Top 10 Tips for Miniature English Paper Piecing

Top 10 Tips for Miniature English Paper Piecing

English Paper Piecing (EPP) is a beloved hand-sewing technique that involves wrapping fabric around paper templates and stitching the pieces together with precision. When working on miniature EPP, the challenge increases as the pieces get smaller, requiring extra attention to detail. Here are 10 expert tips to help you master miniature English Paper Piecing.

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1. Choose the Right Fabric

When working at a miniature scale, fabric selection is crucial. Opt for high-quality tightly woven cotton that won’t fray easily. Lightweight quilting cotton, Tilda Fabrics Pie In The Sky fabric collection is pictured here, or Liberty Tana Lawn works beautifully for small-scale projects, ensuring crisp folds and neat edges.

2. Use Lightweight Paper Templates

The paper templates in miniature EPP need to be sturdy enough to hold their shape but not too thick. Lightweight cardstock (60-80 gsm) or high-quality printer paper works well. Avoid heavy cardstock as it makes the pieces harder to manipulate. You can purchase pre-cut papers and acrylic templates for cutting the fabric at the Paper Pieces online store. 

3. Cut Fabric Precisely

Accuracy is essential when working on a small scale. Use a rotary cutter or precision fabric scissors to cut your fabric pieces with a ¼-inch seam allowance. Cutting too much fabric will result in bulk, while too little will make it difficult to fold around the paper.

4. Baste with Reposition-able Glue

For basting, you can either glue baste or thread baste depending on your preference. For tiny pieces, a fine-tip fabric glue pen may speed up the process and reduce bulk. Sewline fabric glue pens oe even Elmers disappearing purple glue sticks work great! But be sure to grab a precision glue tip attachment for your glue stick!

 

5. Use a Small Needle

A size 10 or 11 appliqué needle is ideal for miniature EPP. These needles are long, thin, and flexible, making it easier to sew precise, invisible whipstitches. Choose a needle with a small eye to reduce thread drag. Find these Tulip #10 Appliqué Needles at the Fat Quarter Shop online store.

6. Stitch with a Fine Thread

A fine, high-quality thread is crucial for nearly invisible stitches. Consider using 80wt or 100wt silk or polyester thread. These ultra-thin threads blend into the fabric and prevent bulky seams. A neutral color will work for most projects, but matching the thread to the fabric color provides the best results. Auriful makes a beautiful 80wt thread and we love the Gutermann Silk thread for ease of stitching!

7. Keep Your Stitches Small and Even

When whipstitching the pieces together, keep stitches tiny and consistent, spacing them about 1/16 to 1/8 inch apart. This helps maintain the integrity of the shapes while ensuring the stitches remain nearly invisible on the front of the work.

8. Avoid Overhandling

Miniature pieces can distort if handled too much. Try to finger press lightly instead of aggressively creasing folds. If needed, use a small iron or a wooden seam roller to press seams open without stretching the fabric.

9. Remove Papers Carefully

Once your pieces are fully stitched together and stable, remove the paper templates gently. For tiny pieces, tweezers can help to carefully pull out the papers without stretching the fabric. Press the project after removing the papers to help it settle into shape.

10. Practice Patience and Enjoy the Process

Miniature EPP requires patience and precision, but the results are worth it. Take breaks to prevent hand fatigue and enjoy the meditative process of slow stitching. Over time, your skills will improve, and your projects will become more refined.

Let's Wrap It Up...

Miniature English Paper Piecing is a rewarding and intricate craft that allows you to create stunning, detailed quilt patterns at a tiny scale. By following these 10 essential tips, you’ll improve your accuracy, refine your stitches, and enjoy the process of making small-scale masterpieces. Whether you're crafting a dollhouse quilt, a tiny pincushion, or a miniature wall hanging, these techniques will help you achieve precision and beauty in every stitch.

Love the tiny Hexi Tote feature there? Follow along in Sewing With Cinnamon Sewing Tiny Accessories Course to get access to the full tutorial too! This is a members only post, Not a member? Learn more about joining SWC today!

