I'm enjoying the quilt market posts ... I have never been to a Quilt Market, and am a fairly new quilt shop owner. I don't see a market attendance in my future (do other small quilt shop owners travel the distance go to such a market? Do they close their shops while they're gone?) It's an interesting concept, and i've learned that it does impact me as a small shop ... orders I place with fabric representatives are often delayed, and lower priced fabrics are often 'out of stock' before delivered because the quilt market buyers have priority ... Is there ever a Quilt Market held in the northern New England area?

Thanks for the posts!

When I first started, I read about using a paper punch to punch a hole in the middle of each paper piece. When you lay the paper against your fabric, put a pin in and out thru the hole to hold the fabric and paper together so it doesn't shift when you sew. Worked like a charm for me. Good luck!

I'm currently involved in two EPP quilt-alongs: Katja Marek's The New Hexagon - Millefiore Quilt (it was shown at Market) and a Facebook group, Mystahhhhry Along with Hillbilly. Trudie's tip is spot-on - I punch a small hole and use little applique pins for my hexies, when I don't glue-baste - which I mainly do on odd-shaped pieces or when fussy-cutting.

Good luck on your project!

I'm a glue baster too.... on smaller shapes especially. often bigger shapes are better stitch basted. Diane's book is fabulous and teaches you everything you need to know! Jump in and have fun with it.

I really enjoy EPP... but I'm no pro. I first started years ago with a plastic template method. Each template had a circle cut out of the center and you hand basted the fabric around the template. Once it was sewn completely into your project, there was a tiny dowle thingy that you could use to pop the plastic out. I had many problems with this method. I did not love it. I say don't go there, I was also doing a traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden setting thing. That got old. So, I started a new/different project. Very scrappy, no rhyme or reason. All Fig Tree fabrics, because those are my fav and I could NEVER get bored. Also quick, because it's scrappy and I don't have to do a lot of thinking/planning. Also, true to the name, I'm using paper-- LOVE that method. Here's a fun tip... I bought a paper punch of the size hexy I wanted from the scrapbook section of my local craft store and I cut all of my papers from my junk mail envelopes. Well, are bills junk? Huh..... that's debatable, but I use a thicker envelope that I might have trashed and it makes lovely papers that would have been wasted. I'm happy for you to begin this adventure. It's fun to having stiching to do on the go. Enjoy!

Great projects.I`ve just finished a hexie pouch and I enjoy playing with hexies while I`m watching tv.

epp aficionado here! I can't believe I didn't know about the color coordinated pack pieces. Ingenious.
What I'd like to know is what you do with all the strips of fabric that were booth decor. I would dearly love to buy them :) I'm a scrappy girl and those would pump up my depleted stash!
Sharyn

I love EPP. I baste, remove the papers as they are surrounded by other shapes. Sometimes I fussy cut, although I hate wasting fabric. EPP is delightfully mindless. The best part is selecting your fabrics and figuring out where you'll put them, and then totally changing your mind. You can listen to NPR or watch TV and EPP. It's a delight!

I found a small picnic basket that has all my hexie essentials stashed in it. When I go to small group or will be waiting somewhere I assemble my flowers from all the finished hexies. Remember it is not a race, it is just a way to show something for all the small bits of time you can snatch here and there. Besides just touching the fabric calms me. Allison in Plano, TX USA

If you use the Applique Paper pre cut EPP you don't have to take out the papers when you are done. I love the new way to do EPP. Use a very fine needle and Superior's Bottom Line Thread. You won't see you stitches.

This hand sewing takes time so do it only if you enjoy the process as much as the finished result as even a small project will take a lot of time.

If you are punching your own papers, consider using blow-ins, those subscription cards that fall out of magazines. They are a good weight for this work.

Linzee I would thoroughly recommend Superior Bottom Line thread, it's excellent at making your stitches disappear. Grey, is a good all-round colour for multitude of fabric colours if you only want one spool. A longer, Milliners needle gives you a good grip for holding such tiny things as well. I like to take the papers out as I go too, allows you to have more room to manoeuvre while sewing. If you happen to be in London next Autumn I'm teaching a workshop on it at Liberty's! :-) Enjoy the process above all. Best wishes, Jessie

Best not to start.............it's like a terrible addiction and you just can't stop and you keep thinking of new things EPP you want to do or how pieces can go together..........

but hot tips for the new addiction - glue pens, the right needle and thread (bottomline one mentioned in the previous comment) also help hide your stitches better..............there are no rules if it fits do it...........and I love my fussy cutting viewers and mirror....including link below so you see what I am talking about...........
http://www.homepatch.com.au/products/notions/templates/fussy-cutting-vie...

And if you fussy cutting you will never look at fabric the same again..........even peoples clothes............
Once your starting to take papers out a tailors awl is sooo handy to slip in under the fabric and release the glue........if it's too hard to pull off your using too much glue...........
do a good job on preping your fabric onto the papers and everything goes beautiful from there...........
HAVE FUN..........

Oh and there are so many other great shapes other then hexies.................