Category Archives: Bunny blocks

When Do You Start Planning For Christmas?

May 24, 2024book, Books, Bunny blocks, cat block, cat pattern, Christmas book, Christmas pattern, Christmas patterns, Christmas tree skirt, dog block, dog pattern, Golden Retriever Pattern, holiday dog, paper piece, paper piece dog, paper piece pattern, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, paper piecing book, penguins, polar bear pattern, quick & easy quilts, quilt block, quilt blocks, raccoon block, raccoon pattern, red truck pattern, retriever block, snowman block, tree skirt, truck patternChristmas book, Mary Hertel book, paper piece patterns, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patternsmaryhertel

If you are like me, you usually wait til November, but then wish you had started earlier. This year, I am starting now. My newest book, SEW A WINTER WOODLAND CHRISTMAS, just arrived to help you start creating your Christmas projects today

With 20 adorable paper pieced blocks to choose from, you are going to be motivated to start sewing now.

Where else will you find a pattern for a sloth hanging from a candy cane, an ice skating polar bear, or a busy beaver cutting down his own Christmas tree. THIS BOOK has them all, and so much more.

I know how much my customers love their pets. Designing these cat and dog Christmas stockings was such fun! These treasures would make great gifts for the animal lovers in your life.

Personalize this little red truck with any photo. How cute is that?

Lots of cozy animals to choose from to decorate quilts, table runners, gift bags, and more!

This foxy tree skirt is so cute, I have to keep it for my own tree.

This lap quilt uses almost all of the blocks in the book. It looked fabulous on my sofa, and will look great on yours too!

SEW WINTER WOODLAND CHRISTMAS , order your copy now 🙂

Any Bunny Need Ideas for Easter?

March 20, 2024book, Books, Bunny blocks, Ducky blocks, Easter bunny pattern, Easter paper piece, Easter Paper Piecing, farmhouse table runner, Juvenile Quilts, paper piece, paper piece book, paper piece pattern, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, paper piecing book, potholder, quilt block, quilt blocksbunny block, bunny pattern, bunny quilt, Easter bunny, foundation piecing, Paper Piece Bunny, paper piece patterns, paper pieced bunny, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patternsmaryhertel

Everywhere I go I’m seeing the cutest bunnies for Easter decorating. I found these at Walmart…cute and affordable.

For my front door, I made these moss bunny beauties from Dollar Tree items…

They were amazingly fun and easy to construct. I found this idea on Pinterest.

This is my fave paper pieced bunny block pattern… BUNNY WITH FLOWERS.

I’ve used this block in lots of projects. I love animals with flowers on their heads.

Here are some of my other bunny blocks…LOP EARED BUNNY

Here’s the same lop bunny with a bow… LOP BUNNY WITH BOW TIE.

EASTER TABLE RUNNER has 6 Easter blocks included in the pattern…

This bunny and pillow pattern are from my book… SEW CUTE AND CLEVER FARM AND FOREST ANIMALS. Thank you to Claudia for making this adorable sample 🙂

And this bunny burp cloth is from my book…SEW CUTE BABY ANIMALS. This book is chocked full of projects to sew for your little one.

Hope I have inspired you to do some holiday creating. Have a lovely Easter!

Farmhouse Animals with Flowers

October 6, 2023book, Books, Bunny blocks, cat block, cat pattern, Cat quilts, farmhouse animals, farmhouse table runner, horse pattern, horse quilt, paper piece horse, paper piece pattern, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, paper pieced horse, paper pieced pig, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, pattern book, pattern bundle, pig block, pig quilt, quilt block, quilt blocks, quilting, Quilts with Animalsfarm animals, horse block, paper piece patterns, paper pieced animals, paper pieced bunny, paper pieced cat, paper pieced horse, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced pig, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilting, quilting patternsmaryhertel

My newest table runner has 4 adorable paper pieced farm animals wearing flower wreaths.

