Greetings, fellow Aurifil thread enthusiasts, and a warm welcome to those of you who are new to Aurifil – the most amazing, high quality cotton thread in the universe. I’m Karen Miller, Redbird Quilt Co., Master Educator for Aurifil and Program Coordinator for Aurifilosophy. I’m thrilled to bring some exciting news to this month’s Thread Matters post. Aurifil announced a brand new, limited edition product last week that includes some fabulous surprises, bringing excitement and a burst of inspiration to your holiday season. Introducing Le Alpi, Aurifil’s first-ever Advent Calendar.
Aurifil’s inaugural advent calendar will be delivered to shops and doorsteps this November, just in time for you to relive one of your joyous childhood holiday traditions as an adult – excitedly opening 24 tiny drawers, each containing a small spool of Aurifil’s 100% Egyptian cotton thread.
As Master Educator, I couldn’t be more excited about each and every one of you having the opportunity to end 2024 with 7 different weights of Aurifil thread – 24 colorful spools in total – added to your stash. In addition to each carefully selected spool, Le Alpi will offer access to a secure online portal bursting with digital goodies, compliments of Aurifil.
Today, I’m thrilled to review each weight included in Le Alpi with a few tips on how to best utilize them. Let’s begin to build the excitement of owning this limited edition collectable by first chatting about the “surprises.”
- Le Alpi will include five new colors of Aurifil 8wt thread. Now, that’s exciting! The 20-color small spool collection, Evolve, will be joined by five brightly colored siblings selected from Aurifil’s existing 270 color palette. Oh, the places we’ll go with the addition of five new 8wt shades.
- Even more exciting, Le Alpi will also include five never-before-seen colors of Aurifil 50wt thread – these limited edition colors are exclusive to Le Alpi. I’m thrilled for you to experience these.
Now, let’s learn a bit about each of the 7 unique cotton threads included in Le Alpi while sharing some tips and projects prepared with those weights.
COTTON 8WT
The heaviest thread that Aurifil offers today. Presented on an elegant white wooden spool, Aurifil 8wt, introduced in February 2024, is a luscious 2ply thread produced in Italy to the same standards you’ve come to know and love. Aurifil 8wt was announced in a 20-color small spool collection, Evolve. Aurifil’s Le Alpi Advent Calendar will include five new colors of Aurifil 8wt.
Aurifil 8wt is ideal for hand quilting, embroidery, wool applique, and cross stitch or anytime something a little heavier than 12wt is desired.
Tips:
- On fabric, use a Crewel/Embroidery needle size 5. When working on Aida or any other even weave fabric, a Tapestry needle size 26 works wonderfully.
- 8wt is a great alternative to floss when you don’t care to divide strands. Give it a try for embroidery, big stitch quilting or cross stitch – you’ll love it!
Project Inspiration:
COTTON 12WT
Presented on a red spool, this 2ply cotton is slightly thinner than Aurifil 8wt. Aurifil 12wt is the master of all heavyweight threads that will easily feed through a home sewing machine. Although I love to use Aurifil 12wt for hand embroidery, wool appliqué, fiber art and big stitch quilting, I absolutely adore Aurifil 12wt for machine topstitching too.
Tips:
- When machine stitching with Aurifil 12wt, experiment with Aurifil 40wt or 50wt in the bobbin to see what works best for you. NOTE: 50wt is more cost effective, so if your machine likes it, go for it!!
- Choose a topstitch needle size 90/14 or 100/16. Increase the stitch length and consider dropping your top tension to a slightly lower number.
- For hand sewing try a Crewel/Embroidery needle size 5 or larger.
Project Inspiration:
COTTON 28WT
This 2ply cotton thread, presented on a grey spool, is that perfect “in-between” thickness that looks magnificent when stitched by machine but also dazzles when used for hand embellishment. My favorite use for Aurifil 28wt thread is free motion quilting. One beautiful stitch after another, Aurifil 28wt will allow your free motion quilting stitches to take center stage!! The sheen, the weight, the definition – they come together and steal the show when working with this luscious thread.
