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Writer's pictureSondra Raby

How to Make English Paper Pieced Christmas Ornaments


Make your own EPP Christmas Ornaments

English Paper Piecing has got to be one of my all time favorite quilty thing to do and make. Honestly, you'll never catch me out without some epp in tow. Not only is it travel friendly, but small projects like these English paper pieced Christmas ornaments make the perfect quick quilt gift to whip up in a night or a bunch over a weekend. I personally will be sending these happy ornaments with my Christmas cards this year!



How to Make English Paper Pieced Christmas Ornaments


First things first, what you'll need to make 1 EPP (English paper piece) ornament:


Supplies

scissors, glue sticks, fabric, and more for sewing epp
  • (x14) 3/4in Hexagons {we've included a print out here so you can print your own onto cardstock and cut out if you do not have any on hand}

  • Fabric -amounts vary on if you're fussy cutting, using many different fabrics, or just two

  • Scissors & Snips

  • Glue Stick

  • Needle

  • Thread

  • Chopstick

  • Christmas Ribbon


Terms to know

  • EPP- English paper piecing

  • RS - right side of fabric

  • WS - wrong side of fabric




How to Baste & Sew EPP


Here are my tried and true steps for getting started with hexagon blossoms:

(you will make 2 blossoms per ornament)

detailed instructions on how to prepare and sew EPP (English paper piecing)
How to prepare and piece an English paper pieced blossom

For the ornaments, you can follow these instructions, or you can alter them with whichever basting technique you prefer (glue basters I'm looking at you!). For my ornaments I used the back loop basting method because I left my basting stitches in so when I removed the papers it kept a better form (and because I'm lazy lol).



Glue your papers to the wrong side of the fabric

hexagon papers and cheap glue stick


Make sure to leave a fat 1/4 in around the papers when you cut them out!

cut around the papers with 1/4 in boarder

Arrange your hexagons

basted hexagons arranged around a center, all ready for sewing
bunny butts!!




Remember to sew around the center hexagon first. This helps keep all the sides matching up.

back side of the EPP blossom showing the loop basting


With both Hexagon Blossoms complete, put them RS together and sew along the outside. Leave the top open for turning the ornament inside right and attaching the hanging ribbon.

(follow along the red arrows)

Start sewing from the start, around the entire edge to the finish line to secure the two sides of the ornaments together



Now it's time to remove the papers!!

time to remove the papers


Turn inside right through the opening you left.

Use the chop stick to gently push the corners out.

different bunnies fussy cut to make one ornament


Cut your ribbon to a length you desire then pin it in place so the ends are inside the end that was left open. Using your sewing machine run a straight stitch 1/8 in from the edge.


Finish your ornament by hand sewing up the two remaining open sides

ribbon tucked and machine sewed in place


And there you have it! A perfectly adorable Christmas ornament that anyone would love to have hanging on their tree.

EPP ornaments



Give fussy cutting a try


Looking to add some more pizzaz to your ornaments? Why not give fussy cutting a try? Read here to see how you can use stripes in your EPP. By repeating the same pattern with each hexagon you can get all sorts of different looks.



arrows fussy cut to make a star ornament

Repeating shapes can make your Ornament dynamic

fabric ornaments fussy cut to make one quilty ornament

one bunny makes it the focal point of the ornament

Or using one focal image to draw attention to it or use words to convey Christmas wishes













Have you made Christmas ornaments before? Let me know which ornament is your favorite and why it's the bunny butts lol.


Happy Stitching & Happy Ho ho ho to you


Sondrasa



 

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