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EPP Template // make a mini plus quilt with unique piecing

Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP


Sometimes I go online and just look at pretty pictures of quilts. Please don't tell me that I'm strange for that, because I know I'm not the only one. (Please tell me I'm not the only one!)

One quilt design that has been a favorite of mine is the plus quilt. (If you aren't familiar, do a quick Google image search for "plus quilt" and you'll see soooooo many great quilts!) There are different versions of the plus quilt, and all are equally appealing to me. The thing that is less appealing is the traditional piecing process.

I don't know why this is, but cutting and sewing a quilt with a cutting mat and sewing machine always feels more daunting to me. I do it, but it's not my first choice. And what is my first choice that is less daunting?

English paper piecing.

Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP
Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP

Yes, it's all by hand, but I'd much rather do that...especially on smaller items that I know will be really off if I'm off by just a little on the machine. Yes, I'm a little crazy. It's why people love me.

So I decided that I wanted a way to EPP a mini plus quilt. Or maybe it won't be a quilt. I'm not sure what I'll do with these yet, but I'm enjoying the process.

Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP
Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP

With a normal plus quilt, the plus is formed with a rectangle for the cross piece, and two squares for the top and bottom. Sometimes it's made with five squares. What's unique here is that my plus is made with four little house shapes.

I looked online to see if these templates exist already, but couldn't find this piece...at least, not for making pluses, which is what I looked for. They are sort of like an elongated hexagon, but with only one "point", and technically a pentagon.

So I made my own. Print it on card stock and cut them out. The layout on the PDF reminds me of a zipper, so I might try assembling something like that too!


The pieces are small enough that you can tack each corner on the back (instead of stitching through the template). When assembling, you can either make two halves, or add them one at a time, working your way around.

Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP

Before you start joining the pluses, lay them out to make sure they fit. This is sort of like a puzzle!

And like so many EPP projects, I find these to be incredibly satisfying. I hope you try these, and if you share them on Twitter, Flickr, or Instagram, be sure to tag them #EPPplus

Plus Quilt Piecing with EPP

And let's not forget today's Hexagon Tinies pattern. It's an heirloom tomato, inspired by the pretty pics I've seen popping up on Instagram! Speaking of which, I've started a hashtag for these too: #hexagontinies

43 comments:

  1. I look at pictures of pretty quilts ALL the time! You are not alone. :)

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  2. I LOVE this idea for an EPP plus quilt! I just might have to start another WIP now! Thanks for enabling ;)

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    1. Anonymous3:17 PM

      Welcome to crafters anonymous...lol

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  3. Samantha9:47 AM

    These are so cute! Where did you get that adorable flower fabric with the white background? I love it!

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    1. Isn't it delightful? It's Heather Ross, and I got it here:
      https://www.etsy.com/listing/199564097/half-yard-meadow-blue-on-cream-white

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  4. Thanks for making this a free pattern! I'm already pondering which fabrics to use and how big I want to make my quilt! Which does make for a good distraction at work, so I'm even more grateful :)

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  5. Anonymous11:05 AM

    You are so totally generous! Thank you!
    This is delightful and adorable!

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  6. Wow! My sewing machine is in the shop, and I think the planets are conspiring to help me out a bit. Love the plus epp pattern! Thanks! And thanks for Ms. Tomato too!

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  7. Anonymous12:07 PM

    Must.....try.....EPP!

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  8. You might like trying improvisational modern quilting on a sewing machine. I find it much more relaxing and creatively freeing than patterns that must have a 1/4" seam. Right now I'm working on a wonky log cabin, scrappy, in a color scheme of yellow cabin centers with blue and white logs. I have been planning it out for years, waiting to get the courage to make the logs perfectly straight, and then I thought, heck, why can't I have fun making it instead! It is a lot of fun, except for all the ironing and trimming. ;)

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  9. You are not alone. While on my lunch hour at work I go on Pinterest and search for pretty quilts all the time. Thanks for the plus template. I may have to try this. I also love the plus quilts. I just finished a small lap plus quilt recently.

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  10. I spend hours just looking at quilt pictures, blogs and tutorials. Interest is my best friend!

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  11. You're a genius! This is such a fantastic idea! Thank you, thank you!

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  12. I love your little pieces. If I ever finish my La Passacaglia I know what to do next!

