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If you are new to paper piecing, I would love to share some tips for a beginner, or as a refresher. This past year I did a series of patterns and helpful videos for the American Quilter magazine. I can’t offer the pattern to you at this time because of publication rules, but I would love to share this short video on paper piecing tips. The video was linked to the January/February issue. Every issue in 2025 has a link to a video with my paper piecing tips.

PRESS HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

This video explains the “butterfly ...

Twelve fresh water fish patterns included in the SOMETHING FISHY QUILT PATTERN, plus directions to construct this lap quilt.

Fish included: PERCH, BLUE GILL, GRAYLING, MUSKIE, TROUT, SUNFISH, WALLEYE, CRAPPIE, BASS, PIKE, SALMON, and BULL HEAD. All of these fish blocks are also sold separately.

POND COLLECTION is a bundle of 4 block patterns. FROG, TURTLE, and DRAGONFLIES.

Plus this CATTAIL BLOCK is an extra block that can be used along with the Pond blocks in a quilt.

And for the gnome lovers…GNOME WITH BIG CATCH is ...

Its time to dust off those bunny decorations. Let me help you with that!

Here are some of my favorite paper pieced Easter patterns…

All 6 of these bunny and peeper blocks are included in one pattern: EASTER TABLE RUNNER AND POTHOLDERS. Easy peasy patterns, and a great way to use up those scraps!

HAPPY EASTER DUCKY and HAPPY EASTER BUNNY are fast and easy and make great gifts.

I sewed tiny little egg buttons in the EASTER BUNNY GNOME basket. Too cute!

The LOP ...

The Koala quilt from my newest book, HOME SWEET HOME PAPER PIECING, is being featured in Homespun Magazine’s February/March 2024 issue.

This charming little quilt combines paper piecing and applique to create a ” juvenile jungle” for your child. This Koala is one of many adorable animal patterns in the book.

Sea turtles, hedgehogs, monkeys and much more….

I’m in love with this sweet sea turtle. All square blocks measure 8″ x 8″ unfinished, and can be used in every project in this book, as well as my previous 6 books. This means you can be super creative ...

Every year I create home made gifts for my pickleball crew. There are 8 of us and we play 3 times a week, so we have gotten very close. I want this gift to be pickleball related, but also practical. This year, I used some adorable novelty fabric (Elizabeth Studios Pickleball Paddles on White 683 Fabric) to sew SWEAT RAGS. I found my fabric at a local quilt shop, MY FAVORITE QUILT SHOP, in Green Bay, WI.

I simply purchased soft terry washcloths, ripped open any side seams…

tucked the pickleball fabric under the opened seam…

and sewed the seam ...

Hi! I’m Mary Hertel. Welcome to my newest book “HOME SWEET HOME Paper Piecing“. Featuring 17 of my favorite block patterns, and 7 charming projects, this book is guaranteed to provide hours of creative fun for you.

If you are new to paper piecing, you can rely on any of my books to provide step by step directions. To give you even more assistance, visit me at madebymarney.com to watch paper piecing tutorials.

Did you know that as you paper piece, the block is created on the back of the paper pattern, and will be the opposite of ...

My newest book, HOME SWEET HOME PAPER PIECING, is ready for you to enjoy.

This book features 17 of my FAVORITE BLOCK PATTERNS, and I want to share them with you. Koalas, monkeys, sea turtles, gnomes, and so much more.

This is just a sampling of the adorable blocks, and there are 10 more!

Remember…all of my blocks will fit not only in the 7 projects in this book, but will also fit into the projects in my past 6 books. That helps you achieve soooo much creativity in your sewing.

Here’s an example…

This super cute HEDGEHOG ...

All of my patterns include paper pieced blocks, which are constructed with scraps of fabric going in various directions. It is important to quilt over the finished block so it will not stretch out of shape when laundered. But, after paper piecing a lovely image, it almost hurts to quilt over it! My go to method is to use invisible thread.

These 3 invisible threads are brands that I have used and I think they are all do a good job. Superior Threads makes MonoPoly, Aurifil makes a 100% Nylon variety, and YLI makes this Monofilament 100% Nylon Invisible Thread ...

I finally got around to pre-shrinking the flannel for the easy quilt, so while I couldn’t work on that, I tried my hand at making a gnome.