 

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We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below and tell us: 

What is your favorite fabric combination? Do you like to use similar colors, or strong contrast in your outfits or quilting projects? Do you like to mix and match prints together or stick with one print and pair with solids? We'd love to know!


97 Comments

Ma
Ma

March 28, 2025

It would be helpful to be able to click the photos in this article to be able to enlarge them. I’m not a quilter, nor am I familiar with English paper piecing, but I would be interested in learning. Being able to enlarge the photos, without it taking me to another page to inform me that it is a paid article, would be helpful to be able to understand what you are referring to. Phone screens are just too small unless photos can be enlarged.

Trudy
Trudy

March 28, 2025

I made a doll blanket using English paper piecing. I was taking care of my mother with dementia so I had lots of time while I sat with her. I like solids and prints.

NancyB
NancyB

March 28, 2025

I have paper pieced a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt, but have not worked with such a tiny scale yet. While I love the doll purse you made, and the scale is lovely, I wonder if I am more drawn to pastel solids. Or fussy cut just a tiny flower in the centers, and combine with coordinating solids. Definitely adorable, and added to my (ever increasing, impossibly long!) list….!!!

Julie C
Julie C

March 28, 2025

I’m a long-time quilter. I love to use multi color prints with coordinating prints and some graphic prints sprinkled in. Like polka dots, stripes, etc. A few solids and tone on tones give a resting place for your eyes.

Naomi A-R
Naomi A-R

March 28, 2025

I have never quilted before, or had much interest, but this tutorial makes it look so much easier than I thought. I can’t wait to try it.

Melinda
Melinda

March 28, 2025

I love combining prints but also solids with prints. It sort of depends on the fabric being used.

Donna Landreth
Donna Landreth

March 27, 2025

I have never done anything like this, but it looks like it would be challenging and fun all at the same time.

Samantha O.
Samantha O.

March 27, 2025

English paper piecing is something I have heard of in the past and wanted to try, and thank you now I not only have a starter project but tips and support to do so! This is wonderful, thank you! : )

Chris
Chris

March 27, 2025

This looks difficult, but do-able. Would be fun to try.

Judy
Judy

March 26, 2025

I enjoy tiny sweet things. This would be fun to try. I love making clothes for dolls especially those I make. Tiny prints to doll size scale and quality fine fabrics the same are difficult to find. A challenge always the reward of completion so much fun and rewarding. I also appreciate all the designers for their pattern s and creativity. Your site is so fun to look forward to each week and great sewing hints to give ease when creating an outfit.

Judy
Judy

March 26, 2025

I enjoy tiny sweet things. This would be fun to try. I love making clothes for dolls especially those I make. Tiny prints to doll size scale and quality fine fabrics the same are difficult to find. A challenge always the reward of completion so much fun and rewarding. I also appreciate all the designers for their pattern s and creativity. Your site is so fun to look forward to each week and great sewing hints to give ease when creating an outfit.

Sarah Oswald
Sarah Oswald

March 26, 2025

I love the combination of coordinating solids and prints together

Holly
Holly

March 26, 2025

Just like in my own wardrobe, I mostly use solids and accessorize with splashes of patterned fabrics. Makes sense since I learned to hand sew using scraps left after my mom made outfits for me and my cousins

Jeri
Jeri

March 26, 2025

I’ve never tried this but do like to do log cabin quilts. I like to use mostly prints. This sounds like a lot of fun!

Detra
Detra

March 26, 2025

That is so cute. I have made bigger hexies before but never in miniature. I would love to try it. My favorite fabric combinations are a co-ordinated prints collection with a few solids added in. I love anything bright and cheery!!

Cheryl
Cheryl

March 26, 2025

I made a small quilt for a dolls house. I wanted it to look as real as possible. It turned out really nice, looked real and it was fun. I think I will try the paper piecing just for fun.

Robin Kulp
Robin Kulp

March 26, 2025

I really want to make a mini Grandmother’s Flower Garden doll quilt. The 1/4 inch hexies would be perfect for this. I love warm colors and try to add a bit of yellow to my quilts whenever I can.

