#needleworkmonday :: Needlework therapy with scrap fabric to create new fabric designs with English Paper Piecing (EPP)

A safe #NeedleWorkMonday everyone!

Back in school, I remembered learning hexagon piecing or English Paper Piecing, with an abbreviation of EPP, a needlework craft whereby we wrap fabric over a hexagon shaped paper and sew each corner before joining each hexagon pieces with one another. I remembered getting frustrated because my hexagons never worked. It would become loose and untidy. Then, I gave up.

Years after, I kept wanting to give piecing a try again, especially when I have lots of fabric scraps lying around, not doing much, except bumming around collecting dust. Plus, my sewing machine is still frozen and I can only bring it to the shop after the lockdown is over. All my grand projects of sewing has to be put on hold... or maybe not ;)


Before machines came into picture, human sewed by hand. There is no better time than now to try this, isn't it?

I remembered my frustration when I tried piecing and I thought better to watch some video tutorials first :D. I found this video tutorial by CraftyPod.
that shows how it should be done, step by step.
I liked the way the video was presented. It doesn't look that hard.

I also remembered when I was frustrated, the fabric I used was a slippery polyester fabric that does not crease well. Now that I know a little bit more about fabric, I will choose cotton, not too thick, not too thin.

First things first, I need those paper templates. I have no access to a printer and so, I draw them:




and cut them out:


I chose to draw 2cm length for each side of the hexagon so that it doesn't take too much fabric because I have scraps that are small. I traced a template from my mobile screen and then replicated the measurements all around the piece of paper.

Once that was done, I prepared my tools in a box - paper hexagon templates, a thimble, some flat pin needles, a clip clamp, some white and colored threads, scissors and needles:

A box makes it easier to carry this project around - in front of the telly, into the bedroom, into the kitchen :P

I prepared my fabric scraps, cutting them into 5cm x 5 cm and arrange them by colour shades:

I did not cut them to the shape of the hexagon because I did not want to throw away the extra scraps. My thought was to keep them as part of the new fabric creation, adding layers.

Then, it was time to try.

I clipped the hexagon paper template to the center of the fabric and folded the sides of the fabric following the shape of the hexagon:


I used a light gray thread and started sewing tack stitch at a corner that has been nicely folded, following the video tutorial:


.. moving around on every side of the hexagon:


...ending it, using the method showed by the video and turn it around, a nice little hexagon:


I worked on the second piece:


And soon, more pieces:


It was quite quick to work on one piece, especially with cotton fabric that folds well and the tack stitch is neat too:





The next part is to join these babies together using whipstitch, following another video tutorial by CraftPod.

I haven't quite decided what I am going to create or how I am going to piece all these together but I can see some options already :)

What is therapeutic here, you might ask? The drawing of the hexagon templates, the cutting of the hexagon pieces, the choosing of the fabric, the cutting of the fabric, the folding of the fabric against the hexagon templates, the sewing of tack stitches and whip stitches to join the pieces together and seeing the pieces come to life, one after another and later, to design! I can imagine myself sitting in front of the telly and keep working on these pieces, just like crochet or knitting. Bliss!

I will keep adding to the collection and see where this goes and that will be another story to share :)

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Here's wishing everyone a good week ahead and
Happy #NeedleWorkMonday!

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