My FARMHOUSE TABLE RUNNER pattern has all 4 animals included and the directions to make the extra long farmhouse ruffle. This table runner has no quilt batting. Instead I used fusible T-shirt interfacing to keep the table runner nice and thin and flexible.

All of the block patterns are also sold separately. BUNNY WITH FLOWERS.

These blocks also make lovely pillows…

Although the pillow directions are not included in the pattern, they are available in my book: SEW CUTE AND CLEVER FARM AND FOREST ANIMALS.

I’m always interested in hearing what paper pieced images you are looking for….please comment below with more ideas for future patterns.

Quilting Over A Paper Pieced Block

April 3, 2023Bunny blocks, Ducky blocks, Easter paper piece, Easter Paper Piecing, gnome, gnome block, gnome pattern, gnome quilt, nylon thread, paper piece pattern, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, paper pieced gnome block, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, potholder, quilt block, quilt blocksBunny Blocks, Easter patterns, easy paper piecing, Holiday Paper Piecing, Nylon Thread, Paper Piece Bunny, paper piece patterns, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patternsmaryhertel

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. All of these threads will hold up to your iron, and not melt. But even so, I am always careful to iron gently.

Of these three invisible threads, my favorite is the YLI. It is easy to thread into my machine, and it doesn’t “snap” and break as easily as the others. When using any invisible thread, I use a lighter weight white, 40 weight spun poly bobbin thread.

Easter Bunny Gnome has been quilted with vertical lines that are 1” apart. I mark the lines with a Frixion pen so the lines can be erased with an iron. Quilting in this manner doesn’t distract from the image, and looks modern. The “Peepers” below were quilted with regular thread, changing thread color in each area. I also change the bobbin thread to match the top thread. This method also works fine, but is more tedious.

Now, let’s talk about having some Easter paper piecing fun! Hang these adorable “peepers” on your microwave with suction cups. They are easily accessible when cooking, but almost too cute to use!

Here’s the matching table runner, or create your own! I’d love to see what you produce. Here’s what some of my customers/friends have done using my Easter blocks…

Lisa used the Bunny from my HAPPY EASTER BUNNY pattern.

Happy Easter Bunny and Happy Easter Ducky

I am working on a new springtime bunny and will share the photo soon!

If you have any other questions about quilting over a paper pieced image, please leave a comment below, or email me directly at: maryannhertel@gmail.com

Sew Cute Baby Animals Book

May 1, 2022book, Books, Bunny blocks, cat block, cat pattern, Cat quilts, dog block, dog pattern, Dog Quilts, Ducky blocks, horse block, horse pattern, horse quilt, Jungle Animal Quilts, paper piece book, paper piece dog, paper piece horse, paper piece pattern, Paper pieced Animals, paper pieced horse, paper pieced pig, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Piecing, pattern book, quick & easy quilts, quilt block, quilt blocks, quilting, Quilts with Animalsbaby animal patterns, baby animals, paper piece baby animals, paper piece book, paper piece patterns, paper piece tutorial, paper pieced, paper pieced animals, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing book, paper piecing directions, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt blocks, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting book, quilting patterns, quiltsmaryhertel

Is there a special child in your life? Mine too! Actually, quite a few of them, and I love to sew cute gifts for all of them! That’s why I created my newest book, SEW CUTE BABY ANIMALS.

With 17 adorable mix and match baby animal images and 6 fun projects, this book will provide you lots of reasons to be creative.

Patterns for baby quilts, a diaper tote, catch-all container, bib, and burp cloth are all included.

Here are just a few of the cutest baby animals ever…all paper pieced, but using NO buttons for the eyes. Everything is fabric, so no chokeables for baby.

You will find farm animals and pets…

Jungle animals…

And more…

I hope you LOVE this book as much as I do!

Don’t forget that these 17 blocks will fit into the patterns from my other books, as well. SEW CUTE BABY ANIMALS book can be found in my ETSY SHOP today!