There are a handful of tools that I find essential for my design work. Please be aware that some of these links are affiliate links.
I do the vast majority of my paper piecing design work in EQ8. It’s not necessary but it certainly makes the process faster and easier!
Shop quilt design software, book, and more at ElectricQuilt.com!Proper pressing is so important with paper piecing. Otherwise, all your work at precision goes right out the window! I use an Oliso iron and wool mat. Oliso also has mini irons for small projects or workshops that are great. Find all of these products here.
These are my all time favorite pins for paper piecing.
I use these needles for all of my paper piecing.
I use Aurifil 50 weight thread for paper piecing, and often this neutral shade of gray.
I put together a few collections of my favorite paper piecing notions in my Etsy shop. They are not sold individually, but as a group. You can find them here.
It’s really important to protect your thread from light and dust. I use these storage cases for my spools of Aurifil. They are double sided and hold quite a bit of thread.
A lightbox improves your accuracy and speed when paper piecing. I use mine all the time, as well as the cutting mat.

I recently experimented with a number of hand sewing needles because I lost my favorite needle for binding! At the end of my trials, I decided this was my favorite, Tulip Hiroshima Needles.
Do I have a favorite brand of solids for paper piecing? Yes, I do! Whenever possible, I use Art Gallery Pure Solids. I’m a huge fan. I find that the Fat Quarter Shop has a great selection and often order from them.
As a former collections curator, I am very careful about how I label my quilts. I used Pigma pens in the museum world and I now use them to write my quilt labels on a piece of plain cotton that I sew onto the quilt. I do heat set them with my iron as well.