Design Your Own EPP Adventure: Australian Modern Quilt Show (Petersham)
Design your Own EPP Adventure with Lorena Uriarte
When: Sunday 15 March 2026, 9:45am – 12:45pm (3 hours)
Cost: $65
Tickets: Book here
If you’ve ever wanted to move beyond precut papers and ready made patterns, this workshop will give you the tools and confidence to design your own English Paper Piecing (EPP) blocks from scratch. In this hands on class, I’ll guide you through several approachable methods for creating and preparing custom shapes, opening up endless creative possibilities.
We’ll skip the usual hexagons and diamonds and dive straight into three adventurous design exercises. First, explore diamonds with a twist – stretching, skewing and reimagining this classic shape in fresh ways. Next, experiment with curved designs, learning how to draft and prepare flowing organic pieces that bring movement and softness to your blocks. Finally, we’ll tackle improvised tessellations, creating puzzle like interlocking shapes that repeat into one-of-a-kind patterns.
Along the way, you’ll discover how to turn sketches, motifs or even spontaneous doodles into EPP blocks with just a few simple materials. Each exercise will give you new tools and approaches to carry into your own projects.
By the end of the session, you’ll have designed your own original blocks and gained the confidence to keep experimenting at home with fresh inspiration to see the potential in every shape.
Requirements List
- Fabric scraps in a variety of colours and prints (small pieces are fine)
- Fabric scissors (small)
- A small cutting mat and rotary cutter (optional but helpful)
Optional, but good to have
- A notebook or sketchbook for ideas
- Coloured pencils or markers for design play
- Your own thimble
- Any favourite fabrics you’d like to see featured in your block
Mandatory Workshop Kit
- Printed handouts with exercises and examples
- Template paper / card stock for drafting shapes
- Pencil, eraser and glue stick
- Hand sewing kit (needles, thread, threader, thimble)
- Access to shared rulers, curves, paper scissors and design tools
Please, place $25 cash in an envelope. Write your name on the front. Bring to class.
