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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 31.

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

I avoided zippers for YEARS because I thought they’d be too hard. They’re not.

2012

Frankie the Lobster! Those claws use the same technique as making standing legs.

2013

I used to use freezer paper applique for all my quilts – back before I discovered Heat & Bond Lite – a fusible adhesive that I really loved. This post has all my tutorials in one place.

2014

Such a sweet pup! Use the same pattern for whippets, borzois, salukis, and other long, lean dogs.

2015

My most popular pattern ever.

2016

Trapunto is a really cool way of adding puffy dimension to your quilts – but it’s suuuuuuper fussy and not fun. So I figured out an easy and fun way to get the look of trapunto without the annoyance.

2017

I love to use zippers in my pillows, but I don’t love to have them in a side seam. I like the zipper on the back. And I like it set in a smidge from the sides. (I’m very picky.) Exactly 6 years after showing how to sew a zipper in a seam, I shared all the details about how I use zippers in my pillows.

2018

One of my favorite crochet patterns. I love this roly poly fuzzy sheep!

2019

These little pocket-sized guinea pigs are super cute! I included different markings in the pattern so you can crochet your guinea pig.

2020

More parrots for my 100 Days project. This time it’s a blue and gold macaw. So handsome!

2021

Did you know you can add a baby version of any animal to your quilt blocks? In this post I take you through the whole things, from resizing to the final placement. It adds such a cute touch!

2022

Lucien Lion – perfect for Safari, jungle, zoo, or other animal-themed quilts!

2023

When I designed this pattern I knew I needed to draw the meerkats skinny enough so more than one could fit in the block.

2024

An adorable queen bee illustrated in my favorite cut paper style – you get JPG files in a bunch of sizes, plus a PNG with a transparent background so you can use it in lots of different ways.

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 30.

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

How to tie off the tail on the back of your embroidery without using a knot.

2012

Sometimes the best way to add a small detail to a crocheted stuffed animal is by adding a bit of felt.

2013

Back when I did a lot of freezer paper applique, my folds instantly coming unfolded in the North Carolina humidity would drive me bonkers. Starch is the magic answer! And it makes fabric behave in other situations too. Read for all the details.

2014

Perfect for shaggy manes, fluffy eyebrows, fuzzy caterpillars, soft flower centers, and more.

2015

Make a cute stuffed beaver with silly buck teeth and a flat, quilted tail.

2016

Crochet a teeny tiny crab!

2017

I use them in all my stuffed animals – both sewn and crocheted. I’ve even used them in occasional applique projects – I just snap the excess shank off the back with a pair of wire cutters after I put the washer on.

2018

Make a sea creatures quilt – perfect for beach houses and ocean-loving kids!

2019

Wait a minute! Weren’t these guys in the Week 29 archives post? They were indeed! In Week 29 of 2018 my Mix & Match Monsters applique class on Craftsy (featuring this pattern) launched. In Week 30 of 2019 I made the pattern available without needing to purchase the class from Craftsy. 🙂

2020

More parrots for my 100 Days project. This time it’s a cute cockatiel. I just love those pink cheeks!

2021

Experimenting with some simple animation on my iPad. Click through to see!

2022

I designed a new free alphabet pattern – this one is skinnier so you can fit more letters in a block! Add all kinds of words to your quilts and other projects! The post shows a quote added to a quilt, and also animal sounds added. You can add a child’s name and birthdate, a special message – really anything you can imagine!

2023

Experimenting with creating clip art from some of my designs.

2024

I updated the koala pattern, adding SVG files for electric cutting machines, and a video showing assembly 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 29.

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

Make super cute cards by embroidering on paper.

2012

I get this question a LOT. There’s no single answer to this – you hold you yarn however it feels comfortable to you! But this post explains how I do it, which will give you a good starting place.

2013

In this post I show you how to use the legs from a pair of cut-offs and the free Dress Up Bunch shorts pattern to make cute doll-sized shorts with all those great denim details.

2014

I almost always use whipstitch when I applique felt. This video shows how!

2015

The Dress Up Bunch dolls are going to a birthday party! This fun collection includes patterns for the dress, party hat, and gift bag.

