With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to embrace the festive spirit with our latest Aurifil Artisan Challenge! For November, we invited our talented Artisans to craft something magical, dazzling us with their delightful holiday creations. From sparkling ornaments to cozy decor, their projects capture the joy and wonder of the season, showcasing the beauty and versatility of Aurifil threads in every stitch.
Let these creations inspire your own holiday crafting journey. Whether you’re sewing gifts for loved ones or adding handmade charm to your home, there’s no better time to spread cheer with a little help from your favorite threads.
A heartfelt thank you to all our Artisans for bringing the holiday magic to life! Let’s dive into their projects and celebrate the creativity that makes this season so special.
Fiona Johnstone
This challenge was a perfect opportunity to grab some festive thread colours and make a few needle minders! I knew I wanted to make a tree and a Christmas pudding, but then saw fellow Artisan Vivian Doan’s project and knew I needed to add a mini ornament too! I used various thread weights to add details and texture and as always the thread was perfect for both machine and hand sewing.
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2024, 2600, 2145, 2250, 1231, 2887; 40wt in 4026, 1130 12wt – 2230
Candice Odeen
This year one of my presents for my kiddo is her very own Christmas quilt! I started over the summer and just wrapped up the binding. I really wanted this one to be special and different from my usual quilts. I decided to hand stitch the binding to the back, something I rarely do. I ALSO decided to use a running stitch that would be visible, rather than hide the stitches, like I normally would. Aurifil 8wt was just what I needed and the color match was *chefs kiss*. One of the reasons I rarely hand finish binding is because the perle cotton I used to use would fray and fall apart as I was stitching or after, something I haven’t experienced once with Aurifil’s 8wt. Now that I’ve got two quilts done using it, I’m pretty sure I’ll go back to hand binding. 😉🌲
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2892, 6723; 40wt in 6723, 5014; 8wt in 2847
Sandy Saengsuk
Fabric scraps from my Christmas #MeadowPatchQuilt turned into the sweetest gift tags! 🧵 Mixing thread weights added so much texture and personality.
Aurifil Threads used:
Names: 50wt 3930 (machine)
Christmas words: 12wt 2435 (machine)
Baskets: 50wt 2390 (machine)
Trees: 12wt wool 8895 (hand)
Maude MacDonald
Retro inspired and hand quilted! The pattern is Retro Crochet by Maude MacDonald, the Retro Quilter. Love the hand work for a more cozy feel!
Aurifil Threads used: 8wt in 2843; Floss in 2026
Amy Freyn
This embroidery hoop with frame can serve as a perfect gift. It features microquilting done on the longarm with a pouch where you can include spools of Aurifil (which always make excellent gifts!)
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 1103, 2865
Christina Lee
Aurifil 50wt in Blush has me obsessed over this Starry Tree pillowcase! For the Aurifil November Challenge, I tried the soft pink thread which ended up blending perfectly with the block’s colors while adding a subtle shimmer across the stars and trees. And the wavy quilting is my new go-to! It is so forgiving, making this project all the more enjoyable.
This pillowcase features our next Quilt Club Block, which launched on December 1st! While Quilt Club members can mix and match blocks for a full quilt, I couldn’t resist turning this single block into a quick and cozy pillowcase for the season.
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2021 and 2415
Tamara Darragh | Remi Vail Studio
For November’s Aurifil Artisan Challenge, I stitched a delicate snowflake on linen using Aurifil 12wt wool in a festive red. This embroidery is part of my new winter holiday pattern featuring Finn Frost, a whimsical snowman with heartfelt details. Finn’s design celebrates the season with a hidden heart and cozy charm, perfect for spreading holiday cheer. You can find all the details on my blog! xo, Tamara
Aurifil Threads used:
Piecing: 50wt 2311
Embroidery: 12wt wool 8264, 8328,8962, Floss 2692
Hand sewing: 40wt 2026
Marta Chade
This tiny festive cardigan was such a joy to make! I crocheted it with Aurifil 50wt cotton threads, added a delicate bead garland, and embroidered tiny stars with 12wt wool threads for extra charm. After a long search, I’ve finally found the perfect thread for creating realistic 1:12 scale crocheted clothes with just the right drape and flexibility!
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2890, 2882, 2270, 2435, 2024; Wool 12wt in 8135, 8326
Amanda Loewen
My holiday project is the foundation paper pieced Peace on Earth banner (pattern by Happy Sew Lucky). I machine quilted it with cross-hatch straight lines in medium spruce to match the background and added a double contrasting border in fairy floss to match the lettering.
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2885, 6723
Zoe Mayson
I instantly loved the vintage feel of this embroidery hoop ornament designed by Bev @flamingotoes, and jumped at the chance to enjoy some festive embroidery. As the design is delicate, I used a mixture of 1 or 2 strands of floss.
Aurifil Threads used: Floss in 2630, 2835, 4114, 2270
Barbie Mitchell
I have had so much fun making wool Christmas Baubles this month. These baubles have been hand embroidered using the Anna Maria 8wt collection, Indelible. Gather your supplies and join me live on Tuesday 10th December at 9.30am (AEDT) to make your own. This is such a fun Holiday Project!
