Happy 2024!!

Here we are again…365 days (more or less) after the first day of 2023.  The New Year is upon us, and once again (since it’s now tradition), the time has come to reflect back on my quilty predictions of 2023 and see how well I predicted what would happen in our quilting world.  So without further ado let’s take a look back at my 2023 prognostications and see how well or how badly I did.

• Prediction One:  Sustainability will remain important as more and more quilting goes “green.” I think I did pretty well with this one.  Sustainability, less waste in landfills, and re-purposing old quilts all were pretty hot topics in 2023 among most quilters.  However, I think the one sustainable fact which kind of hit me hard is this: new quilters (as a whole) don’t seem too interested in cultivating a stash.  When I began quilting, having a varied stash was almost a point of pride.  It was wonderful to decide to make a quilt and then pull everything you need from your own fabric.  I understand many new quilters aren’t interested in having a stash, but simply want to purchase what they need as they need it.  While part of me is asking “What fun is that?” another part of me realizes this does free up a lot of space in your quilting area. 

• Prediction Two:  Pieced quilts will reach a new high in popularity.  To be perfectly honest, I can’t vouch for how right or how wrong I got this one.  I do think I can state I saw more pieced quilts in quilt magazines this year than ever – and far more than any applique ones.  So maybe I got this one right and maybe I didn’t. 

• Prediction Three:  Two-color quilts will be abundant.  I think I blew this one.  After I made this prediction, I swear I don’t think I saw another two-color quilt in any quilting magazine or website. 

• Prediction Four:  The slow-stitching trend will grow in popularity.  This one is a solid 100.  Slow-stitching was everywhere – in both brick-and-mortar quilt shops as well as on-line establishments.  It has Facebook pages, Instagram posts, and Twitter (X) accounts.  I think a lot of sewing enthusiasts (not just quilters) have found slow stitching relaxing and fun.  I don’t think it will fade away anytime soon. 

• Prediction Five:  Dense quilting will be featured in the majority of quilts.  I think I scored pretty highly with this prediction, too.  If you look at the quilts shown at guild meetings, those in magazines, those on internet, and those who were juried into the larger quilt shows, they all were quilted pretty densely.  Then top that off with the fact that more and more domestic quilter-oriented sewing machines now have ruler feet. This means nearly anyone can perform beautiful ruler work on their quilts regardless of their long arm status. I don’t think dense quilting is going anywhere.

• Prediction Six:  Landscape quilting will become popular.  I’d give myself a solid 80% on this prediction.  I did see a lot more of these quilts in shows, magazines, and internet sites.  And from what I could tell, there were quite a few classes offered in their construction.  All of which makes me very happy.  Landscape quilts are so much fun to make!

Now…what do I think is in store of us in 2024?  Well, my predictions for this year are divided into two categories – fabric and projects.  So let’s look at the fabric forecast first.

• Kiss the “normal” neutrals/background fabrics goodbye. Yes, those whites and creams and blacks will still be out there, but by far they will be usurped with bright, clear hues which will serve as the “new” neutrals and backgrounds.  Even my beloved gray (my favorite neutral) will take a backseat to the brilliant rainbow colors which will be front and center this year.  Gone are the staid, everyday neutrals.  In their place will be cheerful colors which just make you smile.

• Look for more animal prints, geometric prints, textured fabric, and fabrics with metallic accents.  While we will still have flowers and other cute prints, more designers are showing animal prints than at any other time.  Fabric that gives the appearance of having texture (such as fur) will also be easier to find in 2024.  Material will also be shot through with metallic accents, giving our quilts a little “bling” and geometric prints of all sizes may take the place of florals in our quilts. 

• Most fabric will have cleaner hues with less shades.  It seems as if 2024 wants to cast away any of the lingering mental doldrums left by the years of COVID and the effects we all suffered through.  I think there will be lots of hues and tints, but not so many shades.  Which, if you remember color theory, isn’t necessarily a good thing.  You may remember a blog I wrote a couple of years ago https://sherriquiltsalot.com/2019/04/24/the-muddying-of-the-fabric-franchise/bemoaning the fact very few fabric families have a true dark – that they were literally all mediums and lights, which was why many of our quilts looked so “muddy.”  With only tints and hues, we’re going to have the same issue.

• Batiks will remain a strong fabric player in the quilt game.  Even with all the clear, bright, new colors, batiks will remain a solid mainstay in the quilting game.  Batik manufacturers are producing some lovely new designs and for those of us who use this fabric in raw edge applique, we are so happy!

