english paper piecing
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Please join me in welcoming Lisa to the blog today! She’s visiting us from Switzerland and has generously shared a tutorial on English paper piecing, which she took the time to create just for us. Thank you so much, Lisa, for this fantastic guide!
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Hello fellow fans of Oliver + S designs! This is Lisa from @sewwhatyoulove. I’m thrilled to share a unique take on the Ice Cream Dress I made for my daughter using English paper piecing (EPP). It's a perfect blend of quilting and sewing, something I absolutely adore.
Before I got hooked on quilting, I spent most of my time sewing dresses for my girls. One day, inspiration struck—why not combine my two passions? By adding quilt-inspired elements to my garments, I could create something truly special. I hope you’ll join me in designing your very own masterpiece.
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**What You'll Need:**
- EPP papers (I used pre-cut papers from “Tales of Clothâ€)
- Fabric scraps or fat quarters for the EPP sections, plus yardage for the rest of the dress
- Hand quilting thread—choose a color that blends well with your fabrics
- Lightweight fusible interfacing
- A glue stick (if you prefer glue-basting, like I do)
- Fabric scissors or a rotary cutter, along with a ruler
- A hand quilting needle
- Paper scissors
- An iron
- A sewing machine (for assembling the dress)
- Pins
Deciding on the details is always exciting. For this project, I chose View C—the blouse-length version of the dress—and included optional matching pockets. I decided to use EPP for both the yoke and the pockets. Select your yoke and pocket pattern pieces and gather your EPP paper shapes. It’s time to unleash your creativity!
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Once you’re satisfied with your design layout, it’s time to baste the pieces. I use glue to hold mine in place, but feel free to use your preferred method. If you're new to basting, there are plenty of helpful videos on YouTube to guide you through the process. Before you begin, snap a quick photo of your layout. In case things get mixed up during basting, your photo will serve as a helpful reference.
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With your basted pieces ready, it’s time to stitch them together. Start at one corner and work your way across. If you’re a beginner, don’t worry—there are countless tutorials available online to walk you through each step. Once all the pieces are stitched, compare your completed EPP section to the original pattern piece. You may need to add a few extra pieces to ensure it fits perfectly.
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After stitching everything together, remove the papers and give your creation a good press with an iron. Congratulations—you’ve tackled the trickiest part! Next, trace the outline of your yoke and pocket pieces onto lightweight fusible interfacing. Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of your pieced fabric. This step prevents distortion and helps maintain the shape of your work.
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Trim along the edges of the interfacing to complete your EPP highlights. These beautiful accents are now ready to be incorporated into your dress pattern.
Voilà ! You’ve just crafted a stunning piece that everyone will admire.
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If you have any questions or need further guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear about your progress and see what you create.
You might also enjoy checking out the other dresses I’ve made using the same technique, such as the Hide-and-Seek Dress and the Music Box Jumper. These projects prove how versatile EPP can be when paired with various Oliver + S patterns. I’m already brainstorming ideas for matching Christmas dresses!
Happy sewing,
xoxo Lisa
P.S. If you'd like more ideas on yoke designs, check out our Ten Yoke Tutorials post.
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