Think BIG! – How to Enlarge Any Pattern

February 6, 2025

You have a few options for enlarging any pattern.

If you’re just enlarging it a little bit, you might be able to get away with following the instructions in this post.

But if you want to make it really big, you’ll need to go to a copy shop with an oversized printer to print your pattern pages. I checked with Kinkos, Staples and Office Max in my area and all of them can print large sheets – so you should be able to find an option near you. 

The Kinkos in my town charges $0.75 per square foot for oversized printing – not a bad deal at all. (That’s for black and white printing. Color is a LOT more expensive, so print your patterns in black and white even though the size reference square might be in color.)

Kinkos is my favorite print shop – and the folks there answered all of my questions. Basically – they said you can do either of these options. . .

Have Them Enlarge It for You

You can print your image out (print any page from any pattern at 100% scale) and bring it in to the shop. Ask them to enlarge it for you. They’ll scan the image and print it out to any size you want.

What size should you make it? I design all my applique patterns to fit in a 10 inch block because that makes the math really easy.

If you want to enlarge it to fit in a 14 inch block – ask them to print it at 140%.

If you want to enlarge it to fit in a 25 inch block – ask them to print it at 250%.

If you want to enlarge it to fit in a 36 inch block – ask them to print it at 360%.

Whatever size you want – just add a 0 to the % enlargement. Easy peasy.

They can also do this if you save the PDF to a flash drive. Just tell them what page of the PDF you want printed out and what size.

Enlarge It Yourself Using Any Photo Editing Program

This option allows you to use the self-service printer, if that’s on option at your copy shop. It is at mine.

This option is a little more work for you – and requires a bit of ease with computers – but you don’t need any fancy programs. I’m using GIMP in the video (it’s a free program) but you can use Photoshop (including the bare-bones Photoshop options that you can get for free) or any other photo editing software out there. It’s just resizing – so it’s not an advanced tool or skill.

Here’s a video showing two things – how to import an image from a PDF into your editing program, and how to calculate what size you need the new image to be.

FYI – this video was originally part of a class that included patterns for the projects shown here. Now the lesson is free, but the video still includes references to the patterns included for those projects.

Just to clarify a couple of points. . .

Opening vs. Importing

If you’re using a JPG file, you can just open it in your editing program. You don’t need to go through the extra steps of importing it.

PDFs are designed to be consistent across multiple platforms and operating systems, so you can’t just open them and start playing around. You need to import the specific page you want to work with. The import process converts the image to an editable format. After you import it, you can treat it just like a JPG file that you simply opened.

All of my patterns are downloadable PDF files, so you can use any block from any quilt pattern for any project!

Image Size vs. Block Size

The block size is the finished size of the quilt block that an image is appliqued to.

The image size is the size of the image to be appliqued onto that block. The image size will always be smaller than the block size, so that there’s room between the image and the edges of the block.

So, for the example in the video, the image size is the actual size of the cat drawing. The block size is the quilt block that image will fit into. My finished block sizes are always 10 inches. The images are usually 8-9 inches at their widest or tallest point, so they can fit in a 10 inch block with a little breathing room all around. 

That Formula

I don’t want you to have to scroll through the entire video if you’re just reminding yourself of the formula. Here it is.

You can use this formula for reducing an image too. Maybe you want to scale the image down to fit into a 6 inch space on the front of a T-shirt? The same formula will work.

Here are links to all the Think BIG lessons. . .

  • Intro and Tools and Supplies – a look some samples of projects made with giant applique, plus an overview of any special tools and supplies you’ll need
  • Enlarging Your Pattern – how to figure out how big you’ll need it to be, and how to print giant template pieces
  • Tips and Tricks for Giant Applique – what do you do if the pattern piece is bigger than your fusible adhesive, if it won’t fit on your ironing board, and how to scale up your outline stitching

Think BIG! – Tools and Supplies

February 6, 2025
Think BIG! Fun and Easy Giant Applique Class from Shiny Happy World

You can always enlarge or reduce the size of any of my applique patterns, but if you make them really big you can introduce some challenges.

In this series of posts we’re going to learn some easy techniques for working with extra-large applique.

It’s fun! And the large size means the projects come together super fast. 🙂

Add appliques to large patterns of almost any size.

