How to Applique EPP Blocks by Hand or Machine - Meadowsweet Quilt
Do you love EPP but don't always love how long it takes to make an entire quilt that way? We do too! So, we thought we'd share a quick little tutorial for how to applique an English Paper Pieced (EPP) block to a piece of background fabric by hand or machine. Make sure you read to the end to see some of our favorite quilts that incorporate EPP and applique, as well as a FREE tutorial to turn your block into a placemat!
by Lisa Sliva
Before We Get Started
Whether you applique an EPP block to its background by hand or machine, you’ll need to set up your block in the following way.
1. Stitch your EPP block per the pattern instructions (here is a quick refresher on EPP if you need it!). Press the block while the papers are still in so that the fabric 'remembers' the paper shape. Then remove the papers, and press the fabric back in place.
The block featured in this tutorial is called Meadowsweet, and you can find it in the shop here.
2. Crease the background square into quarters to make it easier to position the block.
3. Position the EPP block as desired on the background fabric. Use the natural lines of the block to help with alignment.
4. Baste the EPP block to the background using pins or glue. (I prefer a simple craft glue stick because I don’t like poking myself with the pins as I work!)
If you're curious about the safety of craft glue for your quilt projects, we did a comprehensive review of it in this post.
Hand Applique
1. Once your block is prepared per the instructions above, grab your needle, and thread it as you would for EPP, being sure to knot it at the end. (I use the very same needle for applique as I do for EPP – a Milliners number 9.) Try to choose a color thread that blends with the EPP block, rather than the background fabric.
2. Begin by inserting your needle from the back of the block up through the background fabric and catching a tiny bit of the edge of the EPP block. Pull taut.
3. Take two tiny whip stitches through the background and EPP block fabrics to secure.
4. Insert the needle into the background fabric directly across from where it exits the EPP block’s fabric. (This creates the least visible stitches as you go along.) In the same motion, bring the needle back up through the background fabric and into the EPP block’s fabric right at the edge of the fabric, about 1/8” away from where your first stitch was taken. Pull the thread through, and pull taut.
5. Repeat step 4 until you reach the end of that side of the shape.
6. At the end of the side, take a backstitch to secure. To do this, take an applique stitch in the opposite direction that you have been stitching.
7. To return your needle back to the end of the side, take an applique stitch in the original direction of your stitching, bringing the needle up through the corner.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 until you have appliqued the entire perimeter of the EPP block to the background fabric. (Don't forget the inner perimeter of the block if it's open like in Meadowsweet.) When you return to where you started, take another backstitch to secure. (I also do this when I end a thread as I go along.)
Finally, insert your needle into the background fabric at a slight angle to bury the thread before it exits the background square. Clip the thread on the back of the block.
9. Give it a quick press. That's it!
Machine Applique
1. Bring the prepared block over to your sewing machine. I like to use a simple top stitch for machine applique. A straight stitch with a 3.0 stitch length gives a professional look to the stitching, in my opinion. Choose a coordinating or contrasting thread.
2. Bring the needle down into one corner about 1/8” from the edge of the EPP block. Backstitch to secure.
3. Continue sewing to the edge of the side. Leave your needle in the down position, and lift your presser foot. Pivot the block under the presser foot to align the next edge for applique. Then, lower your presser foot.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you have appliqued all of the edges of the EPP block to the background fabric (don't forget the inner perimeter of the block if it's open like Meadowsweet). Be sure to backstitch at the very end of your top stitching line to secure.
Finally, clip your threads, and give your block a quick press.
That’s it! Your EPP block is appliqued and ready to be used in your quilt (or any other project that strikes your EPP/applique fancy!)
If you're a visual learner, you may enjoy watching Jodi EPP a block similar to Meadowsweet, called Monet, and then hand applique it to the background square. If you want to watch only the applique segment, begin watching at the 5:00 mark and finish at the 9:00 mark.
BONUS: Placemat Tutorial
If you're looking for a quick project to try out applique without diving in to a full quilt, why not make a few placemats? Follow the steps below to turn your freshly appliqued block into a beautiful placemat for your table.
Finished Size: 12" x 18"
Of note, you can follow the same instructions to make the placemat any size you'd like!
supplies
To make your placemat you'll need the following:
- your EPP block of choice appliqued by hand or machine to a 12 1/2" background square
- a strip of fabric 6 1/2" x 12 1/2"
- batting/wadding at least 15" x 20"
- backing fabric at least 15" x 20"
- at least 64" of 2 1/2" binding
1. To begin, align the 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" strip of fabric to the left of the appliqued block.
2. Place the 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" strip right sides together (RST) with the applique block. Pin in place and sew with a 1/4" seam allowance by machine.
3. Press the seam open and the top of your placemat is ready to baste for quilting!
4. I basted the placemat like a regular quilt with background fabric and batting. Quilt as desired. I outlined the EPP block and used a grid pattern to outline the trees on the 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" strip.
5. Square up the placemat, then sew the binding to the back of the placemat using a 1/4" seam allowance.
6. Fold the binding around to the front of the placemat and topstitch to sew it in place.
That's it! Repeat this process to make as many placemats as you'd like!
Did you know?
Did you know we have a wide range of patterns in the shop that combine EPP with applique as you’ve seen here? Check out some of our favorites below, including Meadowsweet which just got a pattern refresh!
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