My first few attempts were all wrong – using crochet cotton didn’t work out, it took several patterns before I got the hat the way I liked it. Here is a tutorial of how I did it, which may or may not help you make one of your own.

One thing I have a lot of is leftovers from many projects. As my sister said, she wasn’t the one with 50 ...

As I started putting up my Christmas decorations, I realized I have plenty of Christmas tree skirts to choose from. They are all handmade and, of course, all paper pieced.

Any tree skirt pattern can be created as a table topper instead, just don’t cut the hole in the center. The BEARY-Y CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT would also make a super cute table centerpiece.

When I am decorating using a more farmhouse look, I use this tree skirt.

LITTLE RED TRUCK TREE SKIRT is so easy! Consider using fabric photos to paper ...

Instead of "No-shave November," over here it is "Gnome-shave November," as our gentleman gnome has a fun and curly beard! We have used curly wool to give some great texture to our gnome's beard, and the curly wool is available as part of the embellishments in our wool kit. While it might look complicated, we have broken the process down for you in a series of pictures.

 

Yes, it’s that time of year again…once a year I join forces with other talented pattern designers to offer my customers a bundle of 20 PATTERNS FOR ONLY $19! This is an amazing deal, and is only available from today through Sunday, October 9.

My GNOME MADE APRON PATTERN is part of this bundle! I love this apron because you can sew one for each season, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. What a great gift!!! AND, they are so easy to sew! I finished mine in an afternoon, and that included sewing the ...

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of my wonderful customers. Please enjoy this FREE HALLOWEEN PAPER PIECED PATTERN!

You will find the download for these patterns at the end of this post. You might also enjoy my series of WITCH BLOCKS. These are all sold separately on Etsy…

Here are links to all the witches:

GLINDA THE WITCH

BEWITCHED

HAPPY WITCH

TOOTHY WITCH

GOOFY WITCH

WANDA THE WITCH

Wouldn’t these witches make a stinkin’ cute table runner for October?

This is my favorite new Halloween Quilt pattern: GNOME ...

Just in time for the Fourth of July, you could create this super cute PATRIOTIC GNOME PILLOW.

Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and any other summer day is a perfect time to display this pillow.

I keep my pillow on display all summer. These paper pieced blocks would also work great for potholders, or even a cute table runner. I would love to see what you could create using these gnomes!

I might try some patriotic gnome towels, too! Any other good ideas?

HOMEWARD BOUND is another of ...

Just in time for a summer project, here is my BEACH BUM GNOME QUILT.

This adorable lap quilt was designed while I was vacationing in Hilton Head. I found the fabric in a super cute fabric store on the island.

I had a blast shopping for fabric that would work for the cute little “Hawaiian” shirts.

This Gnome has a unicorn floatie and sunglasses! He is ready for the beach.

This Gnome in his sailboat is definitely going on a pillow for my boyfriend, who adores sailing!

Playing in the sand…too cute!

When I discovered ...

These are some of the new blocks I have been creating. Most of them were customer requests.

HAPPY PIT BULL is a rendition of a customer’s pet. Although pit bulls are not my favorite breed, I’m loving them more now that I have this sweetie. I love this image so much, I put it on the back of a shirt. No one will mess with me now.

This SHELTIE is Caroline’s pet named Skittles. Adorable!

This is a very serious dog, the MASTIFFF. And this is a sweetheart of a ...

I am thrilled to be featured in the CREATE WHIMSY: SPOTLIGHT! A huge Made By Marney “thank you” to them for such a lovely interview.

Create Whimsy features different artists/designers on their blog. You can see more of their interviews HERE.

After spending a few weeks in Hilton Head biking and relaxing, I discovered a super group of pickleball players that meet every morning to play. They are a local group, very friendly and welcoming.

While I was vacationing, a gentleman contacted me to design a MILITARY GNOME. He is an Air ...

Announcing the Pre-Cut Pattern Bundle! 

Ten fabulous patterns, all using pre-cuts from 10 great designers! Have fun putting together these patterns with the ease of pre-cuts. All 10 patterns for only $19!

This bundle features 10 incredibly talented quilt designers.

No more guessing if what you have on hand is going to work.  Every pattern is pre-cut friendly. 

Whether that is a charm pack, a layer cake, a jelly roll or even fat quarter packs.  

The Pre-cut Pattern Bundle is only available for a few days, so you’ll want to grab your copy today.  Like right now. PRESS HERE ...