Are y’all ready to paaaaarty? [insert loud screaming from the crowd] To say that Pat and I are super duper stoked about this EPP Party is the understatement of the century because what we have planned for you is going to blow your minds! Every other week, we will provide you with a new 12″ English Paper Piecing block and template that will all go together as a 48″ x 48″ quilt in the end.
I know the math isn’t right but that’s because there’s a surprise in the end.
We’re also going to provide you with videos and tips to help you on your journey. To keep things simple, we have streamlined how and where you get your resources. While both of us will provide pictures and tips specific to our journey with each block on our sites, you will need to go to Pat Bravo’s blog for the blocks and templates and come here for videos tips.
If you’d prefer to purchase precut shapes, you can buy all the shapes for the first six blocks at Paper Pieces.
For the first “block,” we had no choice but to start with the most popular shape in English Paper Piecing (the hexagon) and have appropriately named the first block Hexie’s Madness. While we have provided a template for you, if you prefer to use precuts, this block uses 1″ hexagons.
Since Pat Bravo’s Dare was my very first collection that drew me to Art Gallery Fabrics, it seemed perfect to use these fabrics for the EPP Party. And in this block, I’m using all 20 of them! Now since this block is totally scrappy, I didn’t do any fussy cutting or planning with the layout. I wanted this to be a totally random experience because I find the projects where you don’t have to think too much really liberating. However, I was very methodical in the way I pieced them together. Similar to the diagram in the template instructions, I stitched my blocks into sections of six hexagons. However, I also needed two five-piece and one four-piece sections.
Next I stitched them into three columns and then stitched those columns into the finished block.
I have found that by increasing the size of EPP projects in this manner makes it a lot more manageable than continuing to add one piece at a time to a single piece.
And check out these amazing Hexies Madness blocks made during the Party.
VIDEOS
Pat and I have cooked up some yummy videos with tips and tricks that we have learned on our English Paper Piecing journeys. To view each video, click on the image and enjoy.
Also, Karen Tripp, the sponsor of this block’s prize and English Paper Piecing genius, has a video on a flat back stitch. So so good.
PRIZES
Now you can’t have an epic party without epic prizes, right? To be eligible, you need to be working on one of the blocks from the EPP Party and use the hashtag #EPPParty on Instagram as you post progress pictures. That’s it. The prize during this two-week period is definitely EPIC:
- A full Mischief Kit which includes 4 Unique Clear Acrylic Templates (1/4″ seam allowance, solid style, marking holes) and 14 Page Printed Pattern Booklet (with coloring pages)
- 24 Fat Quarter Bundle of Pat Bravo fabrics
Here’s my version of the Mischief Kit so you can see how rad it is. Also no this is not part of the prize.
So yaaaaay! There you have it. The EPP Party with Pat Bravo and Mister Domestic is officially under way. If you have any questions or comments or tips to share, please feel free to comment on either of our blogs and we’ll get back to you. We definitely want this to be a community experience so don’t be shy.
Love your info about piecing in sections! I will have to watch the videos after dinner. I started working on hexies awhile ago, but put them down because I didn’t like my stitches showing when I stitched them together. I hope the videos will help me improve my technique! That Mischief quilt is on my to do list- it would be great to win the kit!
Omg it’s so much fun to make! So excited you’re going to play!
Hey Mathew…..been watching the videos but the last one…about stitching corners doesn’t link to anything and when I went to Pat’s blog for the same video it links to your blog…but not that particular video….just thought you might like to know!
Fabric is all cut and glued!:)
Omg thanks so much Dolores. It was a mad dash to the end getting everything posted so I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know. You rock!
Hey Matthew,
I am enjoying your blogging lately and really love your YouTube channel. So inspiring!
I had a technical question about your video…..what camera do you use – the picture is amazingly clear!
Thanks!
Nicole http://www.sewmuchmoore.com
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Nikon D5500 with a 50mm
This is great I’ve been wanting to learn this… so thank you!
Yaaaay
So excited to truly learn this process! Quick question – without messing with the mystery of blocks to come is it possible to let us know what shapes we may be using so they can be ordered and on hand? I hope you know how inspiring the both of you are and you have kept things simple to start. I am a visual learner so the videos really help. Keep up the good work!
Gale
So excited to join the party. I came across this yesterday, went and bought a he I punch and correct weight paper and got my hexes ready to start sewing tomorrow night. Love the videos and am so looking forward to trying the hidden / feather stitch technique if stitching! ?
Auto correct…. bought a hexi punch.
Waaaaaaahhhhhhooooooooooooo! I am SO STOKED to get started and you know, Mathew, THE PARTY DOESN’T START TILL I WALK IN. So…I’m here!
I’m going to catch up on all your super fab videos tomorrow while the kids are in school (we all must learn in our own way, right?) and then will get to gettin’.
Thanks for all the time and effort you and Pat have invested into sharing your passion and knowledge with us. You are reigniting a LOST ART.
Ciao,
Libby
I was wondering if you got lost or something. Hehe. So glad you’re gonna play! Yaaaaay!
Very fun to do some slow stitching in the Summertime! I’m in!!!
Ok, so ahí Mathew!
Sounds interesting & fun… I have only done teeny bits of EPP but ai’m willing to try! So looks like I have some one else to follow! Haven’t watched videos yet, but I’m gonna! Thanks … I’ll take alcance to win stuff
So this is my first time doing EPP, and I’m just wondering when I should take the papers out of my hexie block? Also how do I retain the shape of the outer hexie when I do? Sorry for being so dense! I am so enjoying this though! Thank you so much!
I’m not taking mine out until the end. If you plan to machine piece the blocks, then you can take them out if you want to and press because we’re going to cut it to a square in the end.
Thank you! I’ll just leave them in then until you guys tell me what to do next! ?
Have been doing EPP for about 2 years. Sort of self taught. I watched a joining shapes together video and noticed you used a double thread. I have only been using a single thread. Does everyone use a double thread?
Probably not. I’m kind of a rule breaker. The only rule is to do whatever you feel comfortable doing.
I just started the party and love it so far! I use the flat back stitch and did them in sections like you suggested. I’m wondering how to join the sections now? If I clip the top, the sections keep shifting and I can’t hold it together? Does this make sense? Help!
I don’t use the flatback stitch. But have you watched my YouTube videos? I have one on joining larger sections together.