Favorite EPP Notions

I recently jumped on the Halloween EPP bandwagon since, you know, I didn’t have enough WIPs already. (Ha!) I’ve got loads of EPP projects in various stages of completion, but I’ve never tackled a large-scale Halloween EPP project before. I chose to make a Cherish quilt simply because I had an extra Cherish papers kit lying around in the studio.

English paper piecing is actually my favorite method of sewing. It’s the most relaxing, by far, and I particularly enjoy the back-to-basics process of it all. All you need is a little fabric, some paper shapes, a needle and thread. A warm iron doesn’t hurt either, but it’s not required.

I’m often asked what notions I prefer for EPP, so if you’ve ever been curious, this post is for you. First off, I know that I’m potentially in the minority on this one, but I prefer thread basting. If you’ve never given thread basting a try, I highly recommend it. Thread basting is, perhaps, my favorite part of the EPP process. It’s simple, quick and there’s no sticky glue involved. I, personally, don’t enjoy the glue basting process, nor do I like struggling to pull papers that have been glued to fabric. Papers are much easier to pull without glue. Plus, I like to reuse my papers for future projects, and thread basting leaves them unscathed.

If you’ve never tried EPP, give it a go! Like any other method of sewing, there’s a learning curve, but it’s well worth it.

My Favorite EPP Notions

Needles: Tulip Brand Sashiko Needles. This needle kit comes in the cutest little test tube container and features an assortment of needles in varying sizes and lengths. I use these needles for all of my hand stitching and quilting projects.
You can find them here.

Thread: I’ve tried lots of brands of thread over the years, and I’ll forever be a Gutermann gal. For EPP, I use their hand quilting thread (look for the beige colored spools). I most frequently use color 6506 Medium Gray so that it blends in nicely with most fabrics. If I’m using lighter color fabrics, I sometimes switch to 5709 White. The thread is strong, durable and doesn’t tangle as easily as other brands. I don’t use thread gloss, because there’s no need.
You can find them here.

Snips: I always carry a good, sharp pair of snips. I have a fun, little collection of scissors and swap between favorites, but these 4″ Tula Pink snips are wonderful for EPP.
You can find them here.