Experiencing QuiltCon is a multi-layered adventure, from exploring the vending hall to attending lectures and workshops, and cherishing moments with friends. However, one of our annual highlights is strolling through the quilt show, marveling at the meticulous stitches that fuse fabric and thread into breathtaking works of art.
In the weeks leading up to QuiltCon, we reached out to our dedicated community, inviting those whose quilts, crafted with Aurifil thread, adorned the event’s halls. The overwhelming response showcased a plethora of quilts intricately made with our threads.
Each quilt we encountered narrated a distinct tale through intricate patterns and bold designs, with Aurifil threads serving as the linchpin in their creation. We’re excited to embark on a virtual journey through QuiltCon, enabling those at home to savor the intricate details and craftsmanship showcased at the event.
Winners!
We were thrilled to see our very own Aurifil Artisan Janice Reimer win the MQG Excellence award alongside Aurifilosopher Yvonne Fuchs, who clinched the Best Machine Quilting award! Their quilts were showcased side by side in the winners’ area at the show entrance, a testament to their outstanding talent and dedication. We couldn’t be more proud of both of these remarkable makers.
Anechoic by Janice Reimer, @prairieandocean
MQG Excellence Award | Anechoic is the result of a doodle session that turned into a summer of foundation paper piecing. This quilt was a lesson in colour theory and pulled me in creative directions that were out of my comfort zone (hello bright bold colours). Each colour quadrant has elements of the other quadrants in them by incorporating their colours into the quilting thread and binding.
Aurifil Thread used: 50wt
Cloudy Night Sky by Yvonne Fuchs, @quiltingjetgirl
Best Machine Quilting | Cloudy Night Sky is a study in how atmospheric and lighting conditions are important in order to see the stars at night. Clouds and light pollution often obscure from view the stars that we know are shining down. With just a slight shift in conditions and lighting, the stars pop out to greet us. Quilt as desired can be some of the most intimidating instructions in a quilt pattern, and quilts with lots of negative space can increase the anxiety and pressure to get it right. I created this design in order to write an article sharing the process I use to develop a quilting plan that transforms the negative space into a secondary design element. I could not wait to turn the quilt and quilting plan I created as a process demonstration into reality.
Minimalist Design
Duality by Debbie Jeske, @aquilterstable
After considering the Quilt Improv Studio Dualism challenge theme for weeks, I finally settled on a relatively simple design, palette, and quilting plan. The use of large circles was a satisfying way to express duality, and I was charmed by the secondary designs that resulted. I quilted horizontal straight lines in two Aurifil 40wt colors and two densities. The bottom two sections are quilted with lines in Aubergine 1″ apart; the top two sections are quilted with lines in Gold Yellow 1″ apart. Which means the middle section is alternating with both thread colors, and lines that are 1/2″ apart. Matched binding seemed a fitting finish. Aurifil Thread used: 40wt 2570 [Aubergine], 5015 [Gold Yellow]
Study #1 in Blue by Jera MacKenzie, @jeramackenzie
This is the first of a series of quilts have planned. I love placing fabrics of the same colour but are a different slightly off from one another next to each other to see how each plays off one another.
Aurifil Thread used: Quilted with 50wt in #2745 & #2780 and pieced with 50wt #2021
Small Quilts
Color Fest by Stephanie Z Ruyle, @Spontaneousthreads
Improv play with colored cotton quilting scraps, using the pieces in their precut shapes, trying to limit the amount of trimming while conserving the maximum amount of fabric possible. Working in small scale studies can often release anxiety about creating a larger piece and create joy in the celebration of color and movement. The addition of a multitude of thread, by machine and by hand lends depth and even more for the viewer to see.
Outer Orbit by Stephanie Z Ruyle, @Spontaneousthreads
Hand drawn inset, stacked curves in multitude of colors contrast with heavyweight slub black linen creating the improv impression of the edge of outer orbit. Keeping the linen from stretching on the bias when piecing was challenging, but worth it. The repetition of the curved orbit is echoed subtly with color matched thread, adding just a bit of texture to the “void” of deep space.
Red Stitches, No Ditches by Jessica Rundlett, @VintageVikingStitcher
After taking Cassandra Beaver’s Hand Accented Quilting Class during QuiltCon Together 2021, I knew it was a technique I had to explore. This was a “stab” at that – building a grid with my walking foot and then adding accents by hand. Seeing The Joanna S. Rose Red & White Collection at the International Quilt Museum was incredibly inspiring for me and I stuck with only two colors – red and white – to best explore the impact of using different thread weights. After hearing Jacquie Gering, I knew my grid could be at an interesting angle and then I worked on the hand accents off and on for six months and finally, it’s done and I’m so pleased to be able to do more than stitching in the ditch – plus, now I know how much I love handwork!
