We’re thrilled to introduce our 2025–2026 Aurifil Artisans! The response to our call for applications was incredible, and selecting from so many talented applicants was no easy task. Today, we’re proud to reveal this inspiring team and look forward to collaborating with such a gifted group of quilters, sewists, and makers!
Aimee Hagedorn
Using an assortment of found fabrics, upcycled clothing, and other repurposed textiles, each of Aimee’s creations is carefully hand-stitched in uniquely imagined designs. Her freehand mix of traditional embroidery and boro-style stitching, along with the use of bold color palettes, cannot be missed. Every patch, brooch, and upcycled garment is wonderfully one of a kind. (US)
Ama Frimpong
Ama (she/her) is a Canadian crafter based in Quebec. She enjoys fibre crafts and sewing, as well as playing with colors and the process of choosing a project. Ama finds inspiration in music and video games, where her love of bold colours and patterns meets vividly experimental experiences, pushing her to solve pattern puzzles in creative ways. All her crafting journeys and endeavours can be found on her Blog and Instagram, thevibrantpixel. (Canada)
Amanda Loewen
Amanda Loewen has been quilting since 2017. She is inspired by colour, nature, travel, and art. Amanda loves to sew traditional quilt patterns with a fresh twist and is the quilt pattern designer behind Prairie Quilt Co. (Canada)
Amari Thomsen
Amari Thomsen is a millennial maker, busy mom, and passionate advocate for sustainable sewing. She is known for her practical tips, budget-friendly advice, and simple quilting projects designed for real life, especially for beginners who want to finish what they start. With a down-to-earth style and scrappy creativity, Amari proves that sewing can be both eco-conscious and achievable. (US)
Amy Freyn
Amy is a longarm quilter based in Quito, Ecuador. She blends creativity and joy in every stitch. She began quilting in 2010 and fell in love with longarm quilting in 2021. By day, she’s a university professor, but in every spare moment, she’s quilting or dreaming up her next design. (Ecuador)
Andrea Kjorlaug
Andrea is a sewing educator, pattern designer, and founder of The Domesticated Engineer, where she helps sewists build confidence through approachable, skills-focused projects. She teaches a video-based sewing course that guides beginners through foundational techniques while building a sense of creative independence. Andrea loves using Aurifil threads to highlight thoughtful design details, especially for those discovering the impact of quality materials. She’s passionate about helping sewists use what they have, trust their instincts, and find joy in the process. (US)
Ashelyn Downs
A millennial and serial entrepreneur with a million ideas floating around, Ashelyn began her quilting journey while running yet another business and realized her love for design and married the two passions to bring more fun and modern quilts to the ever-expanding quilting world. Ashelyn’s mission is to create a community for other modern quilters to find the confidence and inspiration to make beautiful quilts that fit their lifestyle. (US)
Barbie Mitchell
Barbie Mitchell is an internationally renowned quilter, maker, and tutor. With over 25 years immersed in the world of quilting, her favourite techniques lie in the intricate art of needle-turn appliqué and handwork. Barbie finds endless inspiration in the vibrant hues of colour and the beauty of the natural world, which she skillfully translates into her textile creations. Living a life fueled by wanderlust, she cherishes opportunities to travel, teach, and connect with fellow enthusiasts across the globe. (Australia)
Belle Brunner
Belle Brunner is a quilt pattern and fabric designer with Benartex, known for creating beginner-friendly patterns that are fun, fresh and easy to love. She’s the heart behind her brand, Seams Sew Me, and the voice of Thread Life with Belle on YouTube, where she shares her quilting journey and encourages creativity and community. Along with hosting quilt retreats in the Arkansas Ouachita National Forest, Belle has taught nationally at events like AQS QuiltWeek, the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo, and International Quilt Festival, and also offers consulting and leadership training for quilt guild boards across the country. Her work has been featured in Fons & Porter’s Quick + Easy Quilts and Quiltfolk Magazine, and she is a brand ambassador for Oliso, Arrow Sewing, and The Daylight Company. (US)
Ben Millett
Quiltmaking is Ben Millett’s creative outlet outside his work at an agriculture company in Des Moines, Iowa. He employs personal color palettes in quilts to examine nuances of Queer identity, pop culture, and quiltmaking itself. Turning digital concepts into a physical reality with fabric and thread, he creates to play, to communicate ideas, to further the gay agenda, to make what he wants to see. (US)
Christine Joubert
Falling into a quilter’s magic potion for a big decade, she likes to play with fabrics and threads for various sewn objects, from quilts to pouches and garments. Always looking for a new sewing challenge with bold and vibrant colours, she’s willing to create original and modern pieces to colour our world. (France)
Claire Houghton
Claire is a mixed media textile artist based in the South West and draws inspiration from walks along the Cornish coastline and the surrounding countryside. She has always had a passion for sewing and loves to create unique, original textile art. She uses a variety of processes and techniques, including painting and manipulating fabrics, often breathing new life into discarded linen and lace. Claire uses a combination of machine and hand embroidery to give texture and detail to her art, where possible using water-soluble fabric to create delicate layers. (UK)
HollyAnne Knight
HollyAnne Knight is the founder of String & Story, a quilting education company based in Duluth, GA. String & Story focuses on free motion quilting and ruler quilting education, pattern design, and ecommerce/ retail via their Main Street brick & mortar shop. When HollyAnne isn’t quilting or teaching, she can be found adventuring with her Hubster, John, and their boys, Jem and Ian, and her dog Havana, settling in for a home-cooked meal and kitty snuggles from Moby, or out for a run training for her next marathon. (US)