Ellen F
Ellen F

March 26, 2025

This looks very challenging….so teeny tiny! I have not done much quilt work, but do prefer mixing prints with coordinating solids. That seems to make each block stand out for itself.

LAURIE
LAURIE

March 26, 2025

I would mix prints along with plain. Paper piecing is a challenge for me. Thanks for the chance to win!

Karin
Karin

March 26, 2025

I would love to try the 1/4" hexies! I love working with tiny things. I usually mix and match fabric prints.

Cathy Brooks
Cathy Brooks

March 26, 2025

I’ve been wanting to try paper piecing. This is so cute.

candy
candy

March 25, 2025

I like letting my daughter pick for me. She has an amazing eye for color and prints.

Barb
Barb

March 25, 2025

I love to mix it up. I like flowers with plain and prints with plain but mixing it up keeps everyone guessing what I am doing. So sometimes one color with a print and sometimes different ones.

Renay
Renay

March 25, 2025

Prints with Solids are my favorite to work with.

Cathy
Cathy

March 25, 2025

Looks like a fun project!

Glenda
Glenda

March 24, 2025

Started piecing together my first EPP Hexies last winter, mix & matching small prints from my stash. Would love to try making these tiny ones!!

Sashie
Sashie

March 24, 2025

So exciting to try something this small. Happy stitching!

Jane
Jane

March 24, 2025

Wow .. sign me up.. it can’t wait to get started.

Carrie P
Carrie P

March 24, 2025

I love a combination of solids and prints, but then I see all solid quilts and love those too. When quilting I usually do a combination though.

Carol
Carol

March 24, 2025

It depends on the project. I’ve seen some really beautiful solid with solid projects lately with a subtle color/tint range, but I also like a print with a cool stripe or plaid. They will each all go with a solid, so it depends on the project.

Christine
Christine

March 24, 2025

I’m so visual that my favorites are going to be the ones the look good together when I put them together. When I discover them or stumble on them, I’m excited. But I have to see how they look, prints or solids, no matter the mix.

Sparrow
Sparrow

March 24, 2025

I love EPP, but def need to mix some solids in or it just gets too loud!

Jackie
Jackie

March 24, 2025

I like to make doll quilts scrappy. But with a theme. For instance many prints in all shades of lavender punctuated by a few patches of lime green and bright yellow.Or maybe mostly shades of blue with a few pops of yellow [or magenta or orangey. red.].I like to use ’30’s prints to suggest a past. Better yet repos because they tend to be tighter woven than actual flour sacks. I LOVE almost solids and tiny white on white prints because they give visual texture and make it look like you did a lot more and a lot better quilting than you in fact did.Many dolls I know prefer little or no batting so that the quilt wraps around or over them more cosily. Very small dolls [maybe 12" down] like for me to make their quilts sleeping bag style so that they can burrow down into them head first and have a good snooze while traveling [and protect their faces and hair]. Tiny tiny prints are the thing for me. Also prints resembling denim.Flannel backing is nice but a bit hard to hand quilt. Very very thin batting and a tiny print backing works best for me.Hexies don’t make “ears” at the corners of your blocks like diamonds do. Every doll should have a quilt.

Maureen
Maureen

March 24, 2025

I love English paper piecing. This would be such fun to make with the fabric pictured. I’d love to try it in this size. Thanks for making these great projects available!!

Gail
Gail

March 24, 2025

I love working with both prints and solids. I use whatever gives the project the best contrast for the project.

KAREN
KAREN

March 24, 2025

I Love them All!

designdreamer
designdreamer

March 24, 2025

I would say my preference changes with my project, and mood. Sometimes I like strong (or at least moderate) contrast, sometimes, I like prints with solids, and sometimes I like to mix prints. But I’m generally not too flamboyant. And truthfully, I’m not a quilter, so I’m thinking in terms of garments.

Lisa
Lisa

March 24, 2025

I love paper piecing and the bag is darling

geri
geri

March 24, 2025

I love paper piecing. It’s an easy take with you project.

