Say goodbye to sticky fingers and messy prep—the Tack-It-Easy EPP Tool by Katie Dawson Stitched is here to streamline your English Paper Piecing. This thoughtfully designed tool helps you achieve precise, consistent folds every time, giving your shapes crisp edges and a polished finish. It’s especially helpful for quilters with weak hands or arthritis, reducing strain and making prep far more comfortable. Plus, by minimizing glue buildup and handling, it helps extend the life of your EPP papers. Cleaner, easier, and more accurate—just the way EPP should be.
How it Works
Watch Katie Dawson, the creator of the Tack-It-Easy, explain how she came up with this clever gadget and the many ways it makes EPP easier than ever!
Place your fabric right side down on the Tack-It-Easy and line up those points with the notches like a pro. Pop your paper on top, then glue, fold, and press one side at a time—just spin and repeat until every edge is crisp, tidy, and ready to stitch!
The History Behind the Hexies
English Paper Piecing (EPP) dates back to the late 1700s in England, when quilters wrapped fabric around paper templates—often recycled letters or newspapers—to create precise shapes like hexagons. These pieces were hand-stitched together into intricate quilts, making complex designs accessible and portable.
Fun facts:
- ✂️ Early quilters reused paper scraps—some antique quilts still contain handwritten notes inside.
- 🧵 It was highly portable, making it perfect for travel and social sewing circles.
- 🕰️ Many antique quilts still have their original paper templates inside.