Googolplex by Petra Kolkhof, @sewingp
This mini quilt is inspired by the book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (2005). The book’s narrator is a nine-year-old boy named Oskar Schell. After his father died on 9/11, Oskar discovers a key in an envelope labeled with Black, that belonged to his father. Oskar starts an adventurous search for the matching lock all over the city of New York. As a highflier fascinated by numbers, (e.g. how many addresses exist in NY with the name Black or by the term googolplex which describes an incredible large number). Therefore I incorporated a couple of numbers into the abstract city map. Besides the search for the key, there is also the story of Oskar’s grandparents, who are traumatized by World War II and their escape from Dresden in Germany to New York. The two negative quilted hands symbolize their story. Aurifil Thread used: 28wt, different colors.
Split by Samantha Saturday, @samsaturday
Split came about while playing with the dissection of half square triangles. Taking a simple grid of alternating half square triangles, I segmented them at different intervals. Using mirrored colors allows negative space to form, giving the shapes a layered effect.
Don’t Take the Straight and Narrow by Bridget Pasternak, @Spaghetti_and_thread
This was made for a guild challenge on “Astro Futurism”. I planned a design, but when some pieces moved around on my table, I decided I liked this new look better. I have also been working on my free motion quilting skills to get away from the “straight and narrow” of straight line quilting. I like the idea that being flexible and open to change will result in a better outcome than narrowly sticking to a plan. Aurifil Thread used: 1148 50wt (teal)
Mending Fences by Patty Dudek, @Elmstreetquilts
This years challenge from my guild – Triangle MQG – was to take quilt inspiration from a photograph. Each year, during our vacation at the NC beaches, I find myself taking numerous photos of dune fences, beach grass, pebbles on the shoreline and footprints left behind in the sand. For my challenge quilt, I chose to pull some intriguing shapes from a portion of the shadow of a dune fence against the sand. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt.
Triangular Waves by Sarah Muslim Lefebvre, @Sidestitchesdesign
Triangular Waves was created as an experiment. I originally designed a small equilateral triangle quilt, but it needed a little something more. So I thought, triangles? And voila! I’m a big believer that you can make anything with foundation paper piecing. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt.
Walter by Sarah Hibbert, @quiltscornerstone
”The mind is like an umbrella – it functions best when open”. Walter Gropius 1883 – 1969. The idea for this small piece came from reading about Walter Gropius and his design concepts through the Bauhaus years. I wanted to create a concrete landscape in blocks with small introductions of the yellow and orange. To add to the linen texture, I completed the piece with quilting in various shades of organic thread. I broke up some of the rows of stitch with a different colour to keep the eye busy.
Youth
New Moon by Genesis Hall, @gennyfromthequiltblock
This pattern was a great opportunity to showcase pattern-matching using curves and the fabric line Moon Garden by Tula Pink was a great way to use large graphics to achieve the desired goal. To finish the cotton half-and-half moons, I chose a sheen fabric that resembled a starry night sky for the background and a sleek faced binding finish. The backing was completed piecing various leftover fabrics and selvedges from the showcased fabric line adding a continuation of the embodied theme. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt using Tula Neons and 2600.
Timeline by Neal Millett, @benmillett
This quilt represents both the impact of humankind on nature and the change in a human’s life as they age. The transition from brighter colors found in the natural world to the greys and blacks call out the damage we have made to the planet. It also recalls the restrictions imposed as we take on more responsibilities through school and work. The quilting design reemphasizes the message communicated by the piecing and color choices. Aurifil Thread used: Forty3 in 3320 (varigated green), 1246 (grey).
Tiny but Mighty by Genesis Hall, @gennyfromthequiltblock
Inspired by attending my first QuiltCon, I took the challenge to attempt some techniques that I admired. Tiny But Mighty is also a metaphor for the theme of life. Sometimes life can be a smooth joyous ride and sometimes it’s a whirlwind. Sometimes in life the journey is clear and sometimes it’s complicated. Sometimes we feel at home and sometimes we wander great distances. The journey must not let the distractions, tears or rocky roads stop us from achieving our goals. Take the step, try the challenge, believe in the journey. Never let the fear of achieving something keep from accomplishing the task. There’s so much to learn along the way! Machine tiny foundation pieced, fussy-cutting, inset curves hand pieced, faced bound, and hand quilted. Aurifil Thread used: Aurifil 2600 80wt.