2016

One of my most popular patterns! You get TONS of templates for bodies, eyes, mouths, fins, feathers, hands, antennae, tentacles, toe nails, stripes, spots, and more – enough to make a kajillion different monsters!

2017

A photo and video post showing you the different between crocheting through the back loop and crocheting through both loops.

2018

This post has a video showing how I quilt a broken grid layout – like when you have double-wide or double-tall blocks that interrupt the lines of the grid.

2019

A sweet dragon applique pattern – with optional flames!!!

2020

For one chunk of my 100 Day Drawing Project in 2020 I drew parrots – including this sulfur-crested cockatoo. I still need to make these parrots into an applique pattern – they’re so pretty!

2021

My daughter found the perfect yarn to make this giant squid! I think she ended up making seven or eight of them for friends. 😂

2022

One of my most popular fabric collections!

2023

Juicy strawberries! I really want to make myself an apron with this fabric.

2024

New blenders in the Sea Breeze color collection! I love this pretty peachy coral color.

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 28.

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

In my many-years-long avoidance of zippers, one of the things I latched on to was hammer-on snaps. They look really clean and nice and they’re WAY easier to work with than sew-on snaps, which I always fumble. I LOVE using them for doll clothes, because they’re relatively easy for small fingers to manipulate. This tutorial shows how to use them.

2012

I’ve been making curtains in this style for YEARS and I still love them.

2013

One of the Dress Up Bunch rag dolls. I show them here in just their collar, but they can wear all the clothes in the collection. 🥰

2014

Got batting scraps that are too small? Don’t throw them away – or save them in an endlessly growing pile. You can piece them together! In this post I show you how.

2015

A free pattern for some cute and cozy bear coasters – but it also includes instructions for adapting ANY of my applique pattern to make felt coasters. It’s a great way to get extra use out of your patterns!

2016

This fun pattern collection for the Dress Up Bunch dolls includes a hospital gown that ties on in the back, cute panties (you can’t wear a hospital gown without panties), a cast that attaches with hook & loop tape, and a sling.

2017

A free pattern for a tablet cover, with instructions to customize it to fit any size tablet. If you click through to the post you’ll also see examples of one I made with some of my applique patterns. 😁

2018

An easy peasy crochet project that’s also a great way to use up scraps.

2019

This was SUCH a fun project! You get templates for all the bears and the hills, and video tutorials teaching how to do all the embroidery inside the hills without doing any marking.

2020

I just love this silly guy, with his big googly eyes and his suction-cup toes. 😁

2021

A cute dragonfly with a happy smile. 😃

2022

One of my favorite things I’ve ever drawn! This is available as downloadable art in three different skin tones and tons of different sizes so you can use it to make prints, cards, stickers, and more. This isn’t what I look like, but it’s what I feel like inside, so I think of it as a self-portrait. 😁

2023

In this post I share a quick, easy and FREE tool that makes it really easy to squish two animals into one block.

2024

I made a new sample of Ian Iguana for an ABC quilt I’m working on. I love these colors!

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 27.

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

I designed this owl to be especially easy to make. My daughter (age 8 at the time) made the one you see on the cover!

2012

Happy chemistry! A fun embroidery pattern – especially for mad scientists! 😁

2013

A Dress Up Bunch rag doll – I just love her purple curls!

2014

A handy skill. I use it most often to make tote bags with a little depth to them, but it’s also handy for boxed pillows and the bases of some stuffed animals.

2015

I get a lot of questions about where to start stitching when you’re outlining your applique. This post is my detailed answer. 🙂

2016

An almost-freestyle mandala sun. I didn’t use a pattern for this, but I DID use a grid to guide my stitching. The post gives you all the details.

2017

Happy Fourth of July! I made this with one of the cats from the Cuddly Cats pattern and added a hat from the Fancy Doodads pattern.

2018

I stitched up some of my husband’s drawings to make this fun pattern.

2019

I had so much fun designing this cute frog in his little hoodie!

2020

Another animal for my 100 Day project. I love this tiger who became this applique pattern.

2021

I made a new sample for the Cuddly Cats pattern in subdued neutrals. Click the photo to see a time lapse video of one block assembly. 🙂

2022

A mini fabric collection!