Jacque
Jacque

March 24, 2025

This looks like a fun project.

Dzhennifer
Dzhennifer

March 24, 2025

The latest two dresses for pear-shaped Barbie that I designed have been made from fabrics that have the same pattern but different yet matching colors. So that has been fun!

Linda D
Linda D

March 24, 2025

I usually mix a print with a solid but it really depends on the style of the outfit.

Sharon B.
Sharon B.

March 24, 2025

I’ve never done this before, but sure looks fun to try! I think I’d go with a mix of solids and prints – I really like Cinnamon’s example.

Kathy S
Kathy S

March 24, 2025

I like to work with solid colors as sometimes prints may both my vision and upset. I know go figure

Connie
Connie

March 24, 2025

I usually like prints with solids.

Michelle
Michelle

March 24, 2025

I’ve never done paper piecing before. What a great, new technique to add to my skillset. Love bright colors-especially like the ones chosen in the tutorial example. Can’t wait to try!

CdnCrafter
CdnCrafter

March 24, 2025

I mostly like prints and solids, but it depends on what I’m making.

Mae Lynn Beck
Mae Lynn Beck

March 24, 2025

My favorite thing to do is to use 2 or more prints together. So where you would normally have a print and solid, I like to have 2complimentary prints. Then you can always through in polka dots or stripes for even more fun.

Joanne G
Joanne G

March 24, 2025

Looks col! I’ve only done traditional piecing, this looks like a fun technique to learn.

Kelly
Kelly

March 24, 2025

I usually go with solids & a prints. I also like to mix dots with a print.

Mary
Mary

March 24, 2025

I love colorful fabric so the more prints the better! But, my favorite color combo is red and turquoise.

Marjory
Marjory

March 23, 2025

My favorite fabric combination for dolls is prints with either little polka dots or tiny checks in coordinating colors.

Bee
Bee

March 23, 2025

I like to do a couple statement prints and then add coordinates.

Donna Landreth
Donna Landreth

March 23, 2025

I like to use 1 print and pair it with solid Fabrics. Thanks for the awesome giveaways.❤️😘💋

Ellen Barth
Ellen Barth

March 23, 2025

I love to mix up coordinating prints.

Frances
Frances

March 23, 2025

I like best using patterned pieces, particularly flowery prints, and mixing medium patterned prints with small patterned prints.

Rhonda
Rhonda

March 23, 2025

This looks like something I would love doing. I like prints with prints.

Heidi Brown
Heidi Brown

March 23, 2025

I love using prints with a contrasting solid…a belt, a tie or bow.

Marcy Mahle
Marcy Mahle

March 23, 2025

I like using all kinds of combinations especially ones that pick up the color for the other fabric used.

SandyT
SandyT

March 23, 2025

I like using low volume or textured look solids.

Sandra
Sandra

March 23, 2025

Paper piecing is fun to do and a easy take-a -long project. It is fun to mix up the colour combinations.
Sandra

Shirley
Shirley

March 23, 2025

Looks like fun! I like to alternate lights and darks, and showcase fussy cut prints with solids.

Melissa Thibault
Melissa Thibault

March 23, 2025

This sounds like a fun new project to try. Your link when you log in to win isn’t working on the comment link.

Bridgette Shippy
Bridgette Shippy

March 23, 2025

I like both,it just depends on the fabric choices.

Clarissa
Clarissa

March 23, 2025

It depends on what I’m making and which doll is getting the item. For mini pieced quilts I tend to use a few colors, but when making mini applique, the colors and types of fabrics are much broader. For doll clothing it depends on the doll’s background story whether one the doll came with or one the doll’s told me.

Holly Spielman
Holly Spielman

March 23, 2025

Love it, I love purples

Elizabeth
Elizabeth

March 23, 2025

I like to mix and match prints.

Josie
Josie

March 23, 2025

I like hot pink and green so much I used it for my wedding colors

Sharon
Sharon

March 23, 2025

I like both, but tend to use things hubby and I have worn. Grands love the fact their dolls are wearing something made from an item Grampy or Grammy wore.

