It’s the official countdown to the New Year, which means it’s time to round up the best of 2023: your top 10 favourite blog posts!
This has got to be one of my favourite blog posts to write as it’s a celebration of what you loved the most on the SFD blog in 2023!
There’s always one post that you surprise me with and, this year, there were a couple. This is what’s so fun about being connected on our creative journeys, we get to inspire and encourage one another.
Knowing you’ll be showing up to read my posts, encourages me to keep showing up for you! I often think of you as I’m creating, making mental notes of things I want to share with you in the hopes it helps you in your adventures.
All this to say, thank you! Thank you for being here. Now, on to the list!
For more Best Of, check out:
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Some oldies but goodies
There was a mix of quilting, notions, and garment sewing topics that were covered this year, which always helps keep the boredom at bay – ha!
Some posts tend to live on in popularity and, while I don’t include them in the top 10 (since they weren’t published in 2023), I thought I’d include them here in case you missed them:
- 4-at-a-time HST Tutorial
- 2-at-a-time HST Tutorial
- How to make a quilt hanging sleeve
- Quilt Binding Tutorial: Part 1 – 10 Tips for Success
2023 list
Ok, on to your top faves of the year, working backwards from the least popular to the most popular
10. New Quilted Coat: Navy and purple with Chambray
I’m so thrilled to see the collaboration between my mum and I on her navy and purple quilted coat made your list of faves! It was so fun to work with my mum who had very specific ideas of how she wanted her coat to look. Armed with her colours of choice, I spent hours perusing fabric options before finally landing on the navy and purple combo with that gorgeous lilac chambray lining! Read all about the fabric pull here, and the final coat reveal here.
Learn how to make your own in the on-demand Quilted Coat Course.
9. Modern Improv Play Stripes
One of the things that brings me the most joy is encouraging you to explore and play. So, to see you loving and participating in the 30 Days of Improv QAL is beyond heartwarming! This was the kick-off post where I shared the modern improv play featuring the shape of the week stripes!
If you’re curious about my thought process as I’m stitching improv blocks, I invite you to enjoy Improv Behind the Scenes!
You can see how my improv play continued in:
- Modern Improv Play L-Shapes
- Modern Improv Play Triangles
- Modern Improv Play Curves
- Modern Improv Play Composition
8. Chambray and Stripe Collage Gather Top Dress Hack
This summer I had a lot of fun diving into more me-made fashion. There’s something about stitching up your own clothes that brings extra joy to wearing those items. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about making the Chambray and Stripe Collage Gather Top Dress Hack.
The fabrics were sheer joy to piece with. And I can’t believe I finally put these linen stripes to good use. They’d been sitting in my fabric cabinet for quite a while and I was starting to wonder if I was losing my love for stripes. Clearly, I had nothing to be worried about 😉 I also love that I got to feature the chambray. The tactile feel while making my mum’s quilted coat was so lovely that I just knew I had to make something else with it. This project was the perfect option for showing off the lovely drape chambray offers.
7. How to save and file your digital quilt patterns
Keeping up with technology can feel super overwhelming these days. I used to feel like I had a good handle on tech, but there are days when even Instagram gives me pause for how to use the app properly – ha!
Since I often get questions about how best to use digital quilt patterns, I thought sharing How to Save and File Your Digital Quilt Patterns would be helpful. Thrilled that it has been! If there’re any other questions you’d love for me to explain more about, ask away in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them!
6. Raw Edge Appliqué heart mug rug + FREE pattern
It’s probably too early to mention that Valentine’s Day is less than 2 months away 😉 but if you’re on the hunt for a cute and fun gift idea the Raw Edge Appliqué Heart Mug Rug makes for a really sweet treat! Plus, the pattern’s free so all you need to do is dive into your fabric scrap bin and start stitching away!
5. Winter Start QAL finished quilt
I try not to play favourites with my quilts but sometimes one comes along that just steals my heart and this one did just that! It’s a good thing I gifted it to my hubs as I’ll still get to enjoy it through him – ha! Clearly, I’m not the only one who loves a bold holiday quilt that isn’t overtly Christmassy!