Here are just a few samples I made. . .

Fox pillow from the Think BIG Giant Applique Class from Shiny Happy World

I made a giant floor pillow using the Fergal Fox pattern. This is a 26-inch pillow.

Cat poster from the Think BIG Giant Applique Class from Shiny Happy World

Not every applique has to be quilted! I made a giant (24 x 36 inch) poster using one of the cats from the Cuddly Cats pattern.

This would be a great project to coordinate with a new baby quilt. Enlarge one of the blocks to giant-size and add baby’s name and birth date using this free alphabet and numbers pattern. Then hang it in the nursery! This post tells you how to make a hanging sleeve, and this one tells you how to frame textiles.

Big Bunny Baby Quilt from the Think BIG Applique Class from Shiny Happy World

Most applique patterns use a lot of smaller blocks – but you can super enlarge your favorite and use it as the center block of a medallion-style quilt. For this bunny quilt, the corner blocks are my usual 10 x 10 inches, and that center block is 30 x 30 inches.

Big Lap Quilt from the Think BIG Applique Class from Shiny Happy World

Or maybe you want to make just one giant block! The center of this quilt is 40 x 50 inches and the borders are 5 inches wide. If you want to match your dog as closely as possible, I recommend the Playful Puppies and More Playful Puppies patterns. They’ve got loads of templates that you can mix and match to create almost any dog breed!

I’ve always thought it would be really fun to create a nap quilt for a child using the Paper Dolls pattern and sizing it to be the exact height of your kid! 🥰

There are so many possibilities! Get ready to have fun!

Tools & Supplies

For the most part, the tools and supplies you’ll need for giant applique are the same as what you’d use for any regular applique project – with just a couple of exceptions.

Printer

You won’t be able to print giant patterns on your regular printer – and tiling is impractical because the designs have lots of empty space, which makes assembling the tiles confusing. It works GREAT to save your designs to a flash drive and take them to your local print shop or office supply store. Near me, the Office Max, Staples, and Kinkos all have large printers that are inexpensive to use. There’ll be more info on how to enlarge your patterns in a later lesson, but for now just know that you’ll need access to a large printer.

Fusible Adhesive

Usually I use printable sheets of Heat & Bond Lite because I hate tracing and love the ease of printing out my templates all ready for fusing down. That’s not an option for giant applique, but luckily you can buy Heat & Bond Lite off the bolt at most fabric stores, including Joann Fabrics. It’s just 17″ wide, but you can buy pieces as long as you need. (We’ll cover what to do if your design is wider than 17″ in a later lesson.)

Thread

I like to outline my giant applique with thicker-than-usual thread, so that the outline is scaled up like the design itself. For that I use Sulky 12 wt. thread. It’s the thickest thread that can go through a regular machine. I use black for all my outlining, and a single spool has a lot of thread on it, so it lasts a LONG time. If you want a range of colors in the same weight, you can look for Sulky Petites, which are smaller spools.

To handle the thicker thread, you’ll also need a bigger needle. 90/14 topstitching needles are perfect for the Sulky 12 wt. thread.

There’s a post here with all the info you need about using thicker thread.

That’s it! All the other supplies are the same as for regular applique. You can find links to all my favorite tools and supplies here.

Here are links to all the Think BIG lessons. . .

  • Intro and Tools and Supplies – a look some samples of projects made with giant applique, plus an overview of any special tools and supplies you’ll need
  • Enlarging Your Pattern – how to figure out how big you’ll need it to be, and how to print giant template pieces
  • Tips and Tricks for Giant Applique – what do you do if the pattern piece is bigger than your fusible adhesive, if it won’t fit on your ironing board, and how to scale up your outline stitching

ABC Quilt Layout Guide

January 13, 2025

I’ve been getting requests for an ABC quilt pattern for years – but I coulnd’t do it until I had at least one pattern for every letter of the alphabet.

I finally have that!

You can pull your blocks from any of my patterns that use square blocks. (That’s almost all of them.) Pull what you can from Shiny Happy World patterns you already have, and then you can fill in the gaps here.

Remember, individual block patterns are always Buy 4 Get the 5th Free – no discount code needed.

Now you just need a materials list and cutting instructions for the complete quilt – plus ABC templates sized to fit that 4-inch border.

