EPP for everybody!

(Thank you again for the wonderful donations that keep coming in~ I just got an email with our first donated QUILTS!  So I hope you can forgive me as I change the tone a bit and go back to talking about quilting tonight..)

I'm so excited that Laura & Katy have put together this highly motivational Travelin' Pic-Stitch Blog Hop.  I'm also slightly flushed that they asked me to do a post on "pointers" to help get the bloghop started. 

Who would have known that my super-embarrassing how-to-epp video that I made for my friend Becky while she was in vet school would some day lead me to B-list internet stardom?  (ok, B-list quilt-blogland-stardom).  You have no idea how many times I've wanted to redo this video, but didn't have the time or thought it would sound too scripted... so I left it up there, and people found it.  The cool thing is that they also found my blog, my QAL, and many have found a love for EPP.  If you haven't seen it yet, it's there in my sidebar, but I'm also re-posting it here (scroll to the bottom).

So why do I love English paper piecing?  The reasons are too numerous for one little blog post, but I'll make a list of some of the big ones--

It's portable, and I travel- A LOT.  You can also do it anywhere-- on the beach, on the train, in the car (while someone else is driving).  I've even basted while waiting for my pizza to be ready at the local pizza place.

It's repetative-- you can pick it up and put it down whenever, without having to worry where you were in the pattern or what you should be sewing next.

It's scrap friendly-- even though there's tons of new and beautiful fabric coming out every season, part of me still identifies quilting with being a frugal hobby.  I don't like to waste any bit of my fabric, pretty or ugly. 

So what do you need to build a good relationship with EPP?

First off-- a sewing kit.  Have a sewing kit ready with your templates, thread, and cut fabric. Add in anything else you need to sew comfortably (Chapstick? Beeswax? Paper clips?) When you’re prepared you won’t find yourself wasting precious sewing time searching for your thimble.
  I use a plastic box that I can toss in my purse or leave in the car, just in case.

Next-- keep your pattern handy.   I like to save a picture of my plan/pattern on my phone so I can reference it on the go!

Then-- bring it everywhere.  You never know when plans will change and you'll be stuck somewhere with downtime.  If you forgot your EPP, you'll probably get stuck playing mindless games on your phone.  Really, will that hobby keep you warm in a couple months?  Better to have your sewing kit with you at all times just in case.  Personally, I won't buy a new purse if my kit doesn't fit inside.

So that's about it.  If you've got questions, I'd love to answer them.  Making all the little units is easy, finding a good way to keep it portable as it grows takes a bit more thought.  In the video I mention this a little bit, but I'm happy to answer more questions anytime.  Happy Pic-stitching everybody~