Piecing
My 2020 Miles Quilt by Kitty Wilkin, @nightquilter
When I began this quilt January 1, 2020, I had no idea how much it would help me through the year to come. Originating as a way to motivate myself to run more consistently, this quilt was earned a strip of fabric per day, color coordinated to the mileage I ran (peek at the legend on the back!). When the pandemic began, the true power of tying life together with quilt-making became apparent. With five of us under one roof without help, adjusting to the reality of pandemic life certainly impacted my ability to run, just as running became essential. The fact that this quilt was already in progress got me running many a day, getting out there for alone time, serotonin, and a mental health boost when I needed it most. This quilt was a powerful step along a path of self discovery and empowerment that I have continued since. Aurifil Thread used: Dove 2600 50wt both pieced and quilted.
Sock Hop by Lee Zuk, @leema_zulu
Quilt inspiration comes from surprising places. When I decided to come up with a quilt to enter a Pantone color of the year quilt challenge, I looked no further than the socks on my feet. Aurifil Thread used: Red Peony 2230, 50wt.
Joy by Cole Whitaker, @colesquilts
In creating this quilt my goal was to make it as uniquely mine as possible. I designed the pattern from a picture that I took. I included some fabric with prints that I designed. I pieced it and longarmed it. I named the quilt joy because that is what I see in her face. It is a celebration of happiness. Aurifil Thread used: Monofilament.
Intersectionality by Heather Akerberg, @gladhand_sews
We are all the result of several cultural and social identities. We live where these identities intersect. This quilt draws our attention to the cross-sections and plays with transparency to create the illusion of layers. Like all of us, this quilt will show you something different every time you encounter it. Constructed using foundation paper piecing and traditional piecing. Fabrics are a mix of shot cottons and quilting cotton. Aurifil Thread used: 40wt 2612.
Sock Hop Star by Lee Zuk, @leema_zulu
Sock Hop Star is a continuation on a theme based on my favorite socks. I had unused pieces from the original quilt so I took the leftovers and continuously re-arranged them until one day the arrangement told me it was done. It was not a fast conclusion. These colors are outside my comfort zone and it took perseverance to find the right orientation.
Negative Space
Echo by Patty Dudek, @Elmstreetquilts
Echo is a quilted version of a flowsnake fractal, created initially for the Magenta Pantone challenge. In general, a fractal is a non-regular geometric shape and can be thought of as a never-ending pattern. A flowsnake fractal is constructed by a continuous line that bends and branches at 60 degree angles. The fractal image for Echo was created at the site onlinefractaltools.com. Directional quilting lines (which flow in one direction in magenta color and the other direction in the light pink) were carried into the bottom of the quilt to continue the fractal shape. Is the fractal expanding into those empty spaces or contracting and leaving behind an echo of where it had been? Aurifil Thread used: 50wt
Obscure by Heather Akerberg, @gladhand_sews
An exploration of memory, this design uses value and shape to try to create figure-ground ambiguity. I wanted to confuse your eye and make you feel a little uncertain – similar to the way you may feel a little fuzzy about a particular memory. This design has been created using the minimum seams possible by using inset circles and y-seams where necessary. Aurifil Threads used: 40wt.
Ordinary World II by Sarah Muslim Lefebvre, @sidestitchesdesign
Ordinary World II is an original design that was created in response to this year’s Pantone Challenge and is the big sister to Ordinary World I, made in response to Tara Glastonbury’s “In Conversation” call for entries. This quilt is a part of my ongoing “half and half” series based in HSTs. When viewed in part, single shapes stand out. But when viewed as a whole, each shape exists as part of another; whether it be circles or HSTs. With the whole in mind, it was named after the Duran Duran song. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt.
Enough No 3 by Elizabeth Ray, @elizabethkray
I have long contemplated the word ‘Enough,’ embarking on a series of quilts in 2022 to express and explore this idea. This journey was triggered by people asking, ‘Is my quilt modern enough?’ It bothered me. What is ‘enough’? I ponder three aspects of the word ‘ENOUGH’: self-doubt ‘Am I enough?’; the pursuit of satisfaction and sufficiency ‘Is it enough?’; and the limit of tolerance ‘enough is enough’ or ‘we have had enough.’ My graphic design intentionally utilizes alternating colors and negative space to form the word ‘ENOUGH.’ In this piece, the word is stripped down, with vast expanses of negative space. The deliberate contrast between magenta pink and black, along with a subtle 4-degree upward tilt, gives the word an almost italicized quality, enhancing its graphic impact and conveying a sense of urgency. ‘ENOUGH No. 3’ invites viewers to contemplate this seemingly unassuming yet multifaceted word.
