German here, and working on a King size EPP hexagon quilt, for several years now... I tend to loose interest in it, sew something else for a change. Then grab some scraps, hexagon cardbord templates, thread and off we go to vacation, where I usually sew up all I take along! And at home it gets added to what I already have sewn (so far a bit more than Queen size) I only use Gütermann thread, it is by far the best.
That's the beauty of a large EPP project. It will be there for you when you want to come back to it. I really enjoyed reading about your process. Thanks for sharing! :)
I'm new to EPP and so far, have simply experimented with shapes, threads and needles. I starred with 50 wt Aurifil, and thought I was doing pretty well... until I tried the 80 wt Deco-Bob. What a difference! My stitches nearly disappeared into the fabric and the seams feel thinner. At first it felt like I was trying to stitch with spiderweb, and I had terrible problems with tangling. When I started using thread conditioner, it felt much more manegable and I had almost no tangles. At that point I decided to try a different needle. At the advice of a lady from the quilt shop, I bought some tiny binding needles. They sewed nicely, but the eye was so small that I had real problems threading it. I switched to an Appliqué needle, which has a larger eye. I'm using the smallest one in the pack, which I think is size 10, which is working beautifully. Then I made one more change. I was finding that I kept dropping my needle, so I decided to see if I could simply tie that 80 wt thread to the needle itself. I threaded it, then tied two knots, leaving a 3-4-inch tail. Surprisingly, it went right through the fabric, not catching at all! My frustration level has completely disappeared. The thread barely shows, handles well without tangling, and I no longer lose the needle. All I have to do now is improve my basting skill. I started with a 2" hexie, moved to a 1" hexie, and now am working on a fairly complex star. I need to improve my glue basting at the ends of those long skinny points, and then I'll be ready to start a quilt! Thank you for your videos. I've watched several and found them quite helpful. I need you try changing the angle of my stitching to reduce hand strain. That's the kind of thing you can only learn from someone with experience. Thx again!
So glad to hear you are figuring out your path forward and making it work for you. Thank you so much for sharing your journey here. It's wonderful to read how you have progressed along!
I'm A Dual Duty Coates and Clark gal for more than 50 years. EPP, applique and piecing hand or machine. Have experimented with many others and always return to Dual Duty. Too many others feel nice but start wearing thin too soon. Worn through broken thread slows things down far too much. The "two threads" is a good aim app or hand applique.
I use Aurifil 100 cotton 50/2 I’m not sure why I took a quilters recommendation. I only trouble I have is that it does catch on and curls up and it doesn’t stay straight very very well so I know what I’ve got to do now get an 80 white thread. Thanks for all your help. I do appreciate it very much.😊
I’m surprised that thread weight made that much difference! I’ve been using Coats all-purpose and an ordinary hand sewing needle, and am satisfied with the stitches not really showing. I think I’m going to spring for some milliners needles and 80 or 100 weight thread. Using one neutral colour thread is usually adequate.
Thank you for these videos! I'm brand new and just used Aurifil 50wt for my first project which seemed to work well, though I desperately wish I'd had some beeswax bc the thread constantly twisted and tangled on me.
@@eandm_creations that sounds interesting! I’d love to see the finished project. Join my private Facebook Group if you want to share it! facebook.com/groups/englishpaperpiecingepp
I’ve found that Aurifil 50 wt didn’t work for me either. Changed to poly 60 wt. I’ve never tried 80 wt as shown in this video. Obviously the finer the thread, the less visible the stitches.
I've been using Wonderfil 100wt polyester thread and really love it, though it's difficult for me to see at times. I might try the 80wt to see if it's more visible. That's what I get for taking up EPP in my 70s! 😂
I know in Canada, the Wonderfil is about 10 times the cost of Coats and Clark, but for a big cone rather than a little spool. Guterman is probably the easiest to find, in any fabric store, and is in the middle cost range, but with the most colours.
80wt Aurifil. I use basically 4 colors for all projects no matter the color of the fabric, and those colors are medium gray, light, gray, medium beige, and white. I want to try the 60wt
Do use do useBOHIN needles sharps #9 works better good. Quilting I use BOHIN between big eye # 10. They tiny but work really well. I have use many different thread and needles. This gives me better info on buying in future. But so far BOHIN France needles are so easy thru the fabric. Thank for the info, am always up to better and easier ways to get the sewing done best results.
I always use gutterman . Sew all I think it’s called. It’s a polyester thread. . Due ti doing EPP in hexagon shapes with lots of different patterns so I keep to a pale grey for all.
@@MakerJayne Well it’s hard to choose if using darker and light solid colours next to each other which would be best, but yes I have been happy with gutterman. Emma Jones from vintage sewing always finds lovely colours. But she uses a different name thread completely. Happy sewing.
@@MakerJayne love them, I want to try milliners needles 10-12 size but I live in Mexico and I have to have friends bring them to me from USA I have to have friends bring the threads too, when they fly down… nothing is simple here…only one quilt shop here in Mazatlan don’t know of any others in all of Mexico and no fabric stores sell 100% quilting cottons … except at the Quilt Shop… right now I’m working on a King Size 1 1/2” hexagon quilt. All templates drawn, cut out by hand… it’s quite a project. I need 200 blocks total, I only need to make 40 more and I can start assembling the quilt
Wow! That sounds like quite a project. I'd love to see pictures your work in progress and when it's finished. If you're interested, come share in the private Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/englishpaperpiecingepp
I tried the coats and found it rough and unrefined. I will use it to baste when I run out of glue. Guterman is my preference but I haven't tried the 80 weight. Next project I may try it out
I use a regular needle and 50wt thread and use the ladder stitch. I can't see my stitches at all with the ladder stitch. I tried the 80wt thread, but I pull too hard and kept breaking my thread. I use 2 strands of 30wt if I am doing quilt as you go EPP.
