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 48.
It’s not very pretty, but it keeps my thread clean, untangled, and organized. I’ve been storing it this way for over ten years now.
2012
It’s kind of a cross between a lazy daisy and a fly stitch and it works great for feathers, petals and scales. This video shows how to do it.
2013
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
Squeak is an adorable dressable mouse rag doll – one of the Dress Up Bunch.
2014
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
Elliott is a lanky little elephant with fun, floppy arms and legs. This post has some info about how you can add Elliott’s head to Squeak’s body to make a dressable elephant doll!
2015
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
All the ornaments in the 2015 pattern collection! My favorites are the Dala horse, the snowman sweater, and the rubber duckie. 🙂
2016
A free pattern for an adorable sloth lovie! This coodinates perfectly with the Silly Sloths quilt pattern.
2017
Make a cute Christmas quilt! This is just one of many free Christmas applique patterns.
2018
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
Milo is a perfectly pocket-sized mouse. He also make a great stocking stuffer!
2019
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
Pippa is one of my favorite patterns! I love her fuzzy PJs and tiny stuffed kitty. 🥰
2020
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
One of the coolest things about crochet patterns is that you can change the size of your project just by changing the thickness of the yarn used. No pattern adaptations needed! (My daughter love to crochet tiny versions of many of my patterns using perle cotton embroidery thread.) I love this extra-tiny version of Tipper the Tiny Crab that Alyssa made with sock-weight yarn. Add a loop and he’s an adorable Christmas tree ornament!
2021
You can get lots of my designs on stickers at Red Bubble – and they’re usually having some kind of sale. 🙂
2022
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
Zebras are such classic nursery animals! I’ve always thought it would be fun to make a quilt with just this block repeated over and over again – in a bright rainbow of colors. 🌈
2023
***Included in Week 48 Sale***
Another classic African animal! The eyelashes make it extra pretty. 😍
2024
Another addition to the collection of free Christmas applique patterns. This one can be used for lots of everyday projects, too!
Use this free dove applique pattern to make all kinds of things!
Download the template pieces and placement guide here.
If you have an electric cutting machine, you can use it to cut your pieces. Download the SVG file here.
The dove combines with all the other free Christmas applique patterns so you can make a quilt, but there are so many other possibilities too! Here are just a few ideas (with links to free patterns) . . .
The dove is designed to make an applique that fits in a 10-inch square block. That makes it really easy to resize as needed. Do you want to make a 4 inch coaster? Print the pieces at 40% size. Do you want to make a tote bag that’s 17 inches square? Print the pieces at 170% size.
You can also easily use this pattern to make half-blocks to break up a standard grid. Just adjust the angle of the wing so it’s not tipped up so high and you’re all set – no resizing needed.
You can find yardage requirements and cutting guides for multiple layout possibilities (including a grid with half-blocks) here.
A Little Extra Help
If you’ve never made a quilt before, I recommend starting here.
If you’ve never done any applique before (or are new to my method) I recommend starting here.
There’s also a single video here that takes you through all the basic steps of my method.
You can find loads of single-topic tutorial videos here, and also by using the search box at the top of the page.
Prep Your Block
Cut an 11” square of fabric for the background, and an 11 inch square of batting.
Press the quilted block again (with steam) and let it cool.
This video has a general intro to my Quilt As You Go method, along with complete instructions for how to assemble the block. It’s a long video, but there’s timestamp info to help you skip to the specific instructions you want.
Cut Your Pieces
Download the template pieces and placement guide here.
If you have an electric cutting machine, you can use it to cut your pieces. Download the SVG file here.
The image in the SVG file is NOT reversed. If your cutting machine has you cut your pieces fabric side up, leave the orientation as it is. If your cutting machine has you cut your pieces fabric side down, you’ll need to flip the image horizontally.
Different cutting machine brands import the image at what seems to be totally random sizes. To fit the appliqué on a block that finishes at 10 inches square, check to make sure the small square in the image is one inch, and resize if necessary before ungrouping the pieces. Delete that square after resizing so your machine doesn’t try to cut it. 🙂
Print your templates.
If you’re cutting everything by hand you’ll need to print the reversed and exploded templates. If you’re using printable fusible adhesive you can print those pages directly onto the paper side of your fusible.
I hate to trace so I use printable Heat & Bond Lite for all my quilts – make sure whatever brand you choose is compatible with whatever type of printer you have.
