And just like that it’s a wrap on 2024! This is such a fun time of the year when we get to take stock of the things we accomplished, the things we learned, and the things that brought us joy! And one of the things that always brings me joy is checking in to pull together the Best of 2024 your top 10 favourite blog posts from the year!
My goal is always to share the projects I’m working on, some tips to help you in your quilting journey, and ongoing inspiration to spark creative ideas for you to explore too!
This year, your favourites included a mix of quilting projects, tutorials, and DIY projects, which I’m excited to recap in case you missed out on any of those throughout the year.
Let’s dive in!
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Your Top 10 Favourite Blog Posts of2024 list
I thought we’d work backward and count down to your top fave 😉
10. A Quilter’s Review of the Conair Handheld Steamer
There were lots of questions about this handy tool that I picked up at Costco earlier this year. The top one is “How effective is it?”, and I’m happy to report it’s super effective. This is now my go-to tool when preparing my quilts for trunk shows and lectures. It makes super quick work of that task and means I can tackle the steaming on the floor, the bed, or even while hanging out on my design wall.
This means I don’t need to pull out my ironing board and shift the quilt as I press it in sections (which often left crinkly bits from the sections that were folding up on the floor as I tried pressing the entire quilt flat).
I even used it recently to steam curtains at my mum’s place after I washed them. They were quite wrinkly from being laundered and folded up. But I simply hung them and used the steam to steam out all wrinkles. Super easy peasy!
You can read my full review, including a short list of cons on the blog here.
9. 3 Steps to Make a Pin into a Needleminder
What is it about being able to create our own sewing notions that gets us super excited?! You loved the tips I shared in the 3 Steps to DIY your own needle minder. It involves upcycling an enamel pin and couldn’t be easier to tackle.
It honestly took me less than 10 minutes to accomplish. So, if you’re on the hunt for a quick and easy holiday DIY gift idea, this would be it!
8. How to Pick Fabrics and Basic Colour Theory for Quilters
One of the top comments I get on my quilts is about the colours I feature. I know this is a challenging step in the quilting journey for many of you, which is why I decided to share some of my go-to tips on how I select fabrics for my own quilty projects.
7. What’s in Your Sewing Bag 3rd Story Workshop?
It’s always a joy to see a guest post from the What’s in Your Sewing Bag series make your top 10 list! Connecting with fellow makers and inviting them to share their most loved notions with you is one of my favourite things to prepare for you! Andrea kicked off the series for 2024 and you can see all the previous guests here!
If you have a recommendation of who you’d like to see invited, leave me a comment below and I’ll do my best to get them on!
6. Bonsai Tree for the 2024 Little Forest BOM
You know my love for trees and I’m just so thrilled to see they resonate with you too! Especially this modern take on a Bonsai tree for the Little Forest BOM Quilt. You can also see it in shades of green with a white background here. Gotta love the freedom fabric gives us!
5. How to Wash a Quilt
Sometimes you just need to know the practical stuff, right?!
I’m a firm believer that quilts should be used. I don’t shy away from sharing them with my family, or even letting Pips (our cat) curl up on them (who am I kidding, I’d have a constant battle on my hands if I didn’t let Pips on quilts – ha!). But since I do use my quilts daily, it’s inevitable that they’ll get dirty and need a good trip through the washing machine.
I share the exact steps I take to ensure my quilts come out fluffy and intact!
4. Rainbow Fat Quarter Baby Winter Star Quilt
This is what happens when I challenge myself to just use a fat quarter bundle for a quilt adventure! I’d been hanging onto this gorgeous FQ bundle by Sally Kelly Fabrics and it just kept calling me to be played with! So, I decided to see if I could make the Winter Star Quilt Pattern entirely from fat quarters. Turns out I can, and I updated the pattern so you can too!
3. Pros and Cons of Using a Wool Pressing Mat
It has been years since I first started using a wool pressing mat in my quilting. I remember hearing fellow quilters saying how much of a game-changer it was in achieving nice flat seams.
I was a little dubious – ha!
But I decided to pick one up for myself to see what the fuss was all about. Turns out, they do make a difference! Especially when paired with a tailor’s clapper, the results are pretty stellar. Read my full list of pros and cons here.
2. Pink Lemonade Quilt Pattern Now Fat Quarter Friendly
We love our fat quarters, right?! I mean, what’s not to love?
- They’re cute.
- They’re perfect textile samplers.
- They give lots of variety.
- They’re easy to press and cut.
And I know you have them kicking around your fabric stash!
So, I wanted to give you quilty options to feature those pretties. Enter the updated instructions for making the Pink Lemonade Quilt Pattern using just fat quarters. Here’s the one I made featuring the gorgeous Aerial fabric collection by Tamara Kate Design.
1. Mouse Trap BOM 2025
And your most loved blog post in 2024 was the Mouse Trap 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, 2025 – 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 Mouse Trap BOM modern skill builder here.
- You can purchase the Mouse Trap BOM quilt pattern here.
- You can sign up for the Mouse Trap BOM newsletter here.
- You can take the optional Mouse Trap Course for added support along the way!
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.
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I *love* that the mouse trap BOM was your most viewed post – that’s awesome!!!
Me too, Yvonne!! I was surprised and excited to see this abstract design resonate so strongly!! 💕💕