John Asfour
John Asfour

March 23, 2025

Mixing things up can create some amazing displays

Nancy
Nancy

March 23, 2025

I prefer solid with prints because they are the easiest to arrange in multiple ways

Susi
Susi

March 23, 2025

I love paper piecing. This is a darling idea.

Sue D
Sue D

March 23, 2025

I like prints with solids.

Marilu B
Marilu B

March 23, 2025

So cute, a good opportunity to use all those cotton scraps we have in our stash

Jacquie Corrigan
Jacquie Corrigan

March 23, 2025

I like to mix and match prints with the odd stripe or polka dot thrown in.

Sandra Cox
Sandra Cox

March 23, 2025

I have done some bright and busy quilts using mainly assorted prints and then more natural color quilts with some solid and some print. It depends on the purpose of the quilt. I have done the English paper piecing using 1 1/2 inch hexies, making coasters for my family. I am looking forward to the challenge of these tiny hexies!

Jeannette
Jeannette

March 23, 2025

I love bright colors.

Pam
Pam

March 23, 2025

When I first started quilting, about 40 years ago, I always put solids nd prints together. Through the years I’ve gotten away from that and mix prints all the time. Vary colors and size of print but keep them of the same “flavor”. My favorites are 30’s reproductions.

Judith Martinez
Judith Martinez

March 23, 2025

I love solids mixed with prints.

Judy
Judy

March 23, 2025

I am currently making an EPP bedspread for my AG doll. I am using small,1930s reproductive prints of playful children, No solids are involved,

Bev
Bev

March 23, 2025

This is a first for me! I never saw this technique before. I think I would enjoy working with as many fabric designs in a single pallet scheme as possible for a small project like this.

Vikki
Vikki

March 23, 2025

Sometimes I use co ordinating prints, ma6be graduating colours but other times totally different clashing prints mixed with plain black

Carolou
Carolou

March 23, 2025

I like to use a variety of prints with enough tone on tones (read as solids) to tie them together. I have enjoyed doing EPP but haven’t tried anything this small yet.

Cynthia
Cynthia

March 23, 2025

I love using multiple prints with the occasional solid to add cohesion.

Regina
Regina

March 23, 2025

I prefer using one or two prints with lots of solids. :)

anita
anita

March 23, 2025

My favorite fabric combinations are 1 or more prints with coordinating solids.

Mendy Crumpton
Mendy Crumpton

March 23, 2025

This is really cute. I have done paper piecing for cards but never this type of project. I like to mix patterns and solids usually.

Sylvia
Sylvia

March 23, 2025

I love to quilt but have mostly stuck to the full size paper piecing blocks. I am going to try this as the instructions make it look simple.
Thanks for taking us in a new direction

toby
toby

March 23, 2025

I just bought a bunch of stuff from the paper pieces website after seeing cinnamon’s reel on IG and I’m really excited to try paper piecing 😃

kathy m
kathy m

March 23, 2025

it depends on the project if a EEP mixed of colors matching. A with a pattern a doll outfit – fabric prints with contrast trims

Piroska
Piroska

March 23, 2025

I like prints with solids.

Susan Smart
Susan Smart

March 23, 2025

So brave of you to jump from 1’’ hexis to 1/4”! I’m close to finishing the top for a 1/2” hexi doll sized quilt. I have to take it in stages to save my hands. I used some scraps that I had on hand and a few purchased precuts to make a modified Grandmother’s Garden. I have 1/4” papers on hand and have been saving scraps that are large enough. Hadn’t thought about making accessories. Thanks for the idea!

Nadine
Nadine

March 23, 2025

I like to use just a few colors and coordinated prints in the same color.

Vicki
Vicki

March 23, 2025

I like a mixture of prints.

LAURIE
LAURIE

March 23, 2025

I like to mix it up…patterns & prints.

Anne
Anne

March 23, 2025

I love prints with solids.

Dotti G
Dotti G

March 23, 2025

For me it really depends on my vision of the finished project. I have done outfits in mixed prints and also solids and prints. I tend to use bold accents.

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