Aurifil Threads used: 8wt in 1133, 1148, 2120,2530, 5005
Vickeidy Plybon
I wanted to make an ugly Christmas garment and ended up with the cutest Festive Vest instead. I used the #RubyVest pattern by @hisydgraham. For the back, I made the Santa Christmas Quilt block by @sandrahealydesigns. On the front, I combined Ring the Christmas Bells, Catching Snowflakes Mitten, Christmas Wreath, and Christmas Tree blocks by @burlapandblossompatterns, with tiny Sawtooth Stars and Ornament blocks adding the perfect small blocks touches. You’ll definitely catch me wearing this vest at all my holiday parties this season 🎄
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2000
Christine Joubert
Christmas is coming, and I feel like I want new Christmas ornaments for my house. And I love nutcrackers ! So I’ve designed a big one, cut, pieced and quilted it carefully with a bright palette of fabrics and threads to enlighten these grey days…
Aurifil Threads used: 8wt in 2510 2880 1125 1148; 50wt in 3840 2815 7002 1243
Tania Tanti
The paint is flowing, the music is playing and there is a buzz in the studio with the merry cheer of Xmas approaching and fun times with the family. Finishing gifts and sewing madly. Where each curve and zigzag goes nobody knows! Ho Ho Ho!
Aurifil Threads used: 40wt in 2310, 1320, 6737, 2145, 2120, 2885, 6729, 2350, 2870, 5005, 2540; 50wt in 2535, 4026
Susanne Kuprella
I made a quick and easy holiday project: Small Christmas packaging for gifts of money – or other small items – in the shape of a Christmas tree. There is a small compartment at the back. They can be passed on to the next recipient next year in the spirit of sustainability or simply used as Christmas decorations.
Aurifil Threads used: 28wt in different colours matching the fabrics.
Annie Tremblay
I was super excited to get this idea out of head and make it real! The first flurries inspired me fir this challenge. It was like living in a snow globe! I wanted the king of the forest to be the center. I embroidered decorations, added beads and stitched french knots flurries. I am now working on finishing it with simple quilting in different thread colors. Happy Holidays!!
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 2026, 2270; 40wt in 2250; 12wt in 2870, 2890; 8wt in 2930; Floss in 2021, 2930, 2250
Vivian Doan
I tried to focus on little makes that were manageable in the evenings after long days of work. There are three projects that I tried, all inspired by free tutorials or process videos. For two, I tried to stick to a palette of Kona Cotton in three colours: Bright Pink, Capri, and Kale. I used Aurifil thread in 6001 Light Caramel for all of the golden stitching.
The first project I made was #miniembroideryhoop #christmasornaments using decorative machine stitches. I followed a free tutorial on Amy Smart’s website Diary of a Quilter. Search for Christmas Decorations. I used #Aurifil50wt 6001.
The second project was the popular no sew fabric-star-ornament from a free tutorial by Suzy Quilts on her website. Search for Fabric Star ornament. I used the Light Caramel for the decorative stitching on the sides of the ornaments, making my own pretty ribbon.
The last project was an add-on, I was watching a process video from This Thing is String where the maker creates what they call “Strinsel”. Since I am trying to make things with thread, I decided to try it out with the largest weight #aurifil8wt in almost all of the colours I have received.
Aurifil Threads used:
50wt in 6001 for the decorative stitching on the balls and the embroidery hoops.
8wt in 2000 for the loops of the balls.
8wt in 2530, 5001, 1148, 2840, 2120, 2510, 2420, 2847, 2564, 2520 for the Strinsel garland.
Lexi Ellis
Happy Holidays thread lovers! I am not much for seasonal sewing, but I am a huge fan of homemade gifts. My holiday sewing inspiration was to make an incredibly adorable and sustainable gift all made from hand– multipurpose and functional year round. Bags are a wonderful holiday sewing project because they can be used for travel, to hold your on the go sewing projects, and to gift wrap small items. My best holiday sewing tip is to batch cut and make two- one to gift and one to keep! The star of this show was the coordinating Aurifil thread- from quilting to assembly to webbing and hardware my Aurifil thread did it all.
Aurifil Threads used: 50wt in 1231, 2612, 5015, 2024; 40wt in 2692
Matthew Friesz
I’ve been dreaming of making myself some stockings for Christmas for years, and this month’s challenge was the perfect push to finally dive in. For the stocking fronts, I made log cabin blocks that finish at 3” and are constructed with self-drafted foundation paper piecing templates. I used some of my favorite colors of Pure Solids from Art Gallery Fabrics, the perfect pairing with the Yellow Orange and Rusty Orange Aurifil threads I used to quilt the stockings.
Aurifil Threads used:
Pieced with 50wt in 2692
Quilted with 50wt in 2145, 2240
Andrea Kjorlaug
I love using natural elements to decorate my Christmas Tree. I paired reclaimed leather scraps with Aurifil 8wt and Floss to create embroidered Christmas ornaments with a rustic twist.
Aurifil Threads used: 8wt in 2880, 4129; Floss in 2326.
Sarah Harris
I created a scrappy fish light made for an early Hanukkah gift using fabric scraps plus some of my favourite 12wt blue threads. The wooden fish kit was probably intended to be painted, but maybe its destiny was to become a scrappy fabric fish.
Aurifil Threads used: 12wt in 1125, 1320, 2725, 2780, 2805, 2815.
Hannah Parks
This month, I wanted to make a stocking for my new dog, Fjord, so that he’d have a stocking like everyone else in the family. I used my favorite color combo of pink and warm red, and the Tula Pink neon pink thread matched perfectly for the quilting. I used a chain stitch to embroider Fjord’s name, in a blue that matched the lining of the stocking.
Aurifil Threads used: Floss in 2735; 50wt in 7002.
We encourage you to click through and check out each of these amazing projects in more detail!
These creative makers are so very talented! Very inspirational!!
WOW! So much talent in this group. I loved every single project!