Group & Bee Quilts
Fans by Elizabeth Ray, @elizabethkray
In September 2022, I presented a creative prompt to the members of the Quilts Unscripted Bee: E.A. Cox, Chris Davies, Charles Cameron, Sarah Ruiz, Elizabeth Ray, Allie McCathren, Carole Lyles Shaw, Isabelle Selak, Sarah Goer, Emily Lang, and Ellyn Zinsmeister to create Grandmother’s Fan-inspired blocks using a modern improv approach, incorporating two-color blades from the Reds, Yellows, Blues, and Pinks palette. I had no preconceived plans for the blocks but took pleasure in arranging these blocks digitally after photographing each block by adding sashing and placing them on point with solid setting triangles resulting in an overall medallion arrangement that I found to be a perfect fit for this collaborative group quilt. I quilted the quilt with a 1/2″ grid of Red Aurifil #2250 50wt thread. It’s always a delightful experience to collaborate on such creative projects with the talented quilters and wonderful people in the Quilts Unscripted Bee.
Connections by Karen Foster, @capitolaquilter
A design element that I enjoy emphasizing is the connecting of parts to bridge one portion to another creating a visual flow for the viewer. The maximalist palette resulted in a feast of color and shape, a puzzling delight that is continued in theme with a freeform quilting motif. The two fold meaning of the title also represents the closeness of the group despite our physical distance and the “Connections” found by translating our personal interpretation of a prompt into fabric.
Less is More by Petra Kolkhof, @sewingp
This is the first finished quilt of our new German improv bee #BEEoffthecuff. I asked my bee mates to use ‘Less is more’ as the inspiration prompt for their blocks, using different shades of white as a background with minimalistic accents in various tones of blue and black. Since we didn’t want to influence each other, the blocks were sewn in secret, and it was a huge surprise to finally see what the others had created. I really enjoyed arranging and rearranging the blocks to create a harmonious overall picture. For the 1 inch grid quilting, I used 28wt Aurifil thread. Group members are: Alexandra Pitz @hexenweib, Andrea Noll @quiltingandy, Clara Stoikow @bimbambuki_blog, Claudia Rombouts @anna_macht, Eva Wirth @wirth.eva, & Mara Herzog @malous_potpourri.
MQG Maximalism Exhibit
Feelin’ Groovy by Linda Hungerford, @flourishingpalms
An abandoned box of already-pieced quarter-circle, and triangle-in-a-square blocks triggered this design that needed more. So, to meet a Central Florida MQG Challenge of using half-rectangle triangle (HRT) blocks in a quilt, I made two sizes of them using only stripes and solids. Domestic machine quilting on my Bernina with numerous thread colors, I custom-quilted with a walking foot, rulers, and free motion designs. Afterward, I added batting-backed hand-appliqued circles to make it ‘groovy’.
Appliqué
What the Hill? by Erin Kroeker, @theblanketstatement
In October of 2019 I was diagnosed out of the blue with cervical cancer. Four months later following major surgery and a painful recovery I was told I was cancer free and would require no further treatment. ‘What the Hill?’ is representative of this period where my world turned upside down. The period from diagnosis to recovery was so short, I barely had time to process what had happened to me. I also wasn’t prepared for how complicated and challenging life after cancer would be. This quilt represents the boulders, big and small, that l’ve navigated every day since that October. It represents the hills that feel hard to climb, and the ones that are starting to feel easier. I’ve learned that physical, emotional, and spiritual healing is not linear. But l’m grateful to still be here to experience all of it – the good and the bad. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt for piecing and quilting and monofilament for appliqué.
Scrap Challenge
The Meeting Place by Andrea Barrett, @sewingstarlight
As a participant in Color Collective Season 5, I had scraps from 6 months of palettes with 12 colors in each. What would a quilt with all 72 of these colors look like together? A glorious mélange where all of them meet and mingle, joined by diagonal and spiral quilting. Given the geometry of the blocks, the final quilt includes 69 of the 72 with the remainder on the back. Three strips (two dark and one light or vice versa were sewn into blocks and then gathered in sets of four. Each set was sliced at a consistent angle but at widths that were improvised. Each set was then mixed up and sewn back together to create harmonious but largely unplanned groupings. The overall layout was improvised from there. Aurifil Thread used: 28wt in at least four colors.
