Category: McCalls Quilting

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Valentine Patterns for Your Loved Ones

Patterns to use for Valentine gifts.

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 effect”. Understanding this helps so much when placing your pattern on the fabric. Have you ever sewn your piece, then after flipping it behind the pattern, find that your piece is not fully covered with fabric? You maybe should have placed the fabric a bit higher or lower? If you use the butterfly effect, this will never happen again. There are different approaches to paper piecing. Every little tip can help as you discover the methods that work best for you.

These adorable honeybees were the January/February 2025 block featured in American Quilter. See how the tail from the bee outlines a heart? This could work for a Valentine.

If you are looking for an idea for a hand made gift for Valentines , or just because… this pattern was published by McCalls, but is now available for sale on my Etsy shop. The FOXY VALENTINE would be super cute on a pillow or potholder.

If you have a valentine who loves animals, RACCOON ROMANCE is just the ticket. This was also published in McCalls, but now can be offered to my customers on Etsy.

This is one of my favorite gnome patterns…HEARTY GNOME. I used it for a pillow and gave it to myself 🙂

But this is my customers favorite valentine gnome…GNOME WITH HEART. Can you think of a clever way to make this into a Valentine’s gift? Please share with me at maryannhertel@gmail.com

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CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRTS

I designed these 2 paper pieced Christmas Tree Skirts for Quiltmaker and Quilting magazines, 2019. I am now allowed to offer the patterns for sale. There are 2 things that I love about these tree skirts. 1) They are both super cute! 2) They are both super easy!

LITTLE RED TRUCK TREE SKIRT

Who doesn’t love the red truck craze? This LITTLE RED TRUCK TREE SKIRT PATTERN reminds me of the truck we used on our farm back in the 1950s. I love this nostalgic pattern.

Wouldn’t it be adorable to paper piece photos of your kids in the truck windows? Use printable photo fabric, which can be found in many quilt stores, Hobby Lobby, or Joann Fabrics.

The LITTLE RED TRUCK TREE SKIRT PATTERN was featured in 2019 Quilting magazine, November/December issue.

BEAR-Y CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT

I can’t decide which tree skirt I like better. The BEAR-Y CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT PATTERN is every bit as cute!

This Polar Bear can be made in other “bear” colors, too! Maybe you have brown bears in your area. Both tree skirts can also be made into table toppers…just skip the center hole.

BEAR-Y CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT was published in the 2019 Quiltmaker magazine, November/December issue.

I love designing for magazines, but I REALLY love when I can offer these patterns to my customers! Good luck with all of your holiday decorating.

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November Paper Piecing

I’m excited to be on the cover of the 2021 QUILTMAKER magazine, November/December issue. Those are my cute sledding Penguins on the cover.

PENGUIN MUG RUGS

These blocks are as fun to paper piece as they look!

PENGUIN PLAYTIME

The wonderful editors at Golden Peak Media have been so awesome to work with, and are always looking for clever quilting ideas for their magazines. I am so lucky to be in a second magazine this month…

McCall’s Quilting

My GNOME APRON is in the 2021 McCall’s Quilting November/December issue.

GNOME APRON

You know how much I love my Gnomies. This holiday apron is adorable, and so easy to make. I wear my apron when I give lectures for Quilt Guilds! It’s a crowd pleaser.

Speaking of Gnomes…here are my newest Gnome additions for November…

THANKSGIVING GNOME

THANKSGIVING GNOME is holding his Indian corn. The best fun is finding just the right fabric for the corn cobs.

BEER DRINKING GNOME

I am not a huge beer drinker, but this BEER DRINKING GNOME was created as a special request from a customer, and it is quite popular!

GNOME WITH A LIGHTHOUSE

GNOME WITH A LIGHTHOUSE was designed for my brother-in-law who collects lighthouses.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving…life is good. Enjoy!

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Heart Bandit

Here’s a cute paper pieced mug rug pattern just in time for Valentine’s Day. You will find it in the January/February 2021 issue of McCalls Quilting.

This HEART BANDIT MUG RUG is cute, cute, cute! The magazine has full instructions for paper piecing the raccoon block and consructing the mug rug.

The sassy little raccoon block is easy to complete in a day. You could have some sweet Valentine’s gifts done in no time.

Wrap up this mug rug with a coffee mug and some hot cocoa!

GNOME LOVE

One of my customers, Nickola, requested a gnome couple holding hands. GNOME LOVE is now available on ETSY. This would be so cute for February projects. I am going to make a potholder for a wedding. What would you make?