2023

I was experimenting with drawing flowers instead of faces. 🙂

2024

I made a cute, cut-paper version of the Adrian Alligator/Casey Crocodile applique pattern for the free July wallpaper download.

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 26.

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

I used to teach kids summer sewing camps – this post has all my best tips for teaching kids to sew.

2012

More sewing with kids!

2013

One of the very first Dress Up Bunch dolls! Spot is shown here in just his collar, but he can wear all the outfits that the other rag dolls can wear.

2014

One of the Party Animals! These little felt softies look complicated to make, but they’re actually really easy.

2015

An outfit for the Dress Up Bunch dolls! This set includes patterns for the pajamas, the quilt, the pillow, and the pillowcase. And they’ll all fit Spot the Dog from 2013. 🙂

2016

In Denver, filming my second Craftsy class and wearing makeup. 😂

2017

This silly little stingray is super fun to stitch!

2018

I redesigned the free Burnie Bee pattern. Such a cutie!

2019

I just love monsters with underbites! I do this with a lot of my monster quilt patterns too. 😁

2020

I drew this orangutan as part of my 100 Day project. I love this guy – but I still need to turn him into an applique pattern!

2021

I’ve been designing free wallpapers for computers and mobile devices every month for years! I finally pulled them all together into one post so you can easily find and download the older designs.

2022

Bellamy Bee! You can make this one with or without the little crown. (And you can use the crown in other blocks!)

2023

Make an adorable little bison.

2024

I’m showing you Landyn Lizard here, but you can use this pattern to make lizards, newts, salamanders, geckos, and more!

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 25.

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

For years I was afraid of zippers and buttons, so I only made clothing with elastic openings. I still like to use it for doll clothes, so there are no frustrating fasteners for little fingers. In this post I show you everything you need to know – what kind of elastic to use, how to pre-stretch it, and more.

2012

One of my favorite embroidery patterns. 😂

2013

One of my free felt bird patterns. She’s so pretty!

2014

Everything you need to know (and all your questions answered) about one of my very favorite tools. I use this for almost all my embroidery AND felt projects.

2015

I reviewed this terrific book about English Paper Piecing. Nutshell version: It’s perfect.

2016

A sweet little gardening outfit for the Dress Up Bunch dolls! The pattern includes the dress (with an optional belt), apron, and “straw” hat.

2017

Have you ever tried to learn how to make amigurumi and gave up because the very first step (usually a magic ring) was so dang complicated? I hear you! The sloppy slip knot is an absolute game changer. When I learned how to do it I thought I must be doing it wrong because it was just so easy. Nope!

2018

One of my favorite patterns for baby showers – quick and easy enough to make in an afternoon.

2019

One of my favorite setting variations for my quilts. It adds such a playful touch!

2020

I drew this Asian elephant as part of my 100 Day project – and loved her so much that she became the Ellen Elephant applique pattern.

2021

When I started making SVG files for my patterns, it changed the way I needed to design my template pieces – which changed how they were cut out and assembled. This post has a SUPER detailed video showing every detail of my new process. There’s a time stamp guide so you can skip to the parts you need most.

2022

The Wild Flowers pattern! This is one of my very earliest patterns, and in 2022 I updated it to include SVG files and made a brand new sample.

2023

I was playing around with ditsy flower patterns for fabric and decided to make some chunky bees. I love these guys!

2024

One pattern to make many mustelids – ermines, ferrets, mink, weasels, stoats, fishers, and more!

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 24.

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

In this post I show two different ways to gather fabric – one that’s great for short bits and one that works really well for long pieces.

2012

I was so intimidated by changing colors when I started crocheting amigurumi – but it’s actually really easy. And I love making striped critters!

2013

To illustrate what the grainline is (and what impact it can have on your finished stuffed animals) I made two elephants – one with the pieces cut on the indicated grainline, and one cut with the grainline going in the opposite direction. It’s so interesting to see the difference!

2014

I love this little guy with his spots and his silly tongue hanging out. 🙂

2015

Another exceedingly huggable stuffed animal. This beaver is perfect for pairing up with a Woodland Critters quilt!

2016

Remember the GIANT cat and flowers project I shared in last week’s archives? This is the embroidery pattern I used for all those flowers. It’s a seamless repeat, so you can stitch an area of any size! Plus there are a couple of grids that are VERY handy.

