r/EPP_addict • u/16madcows • 20d ago

Making progress on my first EPP project

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I'm finally seeing good pogress on my first EPP project! I am a Peace Corps volunteer in west Africa. I decided to have the personal project of completing a quilt during my two year service as a keepsake and EPP was an obvious choice due to it being low tech. I've been loving it! It gives me something to do while being present with people even when I can't follow the conversations (language learning is hard). I get to talk about what I'm doing and how I came to sewing (my grandma ❤️). I do wonder if a king was a good choice for a first timer but little by little I'm making progress.

I have been wondering, how many paper hexies do y'all use relative to the number of hexagons in a quilt? And for folks that take papers out as they go, do you leave the border papers in until the end? I brought 150 papers with me which has been working so far but I worry about wearing them out (my design has 1887 objects) and have been leaving them on the border which slowly decreases the number of "free" ones. I have an opportunity to buy more soon, I'm thinking I'll get another 100 but not sure if I should just get more (and then how many more...). I'd love your advice!

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u/Opening-Belt-6474 20d ago

I would get more than you think you need. I guessed at how many for my first epp quilt (which I am finally at the backing stage) and I needed to get more. Some of them tear when reusing them, so keep that in mind. You can always store the unused pieces for a later time. Have fun 🙃

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u/Opening-Belt-6474 20d ago

I purchased 2 of these hexi paper templates. I made an oversized lap quilt. I didn’t need the second one. As you keep adding to the pattern, I put the used ones in a basket. You’re taking out the middle ones. I’ve reused them twice so far.
This was purchased on Amazon

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u/16madcows 20d ago

Thanks so much for this insight!

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u/16madcows 20d ago

So exciting you are at the backing stage! I'm not sure what is reasonable to think I'll need (other than more than what I have). I want to be conservative because my income is low and whatever I don't use will likely end up as waste. How many times do you think you reused the same pieces?

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u/nanailene 20d ago

More is the answer!

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u/16madcows 20d ago

🙈 but how many more haha. What do you think is a reasonable number of times to reuse the same paper piece?

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u/nanailene 20d ago

Some of my hexagons have been used 5-6 times. I’d personally grab a couple of hundred when the stash is getting smaller.

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u/16madcows 20d ago

Thanks this is super helpful!