If you’re using a light box you’ll also need to print the placement guide.
Roughly cut around each shape. Leave a little bit extra all the way around each piece.
Follow the package instructions and fuse each piece to the wrong side of the fabric.
Cut out each piece neatly, directly on the solid lines.
Cutting after you fuse ensures that the adhesive goes right to the very edge of the fabric.
Trace the dotted lines onto the fabric. If you hold the pieces up to a window, the light will make the lines very visible – even on dark fabric.
If you want to skip this step, this video shows how to use a light box. If you use a light box, you only need to transfer the eye.
Put It All Together
Peel off the paper backing and arrange the pieces on your background block. Fuse in place according to the adhesive package instructions.
This video shows the assembly with me explaining how I’m layering the pieces.
This video shows the same thing – but using a light box to guide placement.
Stitch all the edges down. You can use any stitch you like, in matching or contrasting thread. I really love the look of a simple straight stitch with black thread.
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 47.
Combine my free unlined felt stocking pattern with my free felt ornaments pattern and you can make all kinds of really cute Christmas stockings!
2012
Bobble stitch makes an awesome texture on all kinds of crocheted stuffed animals. This video shows how to do it.
2013
A free embroidery pattern, perfect for Thanksgiving.
2014
A free pattern for a sweet gingerbread house. It’s loaded with fun embroidered details, but uses only the very simplest stitches.
2015
Make a happy snowman with this free applique pattern!
2016
Use this easy placemat pattern along with just about any of my applique patterns – including all the free ones!
2017
***Included in Week 47 Sale***
This pattern includes instructions for lots of different parts you can mix and match to create your own unique snowman.
2018
***Included in Week 47 Sale***
Stitch up an adorable felt penguin! Palmer is just the right size to be a stuffed animal for one of the Dress Up Bunch dolls (he’s included in the Winter PJs pattern) or add a yarn loop and hang him on your Christmas tree!
2019
Stitch up a cute Christmas pickle ornament! The bumps are made with bobbles from the tutorial released exactly seven years ago this week.
2020
***Included in Week 47 Sale***
I adore this version of Eloise Emu that Michelle made, adding a pair of glasses from the Fancy Doodads pattern! Both the Emu and the accessories patterns are on sale this week.
2021
One of my first collections of blenders! The amethyst blenders are part of the Gemstones collection of bright, saturated tertiary colors. They pair perfectly with the Classic Rainbow collection of primary and secondary colors to make a complete rainbow.
2022
Another free pattern in the Christmas applique collection!
2023
***Included in Week 47 Sale***
A deeply discounted bundle of TEN individual applique patterns! This is included in the Week 47 Sale, and that discount will be on top of the 40% discount already built into the bundled price.
2024
Make a vulture or condor – a great addition to Safari and Zoo quilts.
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 46.
A super simple unlined felt stocking pattern that you can decorate any way you like! The post has loads of suggestions.
2012
This video shows how to strand your yarn when you’re working short color changes – like making the contrasting chest on this adorable little owl.
2013
Usually I embroider any facial features before I sew and stuff a doll or stuffed animal, but sometimes it makes more sense to do it afterwards. This video shows how to do it. The technique also works well for repairing worn stuffed friends without taking them apart.
2014
A free pattern for an itty bitty pocket-sized baby. This one also makes a great stocking stuffer!
2015
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
Benedict Bear is my favorite of all the Party Animals. I’ve made him so many times – and my daughter made an especially nice polar bear version. 🥰
2016
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
This is one of my favorite patterns to recommend for beginners who are a little nervous about trying applique. It’s really easy to make, and making the same block over and over again is a great way to practice. It’s also a terrific way to use up scraps!
2017
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
I was inspired by the movie Frozen to make this fancy wool coat, hat and boots. The collection also includes the long-sleeved dress she’s wearing under her coat.
2018
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
Make a cuddly bear quilt – perfect for winter snuggling. You can add even more faces by mixing and matching heads, ears and faces between the bears!
2019
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
Kevin Koala is such an incredible cutie! I love those fluffy ears. 🥰
2020
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
Just in time for some Thanksgiving sewing! Pair this with the free placemats pattern and decorate your holiday table!
2021
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
Make a sweet, fluffy puppy face. You can add this one to any of the other dog quilt patterns.
2022
I stopped selling tools and supplies, but I’m not going to leave you hanging! This post lists all of my favorites, along with links to sources where you can find them.
