that are more geared towards hand sewing.
- Hand Sewing Needles
- A Thimble – These dot thimbles are great!
- Paper Templates or Patterns – See below
- Seam Roller
- Glue Pen
You can get pre-cut paper templates or you can cut them yourself. Here are the links for a few pre-cuts along with the names of many of the different shapes you can use for EPP.
If you want to cut your own there are TONS of rulers and templates to help with that process.
Tons of Great Paper Piecing Quilts Patterns
So now that you have a better understanding of the difference between the two types of piecing you are ready to select your method and get going. If you are looking for a pattern check out the links I have listed above in the different sets of supplies. Or check out Fave Quilts to find a ton of great paper piecing options!
Bluprint, previously known as Craftsy, also has tons of great resources for learning piecing and finding patterns.
I also keep THIS pinterest board up to date with all the great quilts and quilt blocks I find. They aren’t all paper piecing but they are great inspiration!
Pin Ultimate Guide to Paper Piecing
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