Welcome back to the Stash Busting Challenge! For my second project, I decided to try a new crafting skill called English Paper Piecing. This project was an excellent way to use up some of my small remnants of fabric.

I love the way English Paper Piecing looks! It’s easy to do if you have the right materials and if you have time. It’s all hand sewn, but it’s a no brainer once you learn the technique. I found that it was a fun way to keep my hands busy while watching TV.

Once I finished my English paper piecing patch, I had to decide what I was going to do with it. I saw an interesting project on Pintrest that transformed a teacup into a pin cushion and I thought this might just work with this patch. What do you think? If I do say so myself, it’s not bad for a first try!

What I love most about using a teacup for a pin cushion is that you can pull it out by the “tea bag” and you have a storage compartment for extra pins.

You can also store extra sewing supplies like a thimble, measuring tape and a seam ripper on the saucer. I crazy glued my teacup to the saucer to make it one piece.

STASH BUSTING CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS

I’m excited to see what the other bloggers have made from their stash! Check them out below:

Emily from A Pop of Red

Vanessa from Social Stampers

Heather from Shiftmama

Megan from Make Something Mondays

Carin from Eclectic Soapbox

Mary from Sew Much Love, Mary

Jemma from Thimble and Twig

ENGLISH PAPER PIECING

HOW-TO

SUPPLIES

chipboard/thin cardboard
glue stick
thread
needle
fabric remnants

STEP 1-4

I cut my paper hexagons out of chipboard, but they could also be cut from thin cardboard like a cereal box. If you have Silhouette CAMEO, use it to cut the hexies. It cuts the hexies accurately and saves you a whole lot of time.

If you don’t have a Silhouette CAMEO, you can download a printable PDF by subscribing to my blog and then cut the hexies by hand or with a paper cutter.

Once the hexies are cut, follow these next 4 steps:

STEP 5: BASTE FABRIC TO CHIPBOARD

Fold the fabric over on one side.

Fold the fabric over on the next side while holding the first side down. It should form a nice point.

Using a needle and doubled thread, insert the needle so that it catches both layers of fabric.

Pull the thread through and repeat on the same corner.

Pull the thread through again. Now fold the fabric on the next side and repeat to form the second point.

Once all sides are folded and the points are secured, end by threading the thread down the middle of the side that you started on. DO NOT knot the thread as the basting stitch will eventually be removed.

Repeat with the remaining chipboard hexies.

STEP 6 HAND SEW HEXAGONS TOGETHER

Each hexagon has to be hand sewn to the others. Place two hexies with RIGHT sides together.

Sew a slip stitch by first stitching straight up, catching the fabric of the two hexies. DO NOT go through the chipboard!

Next, stitch straight down.

Continue stitching in ONLY a downward direction until you reach the end of the side. (You only go up on the first stitch)

Each side needs to be sewn with a slip stitch until your patch is completed. You will have to fold the hexies in half to align some of the sides together. This is fine as the chipboard will be removed and the fabric will not show the fold lines.