Over the last couple of weeks I have been gallivanting to a wedding in Southern California, traipsing around Disneyland and teaching a bunch of wonderful 8 to 10 years old sew doll clothes. It has been fun and action packed, but there has been only a sprinkling of quilting… and all of it has been English paper piecing.
My go to travel project has become my new obsession… For the California trip I packed my mini Liberty dresden kit…
… I managed to get quite a few dresdens blades done while sitting on the plane or by the pool…
… I have become a little obsessed with finding little scraps of Liberty to add to this project…
… and I really do mean mini scraps. I can get two blades easily from a 2 1/2 inch square!
My other ongoing summer travel project, my hexagon pelt, has gone with me to games nights, picnics and camping….
I grab this kit regularly when we are heading ona long drive or out to events… just in case I get time to baste a few hexies….
I also have just started basting some mini Cotton and Steel hexies. I had so many little scraps of fabric left over after making a couple of Cotton and Steel mini quilts for the swap (check out the post here to see two of them) that could not got to waste so…
The C+S hexagons were made from scraps that were too small for my main hexagon pelt (main pelt hexie size is 1 inch)…
Now three EPP projects on the go at the same time might seem excessive, but I am sure I can handle a couple more…. you see, last week for my birthday I got these books…
..and the July copy of Love Patchwork and Quilting which had this free gift with it…
…plus I also discovered that you can use the EQ7 quilting program to print out quilt blocks in segments….. I think my obsession with hand work may have only just started…
WOMBAT QUILTS 
Mind-bogglingly detailed! Your luggage must have been all templates and fabrics on your travels!
I found a Fiskars hexie punch, extra large, that gives me a 1″ per side hexagon to make my paper pieces with. I use a Crop-a-dial 1/4″ punch to put a hole in the cardstock.
Crystal. I also use the Fiskars punch for my hexies. So much cheaper than buying papers….particular since I am using my old scrap booking supplies for the card.
So, I am not alone… Of all the people obsession could have struck, you are the most deserving! One day, you’ll have stitched together all the flowers you need for your husband’s quilt, and people will look at it and marvel, and tell you they don’t know where you find the patience. You will nod and smile, but secretly you know that *you just have to keep making hexies*! All Points Patchwork is a wonderful book and suit both complete novices and people who’ve been ‘hexing’ a while. And one final thing: I’ve re-used all my hundreds and hundreds of hexie papers at least three or four times, so it’s not really necessary to keep making or buying them. The corners do go a bit round after a while, but you learn to compensate.
I knew you would understand my new obsession. I am looking forward to trying some triangles and different patterns… but I am trying to pace myself….but it may not work.
I’m not sure it will work, but good luck trying! One day, I’ll see you posting about starting a Millefiori quilt (https://www.paperpieces.com/shop/Books/Millefiori-Quilts.html), and with your colour sense it’ll be AMAZING…
I like your idea for using that sew together bag for just one project. Did you use a template to make the dresdens or is there a paper piecing Dresden? I ask because I just learned how to make one with a template and I sewed it on my machine.
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I need to get my hands on those books! Love the dresden shapes too ❤ I can't wait to expand my EPP skills, thanks for posting on this!
You are welcome Christina, but beware it is so addictive. I started another EPP project last night. I could not help myself.
LOL…Can’t wait to see it 😀
EPP is great for out and about, and so addictive. I really, really, really love your Liberty dresdens and so tiny too! “All Points Patchwork” is a super book, and I also recently got “Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles, and More: Skill-Building Techniques for 60-Degree Patchwork” by Kelly Ashton which has loads of ideas in too so definitely a case for having more than one EPP project on the go 🙂
I was looking at Kelly’s book at my LQS the other day. It is on my wish list.
I love your hexie container! Who makes it?
The white plastic one is an old IKEA container I inherited from a friend. The wonderful pouch/bag was made for me by another friend. In the past I have used metal pencil cases and containers from the $1 bin at Target.
You and me both!!! You said it–travel and being out and about requires a portable, small project and EPP is perfect! I’m being sucked down that rabbit hole of creativity, too! It’s fabulous 😉
I’ve just recently got the bug…and cannot wait to do more and more! They are the perfect project for evening work or to take on the go! Love your dresdens…so tiny and cute!
I could never see what the fuss with EPP was about – then I made some Liberty hexis, and now I am making an EPP pillow as my slow project. This form f sewing should come with a warning:
“Can cause serious addiction”
Love those liberty dresdens too.
Those dresdens are just delish! I can totally relate to your EPP obsession. I never thought I’d enjoy it but as soon as I tried it I was completely hooked and always have at least two different project pouches filled and ready to bring with me when I’m out and about. I usually work to my own designs which I really enjoy, although it can be time consuming to cut all my own papers. My husband has a silhouette cameo and that is brilliant for mass cutting shapes, especially when I want a lot of smaller ones such as 1/4inch hexies. The only possible downside to my EPP obsession is that it has fed my Liberty addiction but i’ve so many ideas I want to try I don’t think i’ll ever get enough of either!
Almost no scrap is too small for EPP, which is why I think I love it too. It is all about avoiding throwing away perfectly good fabric, right?
I would love more information on EQ7 printing segments of a block. Thank you!
Rebecca I am not quite sure what you are referring to. Are you taking printing just segments of paper pieces pattern?