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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 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.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 21st week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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!

2011

Some people hate binding. I absolutely love it! I use a combination of machine and had sewing and I adore those last couple of evenings with my beautiful new quilt in my lap.

2012

My favorite pincushion shape! I have multiples and keep one at my sewing machine, one at my ironing board, and one to rove around with me wherever I’m working.

2013

An easy beginner pattern and a great way to use up scraps.

2014

If you care about that sort of thing. 😁 I normally don’t, but if I’m making something like a Christmas tree ornament where both sides may be visible, I’ll often finish the back this way.

2015

Super cute! But fair warning – this is my most difficult stuffed animal pattern.

2016

A video showing how I do all my favorite wavy line quilting. I use these designs ALL THE TIME.

2017

My very favorite project for quick and easy (and cuddly!) baby shower gifts.

2018

I based the size and shape of this bag on a tote I got IN HIGH SCHOOL and still use decades later. It is, in my opinion, the perfect bag.

2019

One of my most popular woodland critters.

2020

A silly monster as part of my 100 Day drawing challenge. I love the bumps on his skin and his groovy turtleneck.

2021

The start of a terrific work in progress – calculating the fabric needed for my quilts in ALL the common sizes and as many different layout possibilities as I can think of.

2022

My fun Good Dog fabric collection in a pretty pink palette.

2023

A very pretty experiment. I need to make more of these!

2024

Look at this fantastic quilt that Carolyn made with the Beep Beep pattern! I love that pieced binding! And the plaid van!!!

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 20th week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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!

2011

I LOVE mending with visible patches. Sometimes I sew one on just for fun – even if there’s nothing to mend. 🥰

2012

I like to use this to outline patch pockets.

2013

One pattern – four different animals. Make that dollar holler!

2014

She’s ready to decorate for a party!

2015

My daughter adapted the Franklin the Fat Cat pattern to make a Totoro – and you can too! I share the pieces and instructions in this post.

2016

One post with links to ALL my tutorials for different applique techniques.

2017

Lots of farm animals making lots of noise. 😂

2018

This has been my favorite way to do outline stitching for quite a few years now. I just love how it looks!

2019

The pattern also includes a horn to make it a unicorn!

2020

Such a sweet face!

2021

Emperor penguins are just the coolest!

2022

I add catchlights to all my eyes now, and I love how it really brings them to life! (I use the fabric paint method – and the post includes a link to my favorite brand.)

2023

More bird fabrics! And coordinates to go with them! I also did that same bird print with gray and taupe birds on a deep blue background.

2024

Some thoughts on the value of slow and steady progress – in crafting and in life.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 19th week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

Want this round-up delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

2011

Everything you need to know.

2012

I show you how to measure your machine to get a custom fit.

2013

You know how frustrating it is to manhandle a big quilt through your machine and then realize you just sewed a whole long row without any bobbin thread? Yeah. Me too. Here’s how I keep that from happening.

2014

I just love her sweet face.

2015

Make a bunch in different colors!

2016

How to download, how to save, how to print.

2017

The pattern includes the dress, the apron (including the cupcake embroidery pattern), the cookies, the spatula, and the baking tray. This is one of my favorites!

2018

You can use any of my quilt block patterns to make cute felt coasters! The instructions also include general info on resizing my patterns – useful for SO MANY other possible projects.

2019

Such a cutie!

2020

I drew this emu as part of my 100 Days project in 2020. It became the Eloise Emu/Orly Ostrich pattern. I just love her cheerful face!

2021

I redesigned the free bee pattern!

2022

I also did the same fabric designs in a mostly-pink palette and called it Squeaky Toy. 😁

2023

Another fabric collection – this one inspired by Mary Blair. The top right design (in sea glass colors) is now my desk pad and it makes me so happy every single day.

2024

I created a printable cut paper version of the adorable otter pattern. It was a free wallpaper download – and you can still get it! Just without the May 2024 calendar. 🙂

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 18th week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

Want this round-up delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

2011

Beautiful blooms, embroidered with just a few easy stitches.

2012

The best way to attach bits that you want to be flat – not puffy.

2013

Yes – you really can quilt a big quilt (even king size!) on a standard sewing machine. I’ve done it – and I show you how.

2014

My first bird quilt – and I I still love it!

2015

In a nutshell – no. 😁

2016

All the little tricks I developed because I’m always afraid the marking won’t wash out.

2017

A terrific collaboration that led to TWO new projects.

2018

A free pattern for a cute panda!

2019

It’s not really any harder than making two standing legs.

2020

I drew this giant anteater as part of my 100 Days project in 2020. I need to make an applique pattern with this guy!

2021

A golden-fronted woodpecker from my 100 Birds Project. I don’t know why that’s the name – the gold is on the back!

2022

One of my favorite bugs. 😁

2023

A silly chimpanzee. 😁

2024

Look at the gorgeous quilt that Amanda made with the Woodland Critters pattern!