Download the ABC Quilt Layout Guide here.

Unlike the rest of my layout guides, this one only has information for one size. That’s because it’s constrained by the number of letters in the alphabet. My sample quilt is 70 inches wide x 80 inches tall. That’s just a little shorter than a standard twin size.

Of course, this isn’t the only way you can lay out an ABC quilt!

Want to make a smaller quilt? Without the borders, this is the same size as my basic Napping Quilt – my favorite size for the couch. Use the Simple Grid Layout Guide instead of this one. Applique the names on the back of the quilt, or maybe embroider them into the background of each animal’s block. There’s a free ABC hand embroidery pattern here.

Maybe you like the size but don’t want to bother with double borders? Combine them into a single 10-inch wide border and scatter the animal names all higgledy-piggledy on it.

Want to make a standard twin-size quilt? Increase the width of the top and bottom outer borders from 6 inches to 11 inches.

I’m working on similar guides for other layouts too! That way no matter what layout your pattern shows, you can easily use the blocks in a different design. Here’s what I have so far and what’s coming. . .

If you’re just getting started, you’ll find a very simple How to Make a Quilt guide here.

Added Half-Blocks Layout Guide

January 13, 2025

I LOVE the way adding half-blocks to any simple grid quilt pattern instantly makes it look more complex. It just makes the whole thing feel bouncier!

It’s also my favorite way to add a little noise to a quilt!

That example above uses blocks from the Woodland Critters applique pattern.

Here’s another example using blocks from the Bunches of Bears pattern.

Bunches of Bears - easy applique quilt pattern from Shiny Happy World

It’s easy to add these half-blocks, but the math is. . . annoying.

That’s where my handy-dandy layout guides come in.

Each guide contains a materials list and cutting instructions for six different quilt sizes – from Itty Bitty Baby to King Size.

Download the Added Half-Blocks Layout Guide here.

I’m working on similar guides for other layouts too! That way no matter what layout your pattern shows, you can easily use the blocks in a different design. Here’s what I have so far and what’s coming. . .

If you’re just getting started, you’ll find a very simple How to Make a Quilt guide here.

Grid Quilt with Sashing and Borders Layout Guide

January 13, 2025

I almost never include sashing and borders in my quilt patterns. It’s just not my favorite. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But maybe it IS your favorite! That doesn’t mean you can’t use my patterns. It’s easy to add sashing and/or borders to any quilt made from the same size blocks.

That example above uses blocks from the Greedy Seagulls applique pattern.

Here’s another example using blocks from the Noisy Farm pattern.

It’s easy to add sashing and borders – but the math is. . . annoying.

That’s where my handy-dandy layout guides come in.

Each guide contains a materials list and cutting instructions for six different quilt sizes – from Itty Bitty Baby to King Size.

Download the Grid with Sashing and Borders Layout Guide here.

I’m working on similar guides for other layouts too! That way no matter what layout your pattern shows, you can easily use the blocks in a different design. Here’s what I have so far and what’s coming. . .

If you’re just getting started, you’ll find a very simple How to Make a Quilt guide here.

Checkerboard Grid Layout Guide

January 13, 2025

Want to make an applique quilt in half the time?

Just applique half the blocks!

That example above uses blocks from the Lovable Mutts applique pattern.

Here’s another example using blocks from the Woodland Critters pattern.

None of my multi-block patterns includes a materials list and cutting instructions for this layout – but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. You just need additional instructions!

That’s where my handy-dandy layout guides come in.

Each guide contains a materials list and cutting instructions for six different quilt sizes – from Itty Bitty Baby to King Size.

Download the Checkerboard Layout Guide here.

I’m working on similar guides for other layouts too! That way no matter what layout your pattern shows, you can easily use the blocks in a different design. Here’s what I have so far and what’s coming. . .

If you’re just getting started, you’ll find a very simple How to Make a Quilt guide here.

Simple Grid Layout Guide

January 13, 2025

A simple grid is one of my favorite quilt layouts. It’s a classic for a reason! And it’s what you see on most of my multi-block quilt pattern covers.

Here are just a few examples. (Click on the image to go to that pattern.)