Read more about this solids Winter Star Quilt here.
4. Peppermint pocket skirt
Pockets for the win, my friend! I’ve gotten mixed reviews from people who’ve seen this Peppermint Pocket Skirt: they either love it or hate it – ha! Who knew a skirt could elicit such strong emotions 😉
I will say this is one my coziest skirts. I wore it on repeat this past summer. The linen feels glorious on those really hot humid days we tend to get, here in Montreal. But you can still move around without feeling like you’ll flash someone – ha!
3. 100-Day Mini Quilt Collages
You know my love for improv and exploring new sewing techniques. This past 100-day project where I explored mini quilt collages featuring these gorgeous Ruby and Bee solids was one of my favourite play sessions. It was a lovely combo of layering fabric and then adding stitch work to explore details and dimension within a composition. You can see all the pieces in this blog post. And purchase some here.
2. Christmas Crackers
Even though I only recently shared her, the new Christmas Crackers quilt block was an instant hit with you! Read all about this festive cutie here!
If you missed out on getting your copy during Quiltmas Spectacular, you can now find the quilt block pattern in the shop! You’ll be ahead of your 2024 holiday sewing schedule 😉
1. Little Forest BOM 2024
And your most loved blog post in 2023 was the Little Forest BOM! I was so excited to see that it was your top favourite blog post! Your excitement for the upcoming quilt along has been beyond heartwarming. I’ve literally been counting down the days until we start stitching together. The fun kicks off on January 15, 2024 – eek!
If you’re just hearing about this block of the month quilt along, then here are some easy links to help you get setup:
- You can read all about Little Forest BOM modern skill builder here.
- You can purchase the Little Forest BOM quilt pattern here.
- You can sign up for the Little Forest BOM newsletter here.
Thank you so much for being here and supporting my online creative pursuits! I love sharing my quilty adventures with you, and it just wouldn’t be the same without our amazing community.
If there’s a topic you’d love to see covered on the blog, leave a comment with your request and I’ll do my best to make it happen.
Until then, happy quilting!
xo,
Shannon
PS I’m so excited that I’m not missing the cutoff to participate in Cheryl’s annual Best Of link-up. It’s always so fun to see what everyone is sharing.
PPS If you haven’t already, be sure to sneak a peek inside Cheryl’s sewing bag.
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Fun to see and read about all 10 of your colorful projects!!! Your Winter Stars quilt is gorgeous!!!
Thank you so much, Nancy!! That Winter Star quilt was fun to explore working with a dark background!
So fun to see such a techy topic (saving and filing patterns) as one of your top posts for the year. I look forward to seeing what you make and share in 2024!
I was so surprised by that too, Yvonne! But also thrilled that it was helpful to so many. I used to feel super on top of tech and now I sometimes feel challenged , so I’m happy to help clarify things where possible!
Congrats on such a productive 2023, such beautiful quilts (I love that coat)! Thanks for linking up with the Best of 2023.
Thank you Cheryl! I love your series and thrilled you’ve still got it going!
I followed the email link to this post and for the first time really looked at the mini-collage page, examining carefully the way you arranged, and then stitched, the small collages. The way you used threadwork, as well as fabric placement, to artfully compose each piece was fascinating to me as well as a kind of revelation. I have seen others use these techniques separately, but I have not (yet?) seen anyone combine these in quite the way you do. I love your color palate—those vibrant pink/orange/white combos—but I also love the way you matched up thread and fabric colors to achieve different effects. My husband and I just spent an hour talking about how you artfully crafted these pieces. We learned a lot! Thank you for sharing your work. You have inspired us both.
I’m so thrilled you enjoy those mini-collages, Janet! And how fun that it sparked an hour-long creative discussion with your husband this morning! I do love these mini explorations where I can try different ideas out to see where they lead to. Thank you so much for your comment and sharing how the minis captured your attention!
I enjoy all your news letters. We had a good holiday down here in AZ but being from MN originally we did miss a white Christmas. Can’t wait for what you have in store this year.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mary! I hear you on missing a white Christmas, it’s just not quite the same without the pretty white stuff!