I have a slow growing flower garden in my sewing room. The one with flowers that blooms and continues to bloom forever.
The slow process of making these English paper pieced flowers from little hexagons is itself a great therapy. I am not shooting to finish fast, rather enjoy doing it little by little from time to time.
Let’s be honest here, I have a problem with too many (way many) works in progress. Ahakz.
I get distracted so easily.
Can you relate?
While sometimes I wish I could just work on this one very quilt till it gets done, I do not have the strength to resist other temptation of new quilt projects.
So, it will be as is. A slow growing project that one day I know I’ll finish.
And every time I work on it, I get to admire the progress a little more, fond the fabric a little more.
English Paper Piecing Hexagon Flower Garden
There are affiliate links in this post provided for your convenience. Please find my full disclosure here.
Flower Garden pattern is from 
I am currently working on this quilt named “Flower Garden” in the book
The
There is something about antique quilt pattern that makes them unique as they are. The beautiful repetitive patterns, mostly of tiny pieces. Look for them on pinterest. I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to Antique Quilt alone. Follow me there if you are a fan of antique quilts too.
Currently, I am working on basting the hexagons, trying to collect enough of these for the quilts before I turn them into flowers.
They are kept in an organizer box, the perfect way to keep them organized.
I stitch baste these hexagons onto a lightweight paper that I printed and cut myself.
If you are interested to print one yourself, just sign up below and see how I cut them in this post here. I use rotary cutters to quickly cut them.
You can also check out how I stitch baste these in this post. I have listed 5 ways to baste there, but I love to stitch baste onto the fabrics only to make it easier for me to remove the papers.
Paper type for English Paper Piecing
Talk about papers, I am currently using the regular print paper (70-80gsm paper) and I find it so much easier to stitch with and gives more flexibility to fix any slight mismatch.
Plus, they are much cheaper (or free if you reuse some old document). These light-weight paper also are easier to take out once you need them out.
I have used ones I printed on 120gsm cards, they give better crease and fold but sometimes I find them too rigid. So, I prefer the regular paper weight for bigger projects.
How about you? Which paper do you like to use?
Want to add extra inspirations to your therapy, have quotes on these templates, and you’ll be sure to love reading them as you sew them.
If you want to print the exact one, get them through the form below:
I have made it halfway with the flowers. Will continue making these and do you see that applique border?
Will want to try that out too.
So, that is surely one slow process for me.
What do you think of slow projects?
Do you have a slow project that you are working on from time to time?
If you are interested in making this exact quilt, make sure you
16 Comments
Yes, I have several projects going at once! I told my sister that alot of us quilters are alike in this area.I thought it was kind of nice to have ‘sister quilters” with the same problem. But she didn’t see it that way. She is way more focused that I am. Just need prayer. I would love to be able to get one project done in a relatively decent amount of time.
I am making the same quilt as you minus the border and making my own border. I like thin papers to use for EPP. I know some use heavier and I do not like them, I am making a Sue Dailey pattern also and her pattern came withe papers but they are more like card stock – I feel I need to use the papers as they came with the pattern and I paid for it – but I am almost ready to trace out as I need them onto freezer paper instead – I love using freezer paper it is so thin and bends as I need it to – you can press down with an iron and then thread baste or glue baste which ever you like
Isn’t having lots of projects the usual for those of us who quilt?
I don’t know of anyone who just works on one-although I have to admit it would be nice to see something finished!
I love what you have accomplished so far; and I think the attitude with which you are doing it is great. It is lovely to just enjoy the sewing journey-it is very relaxing and great to do at the end, or during, a busy day.
I use copy paper too. I have made two hexagon quilts both hand quilted. I am currently working on a Lucy Boston POTC. My EPP project is what I work on in the evening when I have no other handwork.
I have two tips that I have learned from my experience. I put a dab of acid free glue(washable) in the centre of my papers. I just use a glue stick. I find this holds the paper and fabric in place while I baste the pieces. When taking out the papers they just pull away easily.
For hand quilting be very careful what batting you use. I used a thin polyester batting for the first quilt and that was fine. The next time I used cotton batting! It was incredibly heavy and very hard to get the needle through.
I look forward to seeing your finished quilt
Anne
Thank you for your tips Anne!
I usually use cotton batting for all of my quilts so, that is a great keypoint about handquilting and batting. If I would handquilt this quilt that is. I am not sure whether I am up for that yet 🙂
I just read your newsletter about fabric cutters. I have the Baby Go and use it for cutting fabric for my 1” hexies. I love the uniform cut and have a die that has the option of 3 sizes. I also use mt Fiskers he is punches foe cutting my card stock. I have figured out how to “fussy”cut my fabric and the measurement of fabric to have the least waste. That’t What happens when you and a friend join 2 different swaps.?
Thank you Margaret! That sounds great. Baby Go is cheaper and I think if it suits the purpose of the hexie fabric cutting, I’ll be in the look out for that.
I have this book and have wanted to do this. Are you getting the lazer applique pieces from Edyta Sitar @ The Laundry Basket or patterns provided in her book. Love the way your gardens growing. Happy Stiyching.
The quilt is beautiful isn’t? I am going to be getting the accuquilt die cutter, and I want to buy the die instead. Not exactly the same, but similar floral and leaves. Just so that the fabric pieces matches too.
I am stitching the Lallybroch pattern by Helen Stubbings right now (Craftsy class). I am using her precut iron-on papers. I love it, because you can leave it in.
Interesting. Does it dissolve later when washed? I am going to check her class on that.
In the U.S. we have something called “construction paper” that I like to use for EPP. I don’t know if you have the same terminology for it there. It is a coarse paper, but easy to penetrate with a needle (which is my preferred way of making the shapes). Craft stores often sell packages of all-white paper, as well as the bright colors frequently used for children’s crafts. I try to avoid the bright colors because of potential dye transfer.
It may be the same terminology in the UK, but what I use is called applique paper and pre cut shapes. It is Helen Stubbings’ own product. Before I enrolled in the class, I never heard of it but I can truly recommend it!
It partially dissolves when you wash it. It gives your patchwork pieces “body”.
My first quilt was a hexagon, and I started another one two years ago, so far I’m four rows in, it’s a traditional one with 1930s prints, simpler than yours, which is beautiful. It’s good to have something to do sitting in front of the TV, I’ve finished about four other quilting projects and this one is still being picked up, I’ll probably be bereft when it’s finished, nothing to do with my hands in the evening!
I have two epp flower garden quilts in progress. One is with 1930 reproductions and the other is with baby prints. The 1930’s one was started years ago and the baby one last November. Both are going slowly especially now with arthritis in my right thumb. Yesterday I tried making a block on the sewing machine and it worked great. I think I’ll start doing that in the future as it’s so painful now to sew by hand.