• Digital fabric will still have a presence in quilting, but it will not be as big.  Those of us who have sewed and quilted with digital fabric know its strengths and weaknesses and sometimes those weaknesses are just enough to drive us nuts.  Unless producers can meet the challenges this fabric brings to the quilt studio, its place in our quilting world may lessen, no matter how beautiful the fabric is.  We may still use it, but not in great quantities. 

• Let me introduce you to an up and comer – Poppie Cotton Fabrics.  This fabric line is kind of a cross between Tula Pink and Riley Blake.  I do think this is an “up-and-comer.”  Check out their web page: https://poppiecotton.com/.  I’m not a huge fan of Halloween fabric, but they have some hauntingly cute prints.

Those are my predictions for fabric.  Now let’s look at what I think will happen in the projects part of the quilt world.

• Quilted Clothing.  I know I predicted this a few years ago and completely blew it.  However, I do think 2024 will be different.  I’m seeing a lot of patterns for quilted clothing on quilt-related websites, such as Laundry Basket Quilts, as well as in quilting magazines.  And we’re not just talking about jackets any longer.  I’ve seen capes, hoodies, vests, and skirt patterns advertised.  Hopefully these patterns are easy enough for folks who haven’t made garments in a long time like me. 

• Bags.  I have seen lots and lots of bag patterns on quilting websites, quilt shops, and quilting magazines.  I am also aware many shops/websites are now stocking all the notions and hardware needed for these bags.  Annie’s has an entire sales catalog devoted to bags and notions as well as videos to go with their bag patterns.  And for those of us like me who haven’t put a zipper in anything in years, well, they’ve made that easy, too. 

• Paper piecing is making a strong comeback.  I’m seeing this technique used in more and more patterns.  I know this is one of those quilting skill sets folks either love or hate (there seems to be no neutral ground).  However, there are some gorgeous paper piecing patterns advertised.  If you’re a bit rusty on this technique, or just trying to find your paper piecing Zen, 2024 may be the year to give it another try. 

• This is the year for block-of-the-months.  I’ll be the first to admit, this one is a little personal.   Normally, I’m the quilter who runs from these programs.  I take a lot of delight in designing my quilts or tweaking patterns, choosing my own fabrics, and sewing at my own pace.  However, from what I’ve seen in 2024, BOM programs are hitting it out of the park.  And the programs are not just wall hangings or bed quilts.  They’re bench pillows, door quilts, small quilts, and even bag-of-the-month programs.  The patterns are lovely and not too difficult, and the fabric which accompanies the patterns is lovely.  If you’re like me and have kind of turned your nose up at BOMs, this year may be the time to give them a second look.  If nothing else, they may be a type of mindless sewing and stress relief – you don’t have to decide on the pattern or the fabric, just cut it out and sew.  And for those of us who adore applique, there are some GORGEOUS applique BOMS this year.

That’s it.  Those are my predictions for our quilt world in 2024.  Now it’s time to introduce the theme for next year.  I had two themes in mind and spent some serious time waffling between the two.  I finally decided this morning the theme would be “Welcome to My Studio.”  I have a lot under my needle this year and would like to use what I’m making to emphasize techniques and skill sets as well as vent any frustrations I have and explain how I fixed them.  I will still write history blogs on quilters and quilt blocks (because it seems like a lot of my readers really like those) and will definitely entertain any topic a reader throws at me.  Just keep in mind if you send me a topic, I generally already have three blogs “in the can” before it.  It may take a month before I get to yours.

Lastly, my regular readers may remember I lost Sam back in June of 2021.  He was my constant companion, sitting beside my sewing machine while I sewed or beside me on the couch when I was hand sewing.  My blogs were always signed with “Sherri and Sam.”  I had Sam 22 years before he crossed The Rainbow Bridge, so it truly was a difficult time for me.  I missed him terribly.  For my birthday this year, my husband handed me the normal gifts – a lovely sweater, a nice piece of jewelry, dark chocolate, and a good bottle of red wine.  The last gift bag was filled with cat toys.  Later that day, he took me to a cat adoption at a local pet supply place.  It was there I found this sleek, handsome, and sweet guy…

Meet Felix.  He’s a seven-month-old sweetheart who’s a rescue kitten out of Trinity.  He’s a cuddler and has already carved out a place in my studio – on a low shelf right above the heat vent.  He’s well on his way to being properly spoiled. 

Happy New Year Everyone!

From My Studio to Yours…

Love and Stitches,

Sherri and Felix