Polka Dots and Moonbeams by Linda Hungerford , @flourishingpalms
Made for Central Florida MQG’s 2021 “Chips and Charms Challenge'” I used different brands of solid charm packs (5″ squares) to piece half-square triangle (HSTs) squares. From mini-charm packs (2″squares) I cut circles, using a prescription bottle lid as a template. Ninety-eight circles are hand-appliquéd to HSTs that are pieced in “moonbeams” of dark and light blues. Batting is Hobbs 80/20 cotton-wool. Walking foot and rulerwork were done on my Bernina domestic machine. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt, numerous colors!
Multitudes by Heather Akerberg , @gladhand_sews
Our unique experiences, thoughts, beliefs, and memories all inform who we are at any given moment. We are multitudes. Utilizing simple shapes, this quilt explores how our identities are layered and varied. Using shifts in value and hue, vibrancy and depth are created. Multitudes was constructed using a mix of foundation paper and traditional piecing with a mix of shot cotton and quilting cotton, mostly from my scrap bins. Aurifil Thread used: 40wt 4150.
Community Outreach
Fite Le Chéile (Woven Together), @acorncornerquilts @fortcollinsmqg
Our guild has come together to weave stories and share our love of quilting. We incorporated many sewing and quilting techniques into our Community Outreach quilt, including improv piecing, applique, curves, and fabric weaving (Fite) to reprosent our bond and working together (Le Cheile), Pattern designed by Sarah Harris. Aurifil Threads used: 12wt: 2105, 2135, 2620, 2912, 2845, 4129, 2581, 6735 50wt: 2125, 2135, 2605, 4129, 6735.
Modern Traditional
Beaded Curtain by Andrea Barrett, @sewingstarlight
Simple four-patch and solid blocks arranged in puddles and lines of color combine to create a scene, like a view through a window with a beaded curtain. Designed and made during Color Collective Season 5, this quilt started as an experiment in concentrating the higher value colors and ât embellishing†them with the lighter value four patch blocks. The close lines of quilting in several pale colors are meant to enhance the sense of looking through a curtain. Aurifil Threads used: 50wt and 28wt in Dove and Natural/cream.
Fruit Salad by Jo Avery, @joaverystitch
Further explorations of my Freehand Foundation Piecing technique to see how many different patterns I can incorporate in a ring, with each block a different colour, I am interested in experimenting with negative and positive elements, so each block uses black and white for the intricate piecing and applique sections with just one colour (though many different shades) for the background. Machine quilted on my Moxie longarm with a random plaid grid. Aurifil Thread used: 50wt for piecing #2000, 80wt for appliqué, 40/3 for quilting.
Spirit of Adventure by Paula Steel, @paulasteel.quilts
Thinking about traveling post Covid and taking inspiration from Art Deco travel posters; I wanted to create a quilt with both movement and clean graphical lines. The fabrics used reflect the oversaturated colours of the posters and hint at a tropical paradise passing by.
Windham Artisan Cotton 2024 Challenge
Jagged Little HRTs by Sarah Muslim Lefebvre, @Sidestitchesdesign
Dedicated to Latifah Saafir’s HuRTy ruler: “You’ve already won me over, in spite of me. And don’t be alarmed if I fall head over feet. And don’t be surprised if I love you, for all that you are. I couldn’t help it, it’s all your fault!” Jagged Little HRTs is an original design created using Adobe Illustrator and the HuRTy ruler. I try to attempt something new for each quilt I make and this time it was half rectangle triangles. The math on these can be intimidating otherwise, but this ruler made it so fast and easy (not sponsored, I promise!). I also added metallic thread to give it a little sparkle, which was another “new to me” experiment.
We hope you’ve savored your digital journey through these stunning quilts. If any have caught your eye, be sure to click through for more details about the creators and share your top pick in the comments below. Happy quilting!
** Shared with the knowledge that there are far more quilts than shown that used Aurifil threads. If we missed you this time around, be sure to keep tagging us to let us know what you’ve used so we have the opportunity to celebrate your work.
What a treat to see all the beautiful quilts made with Aurifil, and thanks for all you do including sponsoring at QuiltCon!
A fountain of inspiration, color and beauty, thank you for showing all these beautiful quilts!
Thanks for sharing all the beautiful quilts. So inspiring.
Thank you for sharing!! What a collection of gorgeous quilts.
Thank you for sharing my two quilts that I pieced and domestic machine quilted with Aurifil thread! Love your threads! I’m honored you included my makes in your review.