How to Use Geranium EPP Pattern Pieces Step by Step

By Paper Pieces for English Paper Piecing | Published: 2026-10-18

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to assemble the Geranium EPP pattern step by step. This guide covers fabric prep, basting, and joining the hexies, petals, and diamonds.

Quick answer

To use the Geranium EPP pattern pieces, start by cutting fabric with a 1/4-inch seam allowance for the hexies, petals, and diamonds, then baste each shape, and join them in the order: center hexie, surrounding petals, then connecting diamonds.

Why the Geranium pattern needs careful planning

The Geranium pattern is an intricate twist on a Grandmother's Flower Garden. Instead of simple hexies, you have hexies surrounded by beautiful petals and connected using diamonds. This means you need to keep track of the orientation of each piece, especially the petals and diamonds, which are directional.

Because the pattern is sold separately, you'll need to have the full pattern diagram on hand. The paper pieces themselves are just the templates; the pattern tells you how many of each shape to cut and the exact layout.

Choosing fabric and preparing pieces

For the Geranium, a mix of prints and solids works well. Use a light fabric for the center hexie to make it pop, a medium print for the petals, and a contrasting solid for the diamonds. This helps the flower structure stand out.

Cut fabric pieces with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. If you're new to EPP, pre-cut paper pieces save time. For the Geranium, you'll need hexies, petals, and diamonds. The paper pieces are reusable, but for your first attempt, it's easier to leave them in until the block is complete.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Baste the center hexie: Place a fabric piece right side down, center the paper hexie on the wrong side, and fold the seam allowance over the paper. Use a glue stick or thread basting to hold the fabric in place. Start with the center hexie. Make sure the fabric is taut but not stretched; wrinkles on the front will show in the final block.
Step 2: Baste the petals: Baste each petal shape the same way. The petal has a pointed end and a rounded end. Keep the point sharp by folding the fabric neatly at the tip. Use a small stitch to secure the point. The petal orientation matters: the point always points away from the center hexie. Mark the back of the paper lightly with an arrow if needed.
Step 3: Baste the diamonds: Baste the diamond shapes. Diamonds have two acute and two obtuse angles. Fold the fabric carefully at the acute angles to avoid bulk. Use a small dab of glue to hold the tip if it slips. Diamonds can be tricky at the points. If you have trouble, try a slightly larger seam allowance (3/8 inch) at the acute angles.
Step 4: Join the petals to the center hexie: Place the center hexie and one petal right sides together, matching the straight edge of the petal to one side of the hexie. Whipstitch along that edge, starting and ending with a backstitch. Repeat for all six petals. Do not stitch through the paper. Only catch the fabric folds. If the petals are not aligned evenly, the flower will look lopsided.
Step 5: Join the diamonds between petals: Place a diamond between two adjacent petals, matching the diamond's straight edges to the petal edges. Whipstitch one side of the diamond to one petal, then the other side to the next petal. Repeat for all six gaps. The diamond's acute angles should meet at the center hexie's corners. If they don't, your petals may be too far apart or too close.
Step 6: Finish the block: Once all diamonds are attached, press the block from the back with a warm iron. Remove the paper pieces if you plan to reuse them, or leave them in for stability until you join the block to others. Removing paper too early can cause the seams to pop. Wait until the block is fully joined to its neighbors before removing paper from the interior pieces.

Product facts

Geranium by Elouise O'Hare: Geranium is an intricate twist on a Grandmother's Flower Garden! Hexies are surrounded by beautiful petals and connected using diamonds! PATTERN SOLD SEPARATELY. This means you need to buy both the paper pieces and the pattern separately; the paper pieces alone won't tell you the layout or quantities.
Geranium by Elouise O'Hare