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  13. You ARE weird and crazy. In the most delightful of ways! This looks like something even I could manage. Thanks for sharing so much with us, your equally weird and crazy fans!

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  14. You aren't alone. Looking at quilts on Pinterest is one of the best tonics! Thank you for the "plus pattern". It is quite new to me and very tempting.

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  15. You aren't alone. Looking at quilts on Pinterest is one of the best tonics! Thank you for the "plus pattern". It is quite new to me and very tempting.

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  16. You aren't alone. Looking at quilts on Pinterest is one of the best tonics! Thank you for the "plus pattern". It is quite new to me and very tempting.

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  17. You aren't alone. Looking at quilts on Pinterest is one of the best tonics! Thank you for the "plus pattern". It is quite new to me and very tempting.

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  18. Love this method. Thank you for the template.

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  19. Love this method. Thank you for the template.

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  20. This is such a cool idea! Thank you for the template. I have to try them out asap!

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  21. I have always wanted to do a Plus quilt but hesitated because of the organization you needed to do ahead of time....this is brilliant!
    Thanks sooo much for the template. I know what my next ongoing project will be!!

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  22. Anonymous11:35 AM

    okay, since I'm a little sick of hexagons (there, I said it) this is perfect and will most definitely become my next travel project!

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  23. Thank you for the template. I love this shape and I've been looking for a new epp project! I'm putting card stock in the printer right now!

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  24. I love this template! And it's funny that people think it takes longer to sew these things by hand. If I tried to piece these by machine, there would be so much ripping out and re-sewing, I think I can get it done by hand in half the time. :-)

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  25. Anonymous3:51 PM

    Thank you for this! I've always wanted to do a Plus quilt but like you, thought the sewing process was fussy somehow.

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  26. Marook79:10 AM

    Thanks for the template! I love your blog!!

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  27. Hello, I loved your tiny quilts and posted about them on my blog: http://handmadebymrsh.blogspot.com

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  28. this is great! I found this, for future refence: https://www.paperpieces.com/shop/Pentagons--Variations/Houses.htm

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I was sure that I had looked through all their pieces, but I must have missed that section.

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  29. enjoyed your tutorial and pattern for cross paper piecing thank you now i have to give it a try

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  30. Is there a pattern for the fabric as well? This is the second time posting this morning. It appears that the first didn't publish? Sorry if it is simply delayed.

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    1. Hi Linda. It was just delayed, as this is an older post and I moderate those comments.

      Do you mean a pattern for trimming the fabric? Usually I just attach the paper template and then cut the fabric around it with a seam allowance of 1/4" to 3/8". Perfection isn't necessary with these, as long as you make sure you leave enough fabric from wrapping the edges.

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  31. Hi,
    I love your videos! The only EPP I’ve ever done was on freezer paper. I’m anxious to try EPP with Card Stock. What weight of card stock do you use? Thanks for enabling my quilting hobby!

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  32. Hi,
    I love your videos! The only EPP I’ve ever done was on freezer paper. I’m anxious to try EPP with Card Stock. What weight of card stock do you use? Thanks for enabling my quilting hobby!

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    Replies
    1. I usually just use what I have on hand, including scrap card stock. But heavier is my favorite. 110lb. is much more reusable, so that's a good choice if you can get it.

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  33. I have been concentrating mostly on large improvised quilts, hand quilting them on an Ulmer frame. The repetitive motion is very therapeutic. Having been sick the last four years, I spend a lot of times in doctors’ waiting rooms and more time than I like to think about in the hospital. I would like to have a good, portable project such as this.

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  34. Love this method. Thank you for the template.

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  35. littlehomesteader7:59 PM

    I’ve tried resizing the patches so they fit lengthwise onto jelly roll strip with 1/4” turnings. ie a bit bigger. Kate had been using your design for her latest quilt, which is where I found you. Thanks so much!. See the Last a homely house channel on a YouTube. I’ve posted the url of my efforts there where you can click the image and print

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  36. Anonymous2:39 PM

    Hi,your like to download of plus templates is not working,please check!

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  37. Anonymous4:08 PM

    Can you take us through how you sew the completed plus shapes together?

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  38. Anonymous7:22 PM

    Love it I am going to use scraps as I have tubs of them and I am trying to make more charity quilts. Glad just to have a project in my lap rather then slouched over a machine , Brenda

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