I have seen real old unfinished EPP projects and some of the different papers used was amazing. Mostly newspaper was used and old sewing pattern paper which is much heavier the todays, magazine paper, the list goes on. People used whatever was at hand. WE are very lucky today to have so many options. Try them all to find what you like to use. Everyone seems to be in aggreement that they like to do this carry along piecing project. have fun.
peace :D

I draw my pattern on freeze paper then iron paper on my fabric
then cut out my pieces

I just use paper that you use in your printer. I make a master copy and then copy that. I baste all the way through mine and take out the stitches and the paper. It's a lot of work but I like doing stitching things.

Thank you and think I will try different ways....thanks so much for posting!

I've heard of this technique but also adding a couple more layers of freezer paper to thicken it. Then you wouldn't need the hole or pins.

http://www.moxyideas.com
has free hexagon patterns (different sizes) that you can download, I use it as a pattern to run my shapes onto freezer paper. I punch a hole in the center of each hexagon which makes it easy to remove after they have been sewn together. I am making 1/4" hexies for a wall hanging and they are not hard or time consuming to finish.
You can reuse the freezer paper templates.

Your post inspired me to join the board.

My GFG quilt is my greatest accomplishment. It has well over 1000 hexagons. I started it in 2001 & finished it in 2010. All hand pieced & hand quilted on an old fashioned wooden frame, I used the plastic templates (Quilt Pati's) invented by Pati Shambaugh, which she had demonstrated on Alex Anderson's Simple Quilts tv show on HGTV several years ago. The border on my GFG is my own creation. I didn't want to have to bind or otherwise finish off all those edges. It was my first scalloped edge border/binding.

After quite a bit of time cutting out the hex-shaped fabrics, I decided that I would cut out 2.5 inch squares & baste them to the templates. Once they were basted, then I trimmed them out to 1/4 inch seam allowance. This saved a lot of time and was much easier to do the basting.

Oh my, that is one lovely GFG quilt!! Could you possably post a larger photo? Welcome to the board. I am also a GFG fan! Always have a few hexies in my bag ready to go!

I just was at a demo at a quilt show here ... the templates that were given out were cut from platic lids *yogurt, butter, coolwhip, etc* She just cuts them out using Fiskars-softouch spring action titanium nitride scissors no. 5. She too said just keep saving and asking others to save them for you and cut them out when riding in the car, doctors appts etc ... She said she has cut out over a thousand! She showed us the english piecing method. She also showed out to pop them out once you are ready to.

My friend has done it both ways and she sent off and got some of those mylar pieces and she swears by them. Said it is so much easier than making your own. they have a hole in the middle so you hold the fabric to the template with a small pin, and then you fold two corners and do a back stitch and fold the next one and do another roving back stitch, till you get to the end. When finished she removes the small pin (appliqué) and presses it. Keeps the template in till she needs to remove it. Jan