You know we herald Susan Ache (@yardgrl60) as our cross stitch queen. She has graciously and generously offered free patterns and endless tips & tricks here on Auribuzz over the last 6 years. Each new post or curated set offers a brand new burst of inspiration and we’ll never tire of our beautiful collaborations. If you’re truly just joining us and aren’t yet familiar with Susan’s work, we’d suggest starting HERE to read her introductory interview, heading HERE to browse some of her past posts, and ending HERE to dive into her incredible range of FREE patterns available via aurifil.com.
Of course we got her an early, pre-release sample of our 100% cotton 8wt thread so she could play around and see just what it could bring to the table for cross stitch. Never one to disappoint, Susan took the one precious spool we had to offer (back at Quilt Market 2023) and put it to the test. Read on to see just how our 8wt looks on various thread count fabrics in addition to Susan’s best recommendation for 8wt cross stitch success!
Being invited to share my insights with y’all from Aurifil’s home space is always so much fun and you know I love being here. Just in case you haven’t met me before, I’m Susan Ache and you can find me on Instagram at @yardgrl60 — I do my best to share all the new things from quilting to cross stitch to embroidery to home décor. (editor’s note: Susan has an incredible eye for design and is a true inspiration for stunning ways to share projects in your home!)
I was lucky enough to attend International Quilt Market in Houston last year. One of the awesome events staged to kick-off the show is something called Schoolhouse. Schoolhouse is where industry companies, designers, and educators have a designated room to show us what new things are launching that we can’t live without. It’s like a short class of all things new and fun and cutting edge for the industry. Well, of course I was all about the Aurifil Schoolhouse! Wild horses couldn’t have kept me away!
The product debut that stood out the most was Aurifil’s very first 100% cotton 8wt / 2 ply tread. I think I audibly gasped and probably did an embarrassing little chair dance. Of course Aurifil only had a handful of actual samples and told us we wouldn’t be able to get our hands on it until early 2024. My mind was spinning because my first thought was how can I use that in my cross stitch and what does it look like when it’s stitched into linen.
Lo and behold, before the end of the day, Erin gifted me with a pre-release spool of the wonderful thread. Short of me hiding it in the hem of my shirt and sneaking out of the convention center, I did promise Erin that I would take it home and give it a try and stitch something out on all of the linen and cross stitch cloth at my house.
So, let’s set the stage… I typically use a Mary Arden Tapestry Needle, petite size 26 for all of my cross stitch. I’m fairly certain that the needle eye would be the same even if you didn’t go for the petite size, but at the time of stitching, I didn’t have one of those to try. Lucky for me, the 8wt slid right through the eye of the needle without any hesitation. As a reference, when I cross stitch, I always use 2 strands of embroidery floss. It’s the main reason I really wanted to try out the Aurifil cotton 8wt — it really felt like it might be just a tad thicker than 2 strands of embroidery floss.
Now, on to my fabric selections. I had tested both a 14 and 16 count Aida cloth, which of course you don’t go over 2, so that’s easy. I also had a 20 count Aida, which I did go over 2. In regards to Linen, I worked over 2 on 28, 30, and 32 count.
Let’s talk about coverage. First and foremost, the 8wt offers a beautiful cover. I love having an x on my stitches that is totally covered and covers the linen. Here, you couldn’t ask for anything prettier. The Aida cloth was perfect in all respects, although I could have never worked with this weight head on the 20 count if I just went over 1. It wouldn’t have fit through the holes.
I adored working with 8wt on the 28 count linen over 2. It was smooth and easy the entire time and was able to glide right though. When I hit the 30 and 32 count linen, that’s where my excitement waned. It does get really heavy in the holes and even though I was going over 2 it ultimately felt too heavy for even outlining. I think I will stick to my standard 2 strands of floss with those 30 and 32 counts of linen.
Now you have in your pocket my comfy stitching chair opinion about the 8wt Aurifil which initially released back in February — Evolve by Suzy Williams. That collection offered an introductory range of 20 hues and the exciting part for this Fall is that a second set of 20 new hues will release next month. Be sure to take a peek at Indelible by Anna Maria Textiles for an all the bold and bright colors!
If this helps in any sort of way, I am happy you are here today. Thank you for letting me bend your ear with my 8wt Aurifil review for use with cross stitch. I know that it’s easy to be hesitant to try new things because we don’t always know what to expect… hopefully I’ve taken the guess work out for you and you’re ready to explore the world of cross stitch with Aurifil 100% cotton 8wt! And, thank you Erin, once again, for inviting me to spend some time talking about all things thread!
HUGE thanks, as always, to Susan for sharing her process!! Earlier this year, we asked Artisans to create something new with a sample range of 8wt threads from Evolve. Our Digital Marketing Coordinator, Claire Campion, who oversees our Artisan program jumped in on the action. She stitched up a fabulous little chart based on one of her original quilt designs.
Claire’s feedback: Cross stitching with the new Aurifil 8wt thread was an absolute dream. Normally, I’m accustomed to working with floss, splitting the strands and relying on thread gloss to smooth the process. But with the 8wt, all the fuss was unnecessary – it was sheer perfection. The threads glide like silk, and the slight sheen adds a beautiful touch that makes every cross stitch pop with elegance. It’s truly a game-changer for my stitching projects! Note: I used a Tulip Size 3 Embroidery needle. I effortlessly threaded the needle without any issues and didn’t require any thread gloss. The whole process was as smooth as silk!
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