Those multi-block patterns only include materials lists and cutting instructions for three different sizes. And maybe you want to make a full quilt from a single block pattern? Like making this chameleon over and over again in every color of the rainbow!

cute applique chameleon made with striped green fabric and the Carter Chameleon - easy applique pattern from Shiny Happy World

The individual block patterns only include materials and instructions for one block.

That’s where my layout guides come in!

Each guide contains a materials list and cutting instructions for six different quilt sizes – from Itty Bitty Baby to King Size.

Download the Simple Grid Layout Guide here.

I’m working on similar guides for other layouts too! That way no matter what layout your pattern shows, you can easily use the blocks in a different design. Here’s what I have so far and what’s coming. . .

If you’re just getting started, you’ll find a very simple How to Make a Quilt guide here.

Archives: Week 51

December 20, 2024

The heart and soul of Shiny Happy World is in the archives. There are hundreds of free patterns and tutorials and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the information. Every Friday I share just a manageable sliver – a peek at what was happening during the same week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. This is Week 51.

Want this round-up (along with a discount code to use on the sale patterns) delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

Click on the images to go to the posts.

2011

Goody Bags - free sewing pattern from Shiny Happy World

Quick and easy little fabric bags – perfect for small gifts or party favors.

2012

Tips and Tricks for Working with Fleece - video

Fleece is terrific for making cuddly softies. It’s very forgiving in many ways, but its thickness can make it challenging. This post has all the tips you need to make it easy.

2013

We use these simple fabric bags to wrap all gifts in our home. The ribbons are built right in so clean-up after opening gifts is as easy as can be.

2014

How to make a quilt hanging sleeve - sample sleeve shown from back

Turn any quilt (even a single block) into a wall hanging by adding a simple sleeve.

2015

Quilting the Controlled Chaos Quilt

An update on the quilting of the free Controlled Chaos scrap quilt, including links to tutorials showing how to do that Big Stitch Quilting.

2016

Free ABC Pattern and Instructions to Personalize the Back of a Felt Ornament

This is a very simple alphabet and numbers pattern designed to be especially easy to embroider. It it to add names and/or dates to the back of your felt ornaments!

2017

Free Santa's Village signs to make a North Pole quilt - from Shiny Happy World

A set of free patterns for cute little signs to add to the Shiny Happy Houses pattern to make a fun North Pole quilt!

2018

Elephant Parade - an easy applique quilt pattern from Shiny Happy World
***Included in Week 51 Sale***

A fun pattern featuring a parade of sweet elephants.

2019

Another free pattern for your Christmas quilts (or placemats, or stockings, or gift bags, or. . . )

2020

I love the way Lynne adapted the Shiny Happy Houses pattern and the North Pole signs to make this GORGEOUS tree skirt!

2021

Some fun alligator fabric I designed for a Spoonflower design challenge.

2022

Another fun fabric design. Wouldn’t this be cute to back a penguin quilt?

2023

A handy-dandy downloadable PDF of everything you need when making a quilt with a simple grid layout with sashing and borders – materials list, cutting guides, layout templates and more for six different quilt sizes from Itty Bitty Baby to King.

2024

I updated the Calvin Cockatiel pattern, adding SVG files and a video showing the assembly using a light box. I love those cute rosy cheeks! I also made a version in oranges that’s a phoenix!

 

Archives: Week 50

December 13, 2024

The heart and soul of Shiny Happy World is in the archives. There are hundreds of free patterns and tutorials and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the information. Every Friday I share just a manageable sliver – a peek at what was happening during the same week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. This is Week 50.

Want this round-up (along with a discount code to use on the sale patterns) delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

Click on the images to go to the posts.

2011

cats embroidery pattern
***Included in Week 50 Sale***

One of my very first embroidery patterns! The cover only shows four cats, but you actually get six.

2012

These little felt chickens are easy to stitch up out of scraps. They’re all hand-sewn, so you can stitch them anywhere. Fill them with regular polyfill and they’re a fun toy. Add a hanging loop and they make great Christmas tree ornaments. Fill them with aquarium gravel or something else heavy and they make terrific pattern weights. I’ve probably made hundreds of these over the years.

2013

How to Add Playful Bits to Your Applique

On that monster, all the little points on her head are 3-D pieces, only attached behind the head to kids can flick and bend and play with the shapes. You can do that with almost any of the smaller pieces in an applique pattern! This post shows you how.

