Photo used with permission from Kaye Prince-Hollenberg

Can you use EQ7 for EPP?  I was asked this question recently and decided to explore the answer for my readers.  I am a huge paper piecing fan but I usually work with foundation paper piecing, not EPP (English Paper Piecing).  English Paper Piecing is a little bit different.  It is achieved by cutting templates from paper or a light weight card-stock, wrapping fabric around them, and tacking the fabric to the template with basting stitches or glue.  Then the shapes are joined together with a whip stitch or ladder stitch.

Photo used with permission from Faith Jones

There are a couple of ways to create EPP templates in EQ7. One way is to use the “One Patch” quilt layout option and print a sheet of the given shapes. Jenny Novinsky from EQ has a tutorial available to walk you through the steps needed to do that.

Her tutorial uses the One Patch Cobblestone layout where octagons and squares are joined to create a great design. Find her tutorial here.

As you can see, there are lots of One Patch options including Hexagons, Trapezoids and Triangles.  You could print a wide variety of shapes in whatever dimensions you choose.

What if you want to design your own pattern, or print templates for a block in the block library?  That is possible too.  I selected the Boise block from the Block Library as an example.

In order to print English Paper Piecing templates for this block, I went to “File,” “Print,” and “Templates.”

Next, I unchecked the “Print seam allowance” box.

Then I selected Print Preview to see what I would be printing.  As you can see, there is a key block to help you envision where each piece goes, and the templates below.

I just used this block from the Block Library as an example.  You can use any block from the block library or any block that you draw and print it similarly, as templates with no seam allowances, and you are ready for English Paper Piecing.

I hope you find this tutorial helpful!