Whether you are an experience English Paper Piecer or a new beginner, there are some fundamental tools you need in your Toolkit that will make your English Paper Piecing easier and better. You can find all of these on Amazon by clicking the links in the article Let’s talk about the Best Tools For English Paper Piecing!
Aurifil Thread Set Classic Collection 50wt Cotton 12 Large (1422 yard) Spools
Aurifil 50 wt thread is an excellent choice for hand sewing tasks. When English paper piecing, your stitches will occasionally show from the right side of the work. Choose a light-colored thread that blends well with your fabrics. Here is a nice selection that is easy to take with you.
Promising Amazon Reviews
I had not used Aurifil Thread prior to receiving 4 spools from my granddaughter at Christmas. Working on a quilt I decided to use it and I was quite literally dumbfounded how smooth and clean it was. This is my go to thread going forward and the box set is a good way to get started. And the price is very good. – Anonymous Quilter
I love the thread collection, I am quilter and use Aurifil thread most of the time. Would buy again from them. – Jill
Paper Pieces HEX100L 1″ 600 Piece Hexagons
The Paper Pieces company is one of my favorites for precut English Paper Piecing papers. With these, there is no need to trace our own templates. These papers make EPP quilting faster and more accurate so you can relax and quilt. Try this pack of Hex’s for your next project.
Promising Amazon Review
Making a flower garden quilt and needed more hexies. Good product and price. – Kerry V.
Excellent! So nice to find the larger quantity! – Jed
54 Pcs/Set Acrylic Stencil Template
Good templates allow you to trace and cut accurate pieces yourself. This pack gives you 54 pieces to mix and match to create your own quilt designs. The acrylic templates are highly durable. The shapes are divided into two parts. The outer edge is the seam allowance. The inner edge is the actual shape and size of the piece finished. Some are solid so you have choices. Try these if you prefer to cut shapes yourself.
Amazon Promising Review
I like them, I am not sure they will ultimately be as durable as plastic but honestly the selection, and precise cuts mean they are super useful. I quilt and use EPP and so these were a great buy for me. I highly recommend – AMW
100 Pack Mini Wonder Multi-Purpose Clips
These mini clips feature great holding capacity and are helpful to use with your English Paper Piecing project. They allow you an easier grasp of your pieces as you work on them. They help hold all your edges in place while you stitch. This package contains 100 wonder clips,
Amazon Promising Review:
These clips are perfect for quilting projects! I love them and will be ordering another set soon. They have a nice tight grip, and don’t break easily like some other clips that I have had in the past. I also liked that they’re all clear. – EP86
Quilting on the Go Book
In her new book, Quilting On The Go: English Paper Piecing, Sharon shares with you her love for English Paper Piecing and Fussy Cutting. She will guide you through all the steps of English Paper Piecing, starting with the basics. Work your way from the humble hexagon to stars, curves and more. Sharon shares her tips, techniques to help you achieve great results and what to look for when choosing fabrics to fussy cut.
Amazon Promising Review
I love English Paper Piecing and my husband is very generous in letting me order most every book on the subject, on his Prime Account. I enjoy each one but this book is exceptionally brilliant! It is of top quality as far as the way it is laid out. It is user friendly for a beginner but has so much more. The patterns are creative and invites new ways of looking at EPPing, for all skill levels. The instructions and pictures are beautiful and inspire me to try every single project. This book is a treasure and well worth the purchase price. – H. Reed
Sewline Water-Soluble Fabic Glue Pen with Refill
Sewline makes some great products, and this glue pen is certainly one of them. It’s a convenient and fast way to adhere your fabric to your paper piece while you are working on it. Using this glue pen will help you achieve those crisp edges. This glue stick is my favorite because it’s not messy. The glue goes on easy and holds well.
Amazon Promising Review
One of the magic products that a frequent sewer wonders: how did I ever get along without this? and..I will never be without it again. Perfect amount of “stick”, you can easily re-position even thin pieces of fabric without stretching them out of shape or tearing them to do so, as similar products have performed.
Also, rubbing the stick on fabric does not lift it off the table, requiring strategically placing all of your fingers to hold the fabric down to use it. I’m sure sewers know exactly what I am referring to. Most importantly, it never gums up your needles or pins.
I’ve also used this with great success on various types of paper projects. First class purchase. – Myshkin
Clover Thread Cutter Pendant
Because an English Paper Piecing project travels well, it is likely that you will take your project with you on car trips, doctor’s appointments, etc. This clever thread cutter is just what you need for projects on the go. Not only is it functional, but is also decorative. I have used mine for years. Most people will think you are wearing a pretty pendant. Won’t they be surprised to find out you can cut threads with it too!
Promising Amazon Review
What decided me on getting this cutter was that I’d been stopped while going through airport security for my little embroidery scissors. To be fair they are sharp, but I don’t think you could take hostages with them! At any rate, I bought this pretty little cutter, and it makes me feel like I have a secret weapon concealed in my jewelry like a spy! It cuts yarn and thread really well, and it has a pretty, wearable design. I put mine on a matching chain to wear. I think this has to be the last thing I get to wear around my neck though, since I already wear readers on a ribbon and an ID card w/pen on a lanyard. I’m starting to look like one of those pitbulls when they put those weights around their necks, LOL – KJ
Embroidery Scissors Gold Stork Sewing Scissors Small
A small pair of sharp scissors is ideal for snipping threads and trimming seam allowances. The classic golden crane is pretty and you will enjoy using these scissors. I have had a pair for years and still love them. They are stainless steal and resist corrosion, rust and stain.
Promising Amazon Review
Absolutely beautiful. VERY sharp. Be careful when using these. I accidentally sliced my finger tip and didn’t even feel it, that’s how sharp they are. Very happy with my purchase – Lorla
These scissors are fabulous! I have been buying them for many years because they make wonderful gifts. I carry mine in my make-up bag in my purse. And, they can go through security, if you are going on a plane. – Alexandria
If you don’t have these products, it may be time to make some small purchases that will add to your toolkit and you will use for years, as I have.
Happy Quilting!
Deborah
P.S. Any purchase you make from these suggestions may result in a small commission to me. I only tell you about items I truly love. The commission goes toward my fabric stash. Thank you for your support!