How to Make a Herringbone Pieced Willow Dress

October 1, 2025

Quilters, this one’s for you! Have you ever wanted to bring your love of piecing into your garment sewing? Today I’m sharing how to take a classic herringbone design and use it to create the most darling kids’ dress. I used the Willow Dress Pattern from Sunflower Seams as my base and added a herringbone pieced skirt for a completely unique look.

This little twist turns a simple dress into something truly special—like a wearable quilt for your child.

How to Make a Herringbone Pieced Willow Dress

Supplies You’ll Need

Fat Quarter Bundle of Purr Parade
Willow D r ess Pattern by Sunflower Seams
Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
Sewing machine and thread
Pins or clips
Iron

Step 1: Cut Your Strips

Herringbone is all about angled strips!

Download and cut out the Herringbone Template.

Cut your fabrics into 3.75” wide strips. Take the fabric strips and separate them into two even groups.

Using the herringbone template, lay it on one set of fabric strips, matching the sides of the strips with the template. Start with the right angle at the selvage and cut the angle. Move the template over and cut another.

Place the template upside down on the second set of strips, lining up the edges. Cut out the pieces just like in the previous step.

Step 2: Piece the Herringbone Panels

Arrange the angled pieces in a herringbone layout: one left, one right, staggering as you go.

Sew the pieces together using a ¼” seam allowance, pressing after each row. There will be roughly .5" dog ears on each side.

Keep going until you've created several panels for the front and back of the skirt.

💡 Tip: Make oversized panels—you’ll trim them to the exact skirt dimensions later, and this saves headaches with uneven edges.

Step 3: Trim and Assemble the Skirt Panels

Take 2 panels and lay one on top of the other, right sides together. Match up all the points and sew down the panel. Continue to do this until all the panels are attached.

Once your herringbone panels are pieced together, square them up with your ruler and trim them to the dimensions of the skirt front and back.

Place right sides together, sew the side seams, and press them open. Continue assembling the dress per the pattern instructions.

Because the skirt is pieced, a thorough press will make those herringbone seams lay flat and crisp. This gives the skirt beautiful drape and shows off your handiwork.

Styling the Herringbone Willow

This dress is perfect for holidays, birthdays, or family photos, but it’s also comfortable enough for everyday wear. Solids give it a sleek, modern look, while scrappy prints turn it into a patchwork masterpiece. Either way, your child will have a dress that’s as unique as they are.

✨ And that’s it! You’ve just made a herringbone pieced skirt that blends the art of quilting with the wearability of garment sewing. This little hack is such a fun way to use up fabric scraps while creating something that feels extra special.