2014

cute applique Santa Claus face - text reads Santa Claus free applique pattern

The anchor of my collection of free Christmas applique patterns – Santa Claus!

2015

Use stretchy knit fabric to make extra soft stuffed animals - tips and tricks from Shiny Happy World

Using stretchy knit fabric makes extra-cuddly stuffed animals, but you’ll need to use the right needle and be careful not to overstuff. This post has all the details you’ll need.

2016

Fly a Kite - a fun Dress Up Bunch doll pattern from Shiny Happy World
***Included in Week 50 Sale***

Make a pretty dress (and a felt kite!) for your Dress Up Bunch dolls.

2017

Easy Felt Gift Tags - a free tutorial from Shiny Happy World

These are the reusable gift tags I use with my fabric gift bags. Cleaning up after gift opening is super easy – just fold the bags (the ribbons are attached) and stack the tags and they’re all ready for next year.

2018

Add a bunch of elves in different colored outfits to your Christmas quilts!

2019

***Included in Week 50 Sale***

Such a sweet little seal!

2020

***Included in Week 50 Sale***

I LOVE soaking in hot water, so I think Japanese macaques are brilliant.

2021

***Included in Week 50 Sale***

Nothing stinky about this sweetie. 🥰

2022

***Included in Week 50 Sale***

Cute zebra printables – perfect for an animal-themed nursery.

2023

A handy-dandy downloadable PDF of everything you need when making a quilt with a simple grid layout – materials list, cutting guides, layout templates and more for six different quilt sizes from Itty Bitty Baby to King.

2024

Designed especially to give people an X animal to use in ABC quilts. 😂 You can also make the fish without the visible skeleton, or use the skeleton all alone to add a fun extra somethin’ somethin’ to your Cuddly Cats quilts.

 

Archives: Week 49

December 6, 2024

The heart and soul of Shiny Happy World is in the archives. There are hundreds of free patterns and tutorials and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the information. Every Friday I share just a manageable sliver – a peek at what was happening during the same week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. This is Week 49.

Want this round-up (along with a discount code to use on the sale patterns) delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

Click on the images to go to the posts.

2011

Christmas Goody Bags - free embroidery pattern

I teamed up with Made By Joel to stitch his free gift tags art onto bags made with my free goody bag pattern. Fun!

2012

Easy Pattern Weights - a free pattern from Shiny Happy World

The perfect way to use up scraps of your favorite fabrics – and they make great gifts for a stitchy friend!

2013

Playing with Thread Weight

Sometimes to get a thicker line when I outline my applique, I use a thick thread. This post explains different thread weights and talks about the needle sizes you need, what to use in the bobbin, and how to adjust the tension.

2014

If you love hand stitching, you’ll love this project. If not, just move along. 😂

2015

***Included in Week 49 Sale***

Cute Christmas accessories for your Dress Up Bunch dolls!

2016

Some great things to keep in mind when donating stuffed animals, including suggestions for places that are often looking for donations. The post is specifically about stuffed animals, but a lot of the info applies to quilts as well.

2017

Stacey (the founder of FreshStitches) decided to retire and I added her crochet patterns and tutorials to Shiny Happy World.

2018

I designed this hat and tree especially to fit Milo the Mouse, but the pattern includes instructions for making them both bigger, to fit any stuffed animal. It’s super easy!

2019

***Included in Week 49 Sale***

I love this little bear! Click through to see a cute polar bear version, stitched up in white yarn with an added scarf.

2020

set of three applique gingerbread cookie blocks

A fun mix & match pattern to make gingerbread cookies. Make a whole quilt full of gingerbread people!

2021

I love this little graphic I created to show my Gemstones color collection. It uses all the tertiary colors – red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, etc. but I gave them gemstone names because that’s more fun.

2022

***Included in Week 49 Sale***

Cute Santa Claus printable art – use this to make cards, invitations, place cards, and more!

2023

Use these instructions and any quilt block patterns to make an adorable cloth book! At the end of the tutorial there’s a video showing me paging through the sample I made. Find the grumpy face!

2024

I made printable versions of Leighton Lemur – perfect for framing and hanging in a zoo-themed nursery or using for greeting cards or other craft projects.