Tips:
- Choose a topstitch needle size to a 90/14 or larger. Consider dropping your top tension to a slightly lower number.
- Use Aurifil 50wt in the bobbin.
- For hand stitching try a Crewel/Embroidery needle size 5 or larger.
Project Inspiration:
COTTON 40WT
Aurifil 40wt is one of the flagship 2ply weights developed in Italy more than 40 years ago! Used to create luxurious embellishments in Italian high fashion and on fine linens, it’s a bit heavier than the well known Aurifil 50wt thread. Delivered on a green spool, Aurifil 40wt continues to be applauded for machine embroidery, bag and garment sewing, quilting and fiber art. I love to use it for hand binding and a variety of free motion quilting projects.
Tips:
- Choose a topstitch or sharp needle size 80/12 or larger.
- Use Aurifil 50wt in the bobbin.
- For hand stitching a Straw, Sharps or Applique needle size 10 or 11 works wonderfully.
Project Inspiration:
COTTON 50WT
Aurifil’s 50wt 2ply thread, delivered on an orange spool, is revered by makers from around the globe. 50wt is fine yet strong and is the go-to choice for piecing, foundation paper piecing, machine blanket stitching, and more. Using 50wt in the top and in the bobbin results in flat seams and the perfect scant ¼” seam allowance. Aurifil 50wt also works wonderfully for machine quilting, free motion or with a walking foot. Fiber artists also adore 50wt for thread painting.
Tips:
- Use a Microtex Sharp size 70/10 or larger for piecing with Aurifil 50wt.
- With Aurifil 50wt in the bobbin there’s no need to adjust tension when piecing. Choose a smaller stitch length to gain strength in numbers and have some fun!
Project Inspiration:
COTTON 80WT
Aurifil 80wt on the cherry wooden spool is the thinnest 2ply thread that Aurifil offers today. It is available in 88 amazingly beautiful colors. Aurifil’s 80wt works wonderfully for hand as well as machine sewing when you need just a hint of definition in your projects. By hand, use it for appliqué and English Paper Piecing. By machine, it works wonderfully to highlight fine details of embroidery, machine decorative stitches, or machine quilting. I enjoy stitching invisible appliqué by hand or machine with this fine weight thread.
Tips:
- Use a Straw, Sharps or Applique needle in size 10 or 11. Remember, the smaller the eye the less often you’ll need to “rethread” the needle. Trouble with your thread slipping out of the eye of the needle? Try making a one loop knot at the eye of the needle.
- Use short lengths of thread (about the length of your forearm) to avoid excessive wear and tear or knotting when stitching.
- Take short stitches ending with a gentle tug. The strength of this fine weight 2 ply thread is gained through applying multiple stitches, not just one.
- In the machine, use a Topstitch or Sharp needle, size 70/10. Aurifil 50wt works perfectly in the bobbin.
Project Inspiration:
AURIFLOSS
This six strand divisible Egyptian cotton floss conveniently delivered on a small wooden spool is PERFECT for cross stitch, big stitch quilting, and a variety of other hand embellishment techniques. Whether you choose 1 strand or all 6, it glides through your needle with ease.
Tips:
- On Aida or other even weave cloth, use a Tapestry needle size 26.
- On fabric, try a size 5 Crewel/Embroidery needle. The pointed tip of this needle allows you to stitch through fabric with ease and the larger eye aids in threading. The same needle works wonderfully with Aurifil 12wt and 28wt threads!
- Use short lengths of thread (about the length of your forearm) to avoid excessive wear and tear or knotting when stitching.
Project Inspiration:
If you found this review helpful, be sure to download Aurifil’s nifty Thread Reference Card via the button below where you’ll find suggested techniques and needle and bobbin weight recommendations on one printable page.
I hope you’re as excited about Le Alpi as I am. Let’s get this holiday celebration underway a bit early! We all deserve a holiday gift that celebrates creativity! I’m excited to share in the fun with you this December.
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