As we approach the end of 2023, the Aurifil Artisan community is bubbling with excitement as we unveil the last Artisan Challenge of the year. This month, we’re taking a delightful detour down memory lane, inviting our talented artisans to revisit that magical moment when they first held a needle and thread.
For December, we encouraged our Artisans to create projects that echo the simplicity and joy of their earliest stitching experiences… to dive into their treasure trove of memories and bring forth projects that are not just beautiful but also beginner-friendly. The goal? To inspire a new generation of makers by sharing step-by-step tutorials and techniques that can be embraced by anyone, regardless of their level of expertise.
With sincere gratitude, we extend our thanks to all the participants who contributed to the success of the latest challenge. Your consistent creativity and enthusiasm in joining us month after month are genuinely valued, adding an extra touch of magic to our creative community.
Candice Odeen
This month’s Aurifil Artisan challenge was to think back to our start with sewing. My grandpa used to make quilts and when I was a child, he moved in with us before he passed. He brought his old, pea green sewing machine and would let me use it, which I loved. Now, this was in the 90’s so scrunchies were totally a thing and were an easy make for a 10-year old kid to make. I hadn’t made one since then but it was just as fun as it was 30 years ago. I didn’t use a pattern but I did base this off of my favorite scrunchie. I was able to measure the width and length of the fabric and the length of the elastic with a measuring tape.
To sew it:
🪡 Fold the fabric wrong sides together along the long edge. Starting about 2” down from the short end, sew 1/4” seam, stopping 2” from the end. Turn the tube right side out
🪡 Thread the elastic through, using a safety pin to secure one end to the fabric and a safety pin on the other end to help you nudge the elastic through the tube. March up the elastic ends and sew. Trim off excess.
🪡 Make sure the fabric isn’t twisted and then match up the two short ends, wrong sides together. Sew 1/4” seam and finger press open. Turn everything right sides out and close the opening by folding the raw edges in and stitching along the edge.
Karen Foster
A quilted fabric bucket tutorial with simplified steps and a couple of finishing options is my response to this months challenge. By using different Aurifil thread colors and weights in my two examples you can see how variety is easily achieved.
Aurifil Threads used: 2930 Golden Toast 40wt and 50wt; 2715 Robins Egg Blue Forty3; 2250 Red 12wt; 5020 Light Military Green Forty3
Lynett Muhaso
I share my favourite and go to method of making four (4) half-square triangles (HSTs) at a time in this tutorial. This method helps to eliminate bias edges.
Aurifil Thread used was 40wt in white.
Irina Malyukova
When I think about my childhood, the first thing that comes to mind is the atmosphere of creativity in our home. I grew up watching my mom sew, embroider, knit, or crochet whenever she had a spare moment. Her projects were mainly utilitarian or upcycling, mostly out of pure necessity. I often sat next to her and watched her craft. I think my love for sewing and upcycling comes from those precious moments we spent together at her old sewing machine. The project I designed for the December Aurifil Artisan Challenge is not only about sewing but mainly about crafting together with your children, inspiring them to learn,creating treasured memories, and planting the seeds of creativity in young minds. You will learn how to finger crochet using scrap yarn and turn the finger crocheted rope into a coaster, bowl, or round bag!
Aurifil Thread used: 50wt 2311 Muslin, 3817 Marrakesh
Mary Burroughs-Mayer
The December Aurifil Artisan challenge was all about going back to the beginning, remembering the first time you held a needle and thread. For me, that was creating string art in third grade with Mrs. Tanemori – little did we know that we were actually exploring mathematical concepts while stitching away! Creating your own curved thread art is easy, check out my latest blog post for a free template to create a design like mine and step by step instructions!
Aurifil Thread used: 12wt in 2250 & 2845
Sarah Harris
Back to basics with a quick and easy book cover project. I started with a perfectly practical (yet plain) dollar store calendar booklet, and then made the quilted cover using some gorgeous new Ravel fabric from @eisroughdraft (e bond) and coordinating Aurifil thread collection to make this beginner friendly project.
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in colours 1231, 2435, 2612, 5015 and 12wt in 2310
We encourage you to click through and check out each of these amazing projects in more detail!
In Candice Odeen’s instructions she says to put wrong sides together, sew the long seam, and then turn. I think she meant “sew right sides together”. That way the seam allowance is hidden inside the tube.