Discover the Sunfish Doll: A Summer ITH Pattern for Storytelling and Play
The Sunfish Doll is this month’s exclusive project inside the MRD Membership, and it’s ready to make a splash. This pattern was designed for creative makers who want to stitch something playful, meaningful, and easy to personalize. It’s stitched entirely in the hoop, and introduces helpful doll-making skills in a fun, summer-ready format.
And just added to the shop, the Moonfish Doll Pattern is now available at 50% off through July. If you’d like to stitch a matching pair, now is the perfect time to start.
Whether you’re sewing for a child, building your handmade gift stash, or learning new ITH techniques, the Sunfish Doll offers a joyful way to create with your hands and heart.
What Makes the Sunfish Doll Special?
This pattern features:
- ITH Construction for a clean, polished finish
- Curved 3D Shaping in the tail and fins
- Playful Details like stitched facial features and curved lines that give the sunfish its personality
It’s a soft, dimensional project that comes together with a few hoopings and simple machine steps. The body is assembled in the hoop and finished with stuffing and hand-stitched or machine-closed seams.
This month’s project is all about creative storytelling and bringing a new handmade friend to life.
Mini Lesson: Creating 3D Fins in the Hoop
One standout feature in this pattern is the use of in-the-hoop construction to add 3D fins and a curved tail. This technique teaches:
- How to stitch, turn, and stuff small curved shapes
- Where to place fins for balance and dimension
- How to align seams for clean finishing
This is a wonderful opportunity to build confidence with dimensional elements inside the hoop and explore how layering and placement affect the finished shape.
Inside the MRD Membership, you’ll also find a video walkthrough from Jennifer that walks you through each step of the process.
Bonuses Included with This Pattern
In addition to the pattern files and video tutorial, MRD members receive:
- Sunfish Story Cards: A printable set of creative storytelling prompts. Each card helps spark a new underwater adventure that your child can imagine, act out, or draw.
- Adoption Certificate: A printable tag to add a personalized touch to your finished doll. Perfect for gifting or boutique sales, it includes space for a name, a message from the maker, and adoption details.
These extras make the project more engaging and playful, while also helping you finish it beautifully.
Supplies You’ll Need
To complete the Sunfish Doll, we recommend:
- Fabric: Created With Love by Jennifer Long for Riley Blake Designs
- Stabilizer: Medium-weight cutaway
- Thread: Polyester embroidery thread in coordinating colors
- Stuffing: Fairfield Poly-Fil
- Tools: Quilty Hemostats, embroidery scissors, mini iron or seam roller
- Optional: Sparkle Paste or embellishments for added detail
Want to add another fish to your sea-themed collection? The Moonfish Doll Pattern is now in the shop and 50% off for July.
Join Us Inside the MRD Membership
When you become a member, you get:
- The full Sunfish Doll Pattern with step-by-step instructions
- Access to the four-week Sew-Along with community support
- Printable bonuses for storytelling and presentation
- Jennifer’s exclusive video tutorial
- A growing library of past ITH patterns and resources
The Sunfish Doll is only available to members this month. If you’d like to stitch along with us, there’s still time to join.
📍 Join the MRD Membership today and start your summer stitching adventure →
We can’t wait to see your sunfish come to life.
