The year that was – 2024

If a quilt isn’t truly finished until it’s bound, then I only finished three quilts in 2024! That’s a bit of a shocker for me, and also surprising since I managed to release two quilt patterns during the year.

I do have a few nearing completion though – including one that just needs to have the facing stitched down on three sides – so those might be quick wins for 2025... or maybe not.

Putting things out in the world

The two patterns I released in 2024 were Laneways (at left below) and Surfacing (at right below), with Surfacing just scraping in about two weeks before year’s end.

Laneways had a big year… First showing at Quiltcon in Raleigh, where I was lucky enough to attend and see it hanging in a prime position as you travelled down the escalator (pic in grid above).

Later in the year it was awarded a first place in the modern category in the Vic Quilters’ Showcase along with an award for best original design.

Now, it’s on my nephew’s bed – its original destination – but I’ve got a throw version I’m keeping for myself (as soon as I get those last facings stitched down!).

As to Surfacing, I’m thrilled that it will be hanging at Quiltcon this year in Phoenix and equally that it’s arrived there safely!

Like Laneways, Surfacing was made for a family member – this time, my mum. I’ll be making another throw-sized version just for me during my Surfacing slowalong, which kicks off on 25 January. If you’d like to join in, make sure you’re following the blog (however people do that these days) or signed up to my newsletter here.

Other awards

Along with Laneways, I had two other quilts hanging at QuiltCon in Raleigh. ‘Multifarious Me’ (second in on the bottom row of the grid above) was part of the design challenge and took home a second-place ribbon, while ‘This Way Lies Imperfection’ was featured in the Piecing category. ‘Multifarious Me’ is now packed up and heading off to AQS QuiltWeek in Daytona Beach!.

At the Vic Quilters’ Showcase, I also received a highly commended in the recycling challenge for ‘Log Cabin Jazz’. You can see it in the grid above, where it was among my most popular posts of the year.

And then there was Europe!

A look back at 2024 wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my trip overseas. I’ve already written about the experience of taking ‘In Conversation’ to EPM in France, but a personal highlight of the trip was spending three days painting fabrics under the guidance of Sarah Campbell.

For those who aren’t aware, Sarah was one half of sister design duo Collier Campbell. You have likely seen their work as they designed extensively for Liberty and were everywhere in the 1980s. Susan sadly passed away in 2011, but Sarah is still painting repeats and teaching. You can read more about her on the Freespirit website – she designs quilting fabric too!

Sarah Campbell with just a tiny part of her archive that we were privileged to see over the three days of our course.

The non-quilty makes

2024 also included some non-quilty makes including three knits. First, my cardigan made up with the gorgeous Green Letter Day yarns (left below), a Pelica vest (right below) and a quick beanie for my nephew.

Clothes sewing included the Irma bodywarmer (centre below) made from my Catty Corner quilt, six (!!!) Assembly line cuff tops – I made most of them as Christmas presents for the women in my family – and a Cartwright top.

What will 2025 bring?

• At least one new pattern. ‘Blooming Marvellous’ is already underway and even made my top pics’ grid for 2024 (top right hand corner).

• The last teenage-niece quilt. It’s an epp quilt that I’ll start sharing on Instagram soon. And it’s a star pattern which is a welcome relief from all the curves I’ve been sewing, and continue to sew.

• A long dreamt-about trip to Shetland Wool Week with my Mum!

• Another exhibition – though late in the year. I still have much more planning to do on that one.

That’s enough for now, I think… I don’t want to get ahead of myself as this year I’m starting another day-job contract. It’s a longer term one than normal, so I don’t want to do my usual trick of biting off more than I can chew.

Happy New Year to you all! Here’s wishing us a year filled with joy, peace and creativity.