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.
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Click on the images to go to the posts.
2011
One of my very first softie patterns! This one is super easy to make, and you can use lots of different fabrics.
2012
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
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
This adorable stuffed sloth has buttons in her hands and feet so you can wrap her arms and legs around things!
2018
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
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
Octavian looks so fierce!
2023
An adorable hamster with enormous cheeks. 😂