2023
***Included in Week 46 Sale***
This is a bundle of holiday printables you can use to make greeting cards, gift tags, invitations, and more! Each design comes in several sizes, plus a PNG with no background so you can drop it onto any color you like.
2024
I updated the Frasier Frog pattern to include SVG files and light box instructions.
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 45.
This post has everything you need to embroider a teeny tiny embroidery pattern onto a T-shirt. You’ll learn how to enlarge the pattern, and also what kind of stabilizer you need to use to stitch on stretchy T-shirt fabric.
2012
This post has a video and also photo tutorials showing how to do the fun loop stitch – a great way to crochet fluffy ears and tails.
2013
Many crochet patterns start by telling you to crochet a certain number of chains, then single crochet in the second chain from the hook. When you’re just getting started, it can be really hard to figure out which is the second chain – so this post lays it out for you in really clear photos.
2014
Everything you need to make an easy charity quilt using scraps, Quilt As You Go, and an easy stitch-and-flip technique that means almost no measuring.
2015
A free pattern for an easy lined Christmas stocking. This one uses an older version of the free Santa applique pattern, but you can decorate it with any of my applique patterns.
2016
Speaking of free Christmas applique patterns, here’s Rudolph! You could also add this to the Arctic Chill quilt pattern – just use black for the nose instead of red. 🙂
2017
***Included in Week 45 Sale***
This adorable little bird pattern is so versatile! I’ve used it to make a galah, but also a cockatiel and other crested birds, and if you leave off the crests you can make all kinds of other little songbirds! For one entire summer, this was my go-to baseball game project. Most games were long enough to completely finish one bird.
2018
***Included in Week 45 Sale***
Crochet a cute little doll!
2019
The Quilt-Along is over, but the post still has some great info to inspire you! We used the Shiny Happy Houses pattern and the free Santa’s Workshop Signs to make all kinds of cute North Pole Projects, including placemats, stockings, gift bags, and more.
2020
***Included in Week 45 Sale***
Last week I shared the Mix & Match Monsters crochet pattern. My daughter created all the ones you see on the cover, but this little guy is one I came up with. I love him. 🥰
2021
More experimenting with digital cut paper art.
2022
***Included in Week 45 Sale***
A major overhaul of one of my very first patterns.
2023
Making your very first quilt can be really overwhelming. I have a ton of tutorials, but it can be hard to know where to start. This breaks it down into just six easy steps, with links to more info for each step.
2024
Love this fierce owl! This is a set of printables in a bunch of different sizes – and also a version with a transparent background so you can drop it onto a color background you like.
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 44.
This is a super simple bookmarks, very easy to make, and a nice addition if you’re giving a book as a gift. You can embroider it, or just use a really pretty fabric.
2012
Before I discovered my favorite fusible adhesive, I used freezer paper applique for all my quilts. This video shows how to applique points – the trickiest shape for that kind of applique.
2013
***Included in Week 44 Sale***
One of my two non-applique quilt patterns! This one is super easy (no matching seams), fat-quarter friendly, and a fun way to showcase your favorite fabrics.
2014
***Included in Week 44 Sale***
Unbreakable ornament pattern! This one has lots of little details that are fun to stitch.
2015
This post has everything you need to know about what eyes are safe for baby toys.
2016
Couching is a method of sewing 3-dimensional “stuff” (cord, braid, beads, string, yarn, etc.) to the surface of fabric. You can do it by hand, but in this post I show you how to do it using a basic sewing machine. It’s a fun way to add texture to quilt blocks!
2017
***Included in Week 44 Sale***
Make a witch costume for your Dress Up Bunch dolls – or – if it’s after Halloween – use the same pattern to make a princess dress.
2018
I’m so sorry to say the words “stocking stuffer” in the same week as Halloween, but these cute little monsters are perfect for that. They stitch up fast, are a great way to use up scraps, are easy enough for beginners, and have the most pleasantly beanie filling. And the pattern is free!
2019
Another free crochet pattern! This one makes an adorable little pumpkin. Leave off the googly eyes and it’s a sweet decoration to put at a Thanksgiving place setting.
2020
***Included in Week 44 Sale***
I’m so dang proud of this pattern! Not only does it have instructions for 15 parts you can mix and match to create your own monsters – the samples for those parts are color-coded to help you see how pieces are shaped. Increase rows are in one color, decrease rows are in another, and straight rows are in a third color. That makes it really easy to see how you can add or change rows to make a similar piece that’s skinnier, wider, longer, or shorter. If you’re interested in eventually designing your own patterns, this is a great intro.
