Greetings, Aurifil family! As Master Educator and Aurifilosophy Program Director, I’m excited to have fellow Aurifilosopher Annie Smith of AnnieSmith.net contribute to this month’s Thread Matters.
Annie, a longtime friend of Aurifil, is celebrated for her fabulous machine applique technique, highlighting the use of Aurifil 28wt thread. When you have a moment, be sure to check out Annie’s Machine Appliqué tutorial here. Today, however, Annie joins us to share her “Thread Matters” workshop—a unique approach to becoming familiar with all weights of Aurifil thread. You’re going to love her method! Many thanks to Annie for sharing her passion with us.
Is your shop, group or guild looking for insightful, inspiring and educational information on thread? Consider booking a virtual or in-person program with one of our skilled Aurifilosophers. Learn more about Aurifilosophy and find your favorite Aurifilosopher here.
Happy Stitching!
Karen L. Miller ~ Redbird Quilt Co.
Thread matters. Of course it does.
Yet, it’s one of those things we tend to gather last when planning a project. We prioritize patterns, fabrics, specialty rulers, and other essentials for our new quilt or crafty project. But, without thread, everything would literally fall apart.
I’ve been in love with Aurifil thread since I first saw it in a quilt shop in 1999, even before the American market frenzy began. My local quilt shop was owned by a woman from Germany who frequented the h+h Cologne wholesale show when she visited home. When I saw that large spool with its signature orange hue, I was instantly intrigued.
Since that first spool, my love for Aurifil has only grown, especially for their 28wt thread. It’s perfect for machine applique, which is my specialty.
Imagine my delight when I discovered the Aurifilosophy Thread Exemplar box, which includes seven different thread weights! The box contains two 12wt spools (one cotton and one wool), a 28wt, a 40wt, a 50wt, an 80wt, and a spool of luscious 6-strand Aurifloss (18 yards on one spool!).
I became an Aurifilosopher in 2019, and to share my love of and appreciation for Aurifil thread, designed a workshop called “Thread Matters.” In this class, students stitch with each different thread weight, match the correct needle size, and stitch sample rows of different designs. They stitch straight lines, zigzag lines, and then choose from a variety of beautiful decorative stitches available on their sewing machines. Most students have never considered such detailed experimentation before and are delighted with the outcomes. The class gives them a chance to see how Aurifil thread behaves in their machines and explore the differences in using matching weight in the top and bobbin threads or trying a lighter weight thread in the bobbin. The combination of the sewing machine, Aurifil thread, and the correctly sized needle often leads to surprising revelations.
The Aurifil Product Guide is an invaluable resource for understanding how to use the thread. Each page is artfully created and provides comprehensive information on each weight, including needle size, bobbin thread recommendations, and usage ideas. You can treat it like a textbook, considering each combination as you make swatch samples.
In my workshop, I do use the brochure as a textbook. I place it in a mini binder with page protectors and use it as a resource book.
Each page is filled with notes, and I slip swatch samples into the corresponding page protector. On each swatch, I write the following information with a Micron Pigma pen:
● Thread Weight (top thread)
● Bobbin thread
● Needle type and size
● The number of the decorative stitch selected
● The sewing machine used to make the swatch
Creating these samples for the workshop was a revelation. I discovered so much about the appearance of decorative stitches with different thread weights. A delicate little leaf can be used to embellish a ready-to-wear shirt, making it even more special. I had never thought about embellishing store-bought clothing before making that sample.
Aurifil thread isn’t just a tool; it’s an essential part of the creative journey. Once you experience the difference, you’ll never look back.
I encourage you to experiment with the wide variety of Aurifil thread at home or with your guild. If you need a guide to help you along the way, reach out to me! I love sharing my thread journey with others.
One last thought…
When I found my first Aurifil 50wt spool in my local quilt shop, I was taken aback by the price. It was a whopping $9. I was accustomed to paying roughly $2.50 for a small spool of another brand. I’m really good about self-negotiation, so I talked myself into purchasing a spool – just because it was Italian (so am I) and it has a beautiful sheen. Little did I know how it would change the way I make quilts. Each 50wt spool has 1,422 yards of thread on it. A typical smaller spool of another brand has 164 yards on it. It would take roughly 8 spools of the smaller threads to get almost as much yardage as on one spool of Aurifil 50wt. Those small spools sold for $2.50 and eight spools would have cost $20.
It turns out that I can sew five heavily pieced quilt tops, the backs and the binding before I run out of that single 1,422 yard spool. So, do you still think that Aurifil thread is expensive? I think that single spool is a great value, all things considered. Here is a photo of one of those piecing-centric quilts that I was talking about. Each block has thirty pieces in it.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story about Aurifil thread and consider how it can work for you.
Happy Stitching!
ABOUT ANNIE
Quilt Imagineer, National/International Quilt Instructor and lecturer, Designer and pattern publisher, C & T Author, Producer of online classes, Quilt Judge, BERNINA Ambassador, Aurifilosopher, Cherrywood fabric Ambassador, Creator of “Quilting Stash”: the first podcast for quilters.
In Annie’s words: I’m a Professional Quilter by career definition. Whenever anyone asks me what I do for a living, that’s my answer. The next thing they ask me is how much I get for my quilts— assuming that I sell them. When I tell them that I don’t sell what I do, you can see the confusion in their eyes, but then I tell them what defines what I really do. You could say that I wear several hats. My life is pretty much quilting; all day, every day. It’s not a stretch to say that I’m consumed with everything having to do with quilting. I love everything about quilting— the machines, the fabric, the patterns, the books (oh— I’m especially obsessed with quilting books!), the shows, the notions, the threads, the techniques, but mostly— it’s the people I meet.
A life-long Californian, I now live in Texas with my family and love the “buckaroo” culture. I have ten grandchildren and a golden retriever named Posey.
Such a great write up. Love your personal bio too.
Thank you, Rosey!
I read your write up on the Aurafil page and it was an eye opener. Thanks for the information and comparison.