With just 10 EPP hexies per side, you can make an English Paper Piecing (EPP) tree-shaped ornament for your Christmas tree. It’s a fun tradition to make homemade Christmas ornaments to decorate your tree. This small project is perfect for all skill levels – great for a small hand project to take on the go.

If you are new to EPP, this is a great starter project. With their gently-cornered angles, the hexagon shapes are easy to work with, and for this project the paper pieces stay in, so there is one less step to complete.

Use a coordinated fabric collection like I did, or use up a fun mix from your scrap basket. If you feel fancy, embellish with buttons or beads before joining the two sides together.

English Paper Piecing is an old technique that stabilizes and stitches two pieces of fabric together. Our EPP Hexagon Flower Garden Table Topper provides an overview of English Paper Piecing.

Ready to give it a try? Or already know how to EPP and want a relaxing TV project to add some holiday joy? Let’s make an EPP Tree-Shaped Ornament with Hexies!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

One (1) Ornament

How to Make an EPP Tree-Shaped Ornament with Hexies

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

English Paper Piecing (EPP) is a traditional hand stitching technique gaining favor with modern stitchers. An EPP Tree-Shaped Ornament with Hexies is a festive starter project. Make both sides to match, or mix it up so that each side is an entirely different tree!

Materials

1/2-inch hexagon paper piecing templates
Five (5) charm coordinated charm squares or fabric scraps from your stash
Fabric glue, such as a Sewline glue pen
Neutral or coordinating thread
Thread conditioner, such as Thread Magic (optional, but recommended)
7-inch piece of ribbon or rick rack for hanging

Tools

Hand sewing needles
Fabric scissors
Thread snips
Needle threader, if you need one
Thimble, if you use one
Quilt clips, such as Wonder Clips

Instructions

Gather your materials and tools. Select fabrics for your tree ornament. You will make two (2) sides with eleven (11) hexagons each for a total of 22 hexagons. I chose to arrange my fabrics in rows and make matching sides, but you can create any arrangement that makes you happy!
With a dab of fabric glue, baste paper templates to the back of fabric, leaving a generous 1/4-3/8-inch all around. This can be a square-ish rough cut to get started.
Now that the pieces are a more manageable size, it's easier to trim a 1/4-3/8-inch seam allowance around the 6 sides of the hexagons. You can eyeball this cut if you feel confident or measure before cutting if you're not sure. Add a line of glue to one side of your first hexagon.
Fold that edge over the paper to create a smooth edge and finger press.
Add glue to the next side.
Finger press in place. Continue until you have all 6 sides of the hexagon glue-basted.
When you turn the hexagon over, you have a clean, crisp shape with smooth edges and sharp corners,
Glue-baste all eleven (11) hexagons and decide on the arrangement you want for your tree. You will do this one more time to make the other side of the tree.
Thread a needle with 12-18 inches of thread - not longer. As the thread passes over the edge of the paper templates with each stitch, it weakens the thread. Tie a quilter's knot at the end.
I like to construct these little trees row by row. To join two hexagons, at one corner, insert your needle inside the fold to hide the knot and prevent it from popping out to the right side of your work. You will start with two (2) hexagons, right sides together for your first EPP seam.
Right sides together, whip stitch from one corner to another, taking a securing stitch at each end. Your stitches should be quite small, about 1/6-inch apart, taking a bite of just 2 or 3 threads from each fabric as you pass. These stitches will be almost invisible on the right side. Bury the thread end into the fold and trim.
You have completed one row! Finger press the seam open and place the row on your design space.
Continue stitching rows together until you have enough to make your tree.
Time to join the rows. Starting at the top, turn the right side of the top hexagon to the right side of Row 2 hexagon along adjacent sides. Whip stitch from the outside edge to the center (from the outside corner to the inside corner.) Do not cut your thread.
When you reach the center, pivot the treetop hexagon (white in this illustration) until it’s edge aligns with the next hexagon in the second row, folding the stitched Row 2 hexagon as shown. Take a reinforcing stitch and continue to the corner. Secure and bury the thread. Trim thread.
Continue adding rows until your tree shape is completed.
Make 2 EPP trees. You will insert the ribbon hanger and join the sides next. If you want to add buttons or beads as embellishments decorating your tree, now is the time!
Grab the ribbon or rick rack for the hanger. Your ornament in now ready for final assembly! Do not remove the papers - they will stabilize the piece.
Wrong sides together, clip the front and back of the tree-shaped ornament together, inserting both ends of the ribbon at the top, forming a hanging loop. Clips alone keep some ribbons in place while stitching, but my metallic rick rack was unruly, so I added a bit of fabric glue to keep everything in place, then used a clip.
Whip stitch all around the edge of the ornament, taking a few extra stitches through the hanger to secure it. I used the same thread all around and the tiny stitches are barely visible. If your fabrics are very high contrast, you can change thread colors if you like. Bury your thread at the end.
Here is the EPP tree-shaped ornament with hexies on a white background.
And here is the same EPP tree-shaped ornament with hexies on a red background.
On my lighted tree, this EPP tree-shaped ornament with hexies says, "Merry Christmas!"

Notes

Using a thread conditioner helps prevent thread tangling and fraying. Simply pass the thread over the conditioner a couple of times before stitching a section.