2021
More fun experimenting with drawing animals who are doing more than just smiling at us. 😂
2022
***Included in Week 44 Sale***
Adrian Alligator (aka Casey Crocodile) has a fun, toothy grin.
2023
***Included in Week 44 Sale***
This little piggie has the most enormous kissable nose!
2024
I updated the cute Tucker Tiger pattern to include SVG files and a video showing how to assemble the block using a light box.
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 43.
One of my very first embroidery patterns! Super simple, only the most basic stitches – and the pattern actually includes six dogs.
2012
Instructions for a peg leg and eye patch to add to Nelson Owl to turn him into a pirate. Fun!
2013
Make Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. (one of my favorite movies!) with this free pattern.
2014
Most of my animal applique patterns have simple black eyes. There are ways to make black eyes show up on a dark face, but for this free pattern I wanted to make the eyes more of a feature than usual. I love how it turned out!
2015
This is – by a HUGE margin – the single most common question I get. Most fusible applique is done with satin stitching around all the pieces, and everyone is worried that the edges will fray like crazy or the pieces will come loose with the simple straight stitching I use. To answer the question I show one of my daughter’s quilts after almost two years of constant use and countless trips through the washer and dryer.
2016
It really is everything you need to know – what kind of felt I like to use, how to transfer patterns and markings, how to sew pieces together, and free patterns to give it a try. I adore working with felt.
2017
I designed this free tote bag pattern to be super easy to make, and to be able to embellish it with any of my square applique patterns with no resizing needed. It’s also the perfect size for trick-or-treating! Make a themed bag to match your child’s costume – the post has loads of suggestions.
2018
Fall is the perfect time for making cuddly rag quilts out of flannel. In this post I show you how you can do that with any of my applique patterns!
2019
For years I closed up amigurumi by slipstitching across the opening. That’s the instructions you’ll see in almost all my patterns. But in 2019 I decided there must be a better way – something that would leave a more consistently smooth, rounded top. I played around until I came up with this easy solution.
2020
In my Mix & Match Monsters applique pattern, some of the monsters have a mysterious dotted line that runs through their bodies. In this video I show how to use that line to create monsters with fun underbites!
2021
All the animals in the Arctic Chill applique pattern came from drawings I originally did as part of a 100 Day Project. In 2021 I put those drawings together to create this fun cheater quilt fabric.
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 42.
Stacey wrote this excellent post with tips for choosing the best crochet hook for you. If you’re curious, I like a hook with an inline throat and a thumb rest. If you’re confused by any of those terms, the post has a link to another post that explains all the different kind of crochets hooks there are. Handy!
2012
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
I have very few quilt patterns that don’t use applique – this is one of them. I designed it to be especially easy, with no seams to match up. Yay! I really hate matching seams. 😂
2013
If you have a kid who’s interested in sewing – this is the post for you. There’s a video of my daughter (age 11 at the time) teaching kids to use a sewing machine. They’ll learn how a sewing machine works, how to sew wavy, straight, and parallel lines, how to use decorative stitches, how to turn corners, and more – and then they’ll use a free pattern to turn all their practice fabric into awesome original snakes. It’s loads of fun and a great way for kids to get a feel for how a sewing machine works.
2014
This is a free pattern for a very easy doll-sized quilt. It’s perfect for the Dress Up Bunch rag dolls, but it also works for American Girl dolls and loads of stuffed animals.
2015
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
Make an adorable stuffed dog with floppy ears and long, floppy arms and legs.
2016
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
Make a pirate costume for your Dress Up Bunch dolls! The pattern includes the shorts, shirt, eye patch, bandana, and trick-or-treat bag with skull and crossbones applique!
2017
I have two different monster quilt patterns – Scary Squares and the Mix & Match Monsters. This post explains the difference between the two patterns and has some tips for choosing which is right for you.
2018
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
This workshop took me forever to create and I’m super proud of it. It’s all felt applique and embroidery and there are videos showing how to do all the different embroidered hills without doing any marking.
2019
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
October is for monsters! You can add this silly Yeti to either of my monster quilt patterns.
2020
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
Another monster you can add to any quilt! I especially like this guy made in gray fabrics. He looks like a gargoyle!
2021
***Included in Week 42 Sale***
Use this pattern to make just about any raptor – eagles, hawks, falcons, kites, and more.