2017

This is my easiest monster quilt pattern – and it’s so much fun to make! I especially love recommending monsters for beginners. Nobody can tell you that you made the horns curve the wrong way, or the nose the wrong shape, or the eyes crooked – your monster is YOUR creation!

2018

I put a fussy-cut unicorn behind that door. 🙂 This is such a fun technique – and you’re not limited to just using it with blocks with doors! Hide a bird or squirrel in a treetop! Or the sun behind a cloud! Or a critter inside a car or truck!

2019

This silly frog makes me smile every time. 🙂

2020

Such a shaggy fellow – good for his arctic environment.

2021

One of my very favorite patterns ever – especially when made with striped fabric like this version! Someday I will make a chameleon quilt with every block a different color.

2022

Mix and matchable templates to make AT LEAST 21 different breeds of dog. This was SUCH a fun pattern to design!

2023

A post all about how to work with digital clip art.

2024

Everything you need to know about my fabric collections, including info on all the different color palettes – useful whether you’re shopping at Shiny Happy World or your local fabric store.

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 23.

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

Perfect for tiny little fireflies!

2012

Since needles have no heads, they can easily disappear into the center of a regular pincushion, never to be found again. I created this needle cushion to solve that problem!

2013

A very handy (and secure!) way to attach clothing, manes, prickles, and other bits to crocheted stuffed animals.

2014

A peek at the design process for a little stuffed mouse.

2015

I love adding my applique patterns to other projects – like this handy bag designed by Betz White. The link takes you to a detailed description of how I did it, along with a link to the original pattern.

2016

There’s that same cat popping up again a year later – this time in a GIANT applique/embroidery project. That’s a quilting frame – not an embroidery hoop. 😳

2017

Letters and numbers (and a few punctuation marks) designed especially to work with my applique patterns. Add a name, animal sounds, dates, and more. Have fun with them!

2018

Eyelash yarn adds the most amazing fuzzy texture to your stuffed animals – but it’s kind of a nightmare to work with it. I figured out a better way! (And it works with other specialty yarns too!)

2019

Colorful fabrics can show through any white fabric appliqued over them. Here’s how to prevent that if it bugs you. 😁

2020

Another desert animal with absolutely ENORMOUS ears! This is an antelope jackrabbit.

2021

You can use this pattern to make just about any songbird. It was super complicated to design – but I think it’s super easy for you to make. I’m super proud of this pattern!

2022

Pretty, pretty daisies. I made them with every background color under the sun and put them in the Bouncing Bunnies collection because they coordinate with all the bunnies.

2023

More daisies! (Am I obsessed with daisies every June?) I designed this print for a dollhouse wallpaper challenge and loved it so much that I made it in a larger scale as well.

2024

A cute papercut donkey with a big grin. 😁 I released this as a wallpaper with a June 2024 calendar – but you can still get it without the calendar – and it’s a free download.

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 22.

Want this round-up (along with the 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

Don’t fear zippers! This is a great first project if you’ve never sewn with them before.

2012

You don’t have to. I’m personally pro-knot! But sometimes you don’t want knots (or tails) and this is one way to do it.

2013

A pattern inspired not by actual space, but by Saturday morning cartoons set in someplace far more silly. 🙂

2014

It’s a simple little trick.

2015

A super fun little caterpillar with a magical trick to sew all those segments together.

2016

One of my bestselling quilt patterns.

2017

I used to teach kids sewing classes in the summer and these snakes were always a HUGE hit. In this post, my daughter (age 11 at the time) teaches kids how to use a sewing machine.

2018

Turn any quilt block into a fun wall hanging with a fancy frame and everything!

2019

One of my favorite extra things to do with a basic block pattern is to make it bust out of its frame – like a monster whose horns are too wide to fit, or this frog snatching a fly out of the neighboring horse’s block. This post shows how to do it!

2020

I had never heard of a fennec fox until I was researching desert animals for my 100 Day Project. I learn so many awesome things from my work!

2021

The drawing that inspired the 100 Birds Projects – and therefore the Backyard Birds quilt pattern.

2022

Make a silly spider monkey.

2023

This cat looks soooooo satisfied.

2024

Make a gentle gorilla.