paper piece Archives - Made By Marney

Posted on February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 by maryhertel — 2 Comments

Valentine Patterns for Your Loved Ones

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

Posted on January 31, 2026January 31, 2026 by maryhertel — Leave a comment

Projects for Horse Lovers

These brand new COZY HORSE patterns are so adorable. Why can’t our horses be warm too?

This table runner/wall hanging pattern has my favorite scalloped binding. This binding is challenging, but so worth it! Always use bias cut binding strips when adding any curved binding.

The COZY HORSES pattern includes all 3 paper pieced horse patterns and directions for the wall hanging.

More horse patterns you might enjoy…

PALOMINO

NICKER

Or get all 11 horse patterns in HAY GIRL.

And here’s my most popular FREE horse pattern…

Yes it is FREE, however Etsy cannot process any order for under 60 cents, so you will be charged this tiny amount… so let’s call it …

Kinda “FREE” HORSE PATTERN

I love seeing what you are doing with my patterns…so please share photos to maryannhertel@gmail.com

Thank you to my friendly customers who shared these adorable projects!

You will find lots more horse block patterns at my ETSY SHOP.

Posted on July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 by maryhertel — 3 Comments

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck…Baaaack

Here are more farm animal paper pieced block patterns for you! I am on a chicken and rooster creating spree. Here are my latest to add to your farm projects.

CHICKEN BLOCK is so easy and cute. I love a fat brown hen!

ROOSTER WITH FLOWERS is adorable with my other Farmhouse Animals wearing flowers.

FARMHOUSE TABLE RUNNER PATTERN

ROOSTER BLOCK PATTERN was so fun to use a chicken wire fabric that I came upon.

SIR CROWS A LOT block will prance right onto your quilt project!

The HEN block is a whimsical chick ready to try to fly. This pattern will add a cute touch!

I would love to see some farm animal quilts using my chickens and roosters! Please share your photos.

Posted on April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by maryhertel — 4 Comments

This is exciting…

Every 2025 issue of AMERICAN QUILTER magazine will include a Made By Marney Collectible Pattern. How exciting!

Each issue has not only the full pattern, but also has a link to a free video with paper piecing tips and tricks. “Bee My Honey” includes this free video Using the Butterfly Effect While Paper Piecing…

The “Some Bunny Loves You” issue includes this pattern and a free video on Connecting Paper Piece Segments Together. This bunny would be great for an Easter project.

The “Think Spring” block will be arriving in the next issue very soon. All magazines can also be purchased in digital format.

Start your collection of Made By Marney patterns and find many more fun designs at MADEBYMARNEY.ETSY.COM, or just PRESS HERE to go directly to Etsy to see my newest Easter block…BUNNY WITH BUTTERFLY.

Have a lovely Easter! I love seeing what you are creating. Please share photos of projects you have created for Easter to: maryannhertel@gmail.com

Posted on March 29, 2025March 29, 2025 by maryhertel — 1 Comment

Something Fishy…

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 a fun block pattern. I hope this gives you some inspiration for creating something fishy of your own.

Posted on March 17, 2025March 17, 2025 by maryhertel

Bunny Love and More…

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 BUNNY is great for a pillow.

BABY BUNNY without a bow, or BABY BUNNY WITH BOW.

My all time favorite bunny pattern to date, BUNNY WITH FLOWERS. I have this pillow in my sun room.

And here are some new designs…

This HOT AIR BALLOON BLOCK pattern was requested for a baby’s quilt.

The TRACTOR BLOCK pattern could be added to any farm or farm animal quilt. Very cute!

The GUINEA PIG BLOCK pattern is my fave!

Thank you for continuing to send me photos of the adorable projects you are creating using my patterns…you inspire me 🙂

Posted on March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 by maryhertel

Looking to Spring?

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, here are some clever paper pieced blocks for spring…

The bolster pillow was created by Ann using my LUCKY LEPRECHAUN block pattern. What a clever idea for a sofa or bench pillow.

This is an example of a table runner using my CLOVER LEAF BLOCK with a LEPRECHAUN BLOCK.

Brigitta from Austria created this adorable place mat using my LEPRECHAUN GNOME pattern.

Here are some of my new patterns. They have nothing to do with St. Pat’s, but I would love to see what you can create using them…

I haven’t had time to make a small quilt or runner with these 4 TRAIN BLOCKS, but would love to see what you would make!

The FARMER BOY and FARMER GIRL blocks were designed to add to my FARMYARD STARS quilt pattern.

Or add them to any farm themed quilt you are making…

Enjoy creating something every day! I sure do 🙂

Posted on July 3, 2024 by maryhertel — 2 Comments

The Newest Doggie Patterns

If you have been looking for some new pooch patterns, here you go. My most popular dog pattern is DOGS ONLY…

This popular dog quilt offers 11 block patterns for only $10. If purchased separately, the block patterns would cost $33. Such a good deal to buy the quilt pattern. Since Dogs Only is so popular , I thought it was time to design another quilt based on pooches….

My DOG LOVER QUILT has 12 block patterns and the paw print pattern for the corners. That is 13 block patterns for $15. So much cheaper than buying them separately. I had so much fun designing these cuties! PRESS HERE to watch a video with more details for this quilt.

Here are some of my newest dog blocks; designed by request, but now also available to you.

BRUSSELS GRIFFIN DOG BLOCK PATTERN…$3

MALTI-POO DOG BLOCK PATTERN…$3

PORTUGESE PODENGO PEQUENO DOG BLOCK PATTERN…$3

PUG/FRENCH BULLDOG BLOCK PATTERN…$3

DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER BLOCK PATTERN…$3

DOGGIE PAW PRINT BLOCK PATTERN…$3

PRESS HERE to shop over 100 different breeds. Do you need one that you can’t find? Email me directly at maryannhertel@gmail.com

Posted on June 12, 2024June 12, 2024 by maryhertel — 3 Comments

For the Horse Lover in Your Life…

Giddy yup! I have 6 new horse paper pieced patterns. Previously all of my horse patterns were close-up face only block patterns, similar to all the horses in HAY GIRL.

HAY GIRL PATTERN

But I’ve been busy creating some full body horse patterns…

Horse Block Pattern #6

For the Horse Lover in Your Life…

Horse Block Pattern #5

Everyone loves horses…

Horse Block Pattern #4

What could be cuter than kissing horses…

Horses Block Pattern #3

Use them for pillows and other projects…

Horse Block Pattern #2

Or use them all to make a quilt…

Horse Block Pattern #1

For all of you horse lover’s, these blocks are enough to make a quilt if repeated. Let me see what you can do with them! Please email finished photos to maryannhertel@gmail.com. I would love to share them on a future post…

All 6 blocks together make a sweet quilt!

This child’s quilt was created by Christina using my FREE HORSE pattern. Although, the pattern is free, Etsy will charge a 20 cent restocking fee. Why can’t anything be JUST FREE!

Free Horse Pattern

I designed this FREE pattern for you horse lovers because I love you!

Anita assembled this gorgeous version in blues and browns, one of my favorite color combos. I would love to see what you can do. I’m also always curious about what images are popular and in the mainstream. I get the best feedback from you, my customers.

Love ya!

Marney

Posted on May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 by maryhertel — 1 Comment

When Do You Start Planning For Christmas?

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.