2022
I designed a fun mini fabric collection with these lions.
2023
Inspired by a seagull who stole an entire croissant right out of my hand in Vancouver – this is a very fun pattern to make!
2024
I love Frankenstein’s monster and this applique pattern is super fun!
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 41.
I’ve used this simple method to make so many Halloween costumes over the years!
2012
***Included in Week 41 Sale***
Nine cute little robots – easy and fun to embroider.
2013
***Included in Week 41 Sale***
Munch is BY FAR my most popular stuffed animal pattern! He’s super fun to make and the pocket mouth is a great place to stash an extra little gift. I’ve seen Munches made in holiday colors, sports team colors, school colors – basically every color of the rainbow. They’re ALL adorable.
2014
***Included in Week 41 Sale***
A dapper little fellow! I love unbreakable Christmas tree ornaments. 🙂
2015
A free applique pattern for a cute moose! This one is a great block to add to your Woodland Critter quilts.
2016
In this post I explain how you can use tissue lamé fabric to make shiny appliques. It’s so much fun! I used it to make a cute little alien here, but it’s also great to use with the Beep Beep pattern for cars and trucks.
2017
***Included in Week 41 Sale***
If you love hand stitching, then this is the pattern for you! You get patterns for twenty-five different geometric designs to stitch up itty bitty felt stockings into an advent calendar. It’s a true labor of love, and if you use wool felt, it’s an heirloom. If you don’t love hand stitching, just keep moving. You will hate this. 😂
2018
October is the season for monsters, and Stacey designed TEN free monster patterns to celebrate. Have fun with them!
2019
Everyone loves the pocket mouth on Munch (shown above in 2013) so I figured out how to add a pocket mouth to a crocheted monster too! This video shows how.
2020
My daughter was helping me design a new crochet pattern and made this cute little guy.
2021
Examples of quilts made with half-blocks and double-blocks and the exact measurements you need for each.
2022
***Included in Week 41 Sale***
A sweet mockingbird printable.
2023
Pretty, modern Christmas tree fabric. I had so much fun designing these trees! I think the white lines look like royal icing.
2024
Just for fun. Whenever I’m in a funk I draw monsters. They’re totally forgiving and fun.
2025
I designed a brand-new embroidery pattern featuring a bunch of adorable dogs!!!
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 40.
One of my very first softie patterns! This one is super easy to make, and you can use lots of different fabrics.
2012
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
Make a delightfully chunky and huggable cat.
2013
Before I recommend any product, I typically test it for months in my own work. Sometimes that’s just using it, but sometimes my tests are more elaborate. In this post I explain everything that went into testing fusible adhesives.
2014
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
In time for Halloween stitching – this is such a fun pattern! It’s all hand-sewn, so you can stitch anywhere. They’re super fun to scatter across a Halloween display, and you can stitch a barrette to the bottom for a creepy hair clip. If it’s too creepy in black, you can use light gray felt and embroider a smiling face (included in the pattern) for cuteness.
2015
Clear safety eyes + glitter paint = magical eyes for any stuffed animal. This post has all the tips you’ll need, including links to suggested paints.
2016
I love using cuddle fleece for the backs of all my quilts, but it’s also really easy to applique with it! This post shows you how.
2017
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
This adorable stuffed sloth has buttons in her hands and feet so you can wrap her arms and legs around things!
2018
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
This is one of my very favorite crochet stuffed animal patterns. I love his hairy ears, his silly underbite, his ridiculously large hands, his high-waisted pants. He’s just so much fun!
2019
Want to add some warty bumps to your monster? This video shows you how!
2020
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
Make a Halloween quilt! This pattern includes the witch in two sizes – one that fits completely into a standard 10-inch block, and one that fits into a 12-inch block, or has the tip of the hat bust out of the block (as shown). You could also put the large one into a double-high block to make your grid a little more complex.
2021
More experiments with drawing full-body animals. I’m working on a way to do this for quilt patterns without the face pieces getting too tiny and fussy.
2022
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
Octavian looks so fierce!
2023
***Included in Week 40 Sale***
An adorable hamster with enormous cheeks. 😂
2024
I updated the Kevin Koala pattern to include SVG files and light box instructions – plus optional eyelashes!
2025
I love this! Debbie has been making quilted greeting cards for her grandkids and grumpy Zachary from the Cuddly Cats pattern is Emery’s favorite. 😂