Janice Reimer
Janice is a Canadian quilter and pattern designer whose work is inspired by science and nature. She loves a good math puzzle and aims to create depth and dimensionality in her quilts by layering geometrical elements into her designs. Janice can often be found with her two furry sidekicks, Emma (meow) and Neela (woof). (Canada)
Janine Heschl
Janine Heschl is a self-taught textile artist specialising in photorealistic wildlife embroidery, sewn with her vintage Singer sewing machine in free motion. Her mission is to raise awareness and funds for endangered species, stitch outside the box, and inspire others to create magic with thread. (Austria)
Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones is a textile artist based in Somerset. She creates vibrant designs inspired by nature. She specialises in raw-edge fabric collage, using machine appliqué and free-motion embroidery to make joyful, layered cushion and tote bag designs, as well as downloadable patterns. She also offers slow stitching kits designed for hand embroidery, encouraging creativity and calm through mindful making. (UK)
Julia Crook
Julia is a textile artist based on the Suffolk Coast, UK. Inspiration for her work comes from the natural environment, particularly the surrounding coastal area. She uses experimental techniques alongside traditional ones, including fabric manipulation, appliqué, hand and machine stitching, to create unique artworks. Her work uses a combination of texture and relief, accentuated by shadow and light, to capture a sense of movement within the pieces. (UK)
Karlie Hunter
Karlie is the owner of Handful of Made. She learned how to embroider in the summer of 2020 and was immediately taken with the texture and art form. Now, she is dedicated to teaching others and getting beginners involved in the craft. (US)
Katie Zahm
Katie Zahm is the creative force behind Zahm Co., a Denver-based quilt pattern designer and quilting educator known for her modern, nature-inspired designs and beginner-friendly instruction. When she’s not quilting, you’ll find her outside enjoying the fresh air, chasing after her one-year-old, or working her day job in IT healthcare. (US)
Louise Orth
Lou is a quilt and sewing pattern designer working from Oxfordshire in the UK. Lou loves getting creative with fabric to create original designs and carefully constructed patterns, and has recently started up a YouTube channel sharing patchwork and sewing tutorials. (UK)
Luci Camorani
Luci Camorani is a quilter and quilt pattern designer based in Eugene, Oregon. Luci’s style is bold and vibrant, and she isn’t known to shy away from color! (US)
Marta Chade
Marta is a graphic designer turned miniature crochet artist with a deep love for all things tiny. She crochets intricate 1:12 scale dollhouse accessories using fine sewing thread and hooks as small as 0.35mm. Inspired by color, nostalgia, and the joy of handmade detail, her favorite pieces to make are tiny granny square blankets. When she’s not crocheting, you’ll find her sharing behind-the-scenes peeks, tutorials, and creative inspiration on Instagram and YouTube. (Germany)
Mary Burroughs-Mayer
Mary Burroughs-Mayer is the maker and designer behind Ember Craft Company, a quilting studio based in Northern California. While quilts are her first love, she enjoys adding a stitched touch to non-traditional items: coats, dresses, and even shoes! She began quilting and sewing in 2020, after the birth of twins at the beginning of the pandemic. She has progressed from quilts to bags to garments and particularly loves making matching outfits for the kiddos! If she’s not in her sewing room, you can generally find her outdoors, hiking in the hills above her home or managing snacks at the twins’ tee-ball games. (US)
Maude MacDonald
Maude is the author of Retro Quilts, a pattern book for modern quilts with a retro soul. She’s also the founder of the Maude Squad — a creative clubhouse for nostalgic makers who love a little kitsch with their craft. With a flair for imperfection and a soft spot for all things vintage, Maude helps people ditch the pressure and make cool stuff anyway. Think of her as your retro-loving hype girl with a sewing machine. (Canada)
Megan Fowler
Megan Fowler founded Quilt Scouts, an online quilting community that turns learning new skills into a playful adventure. She designs modern patterns with a nostalgic twist, curates themed project kits, and leads monthly badge challenges. She also hosts Quilt Camp, a cozy virtual retreat focused on creativity and connection. Her goal? To help quilters feel curious, confident, and totally inspired—one project at a time. (US)
Mira Jones
In one way or another, Mira has been creative all of her life and, after some years of silversmithing and working with clay, found her true happy place with needle and thread in her hand and at the sewing machine. Her motto: Leave no fabric scrap behind. She would rescue from a burning building her grandma’s silver thimble. (UK)
Russell Barratt
Russell Barratt brings a unique perspective to textile artistry, combining his background in clothes making with a passionate commitment to sustainable practices. His vibrant, expressive quilts, crafted from secondhand fabrics, have earned him recognition for pushing the boundaries of traditional quilting techniques while maintaining a deep connection to domestic life and personal memory. (UK)
Sandy Saengsuk
Sandy is the heart behind Thai Charm LLC, a quilt pattern designer and longarm quilter. Inspired by her Thai roots, she brings bold color and heartfelt storytelling to every project. Her work focuses on making quilting joyful, approachable, and full of charm, with something exciting on the horizon for quilters everywhere. (US)
Sarah Bookwalter
Sarah is a full-time high school math teacher and an obsessive quilter and sewist. She loves to play with color and designed her first quilt pattern this past year, with many more in the works. She can’t wait for more fabric, thread, and color exploration in the year ahead. (US)
Sarah Ruth Morris
Sarah Ruth is a fourth-generation quilter who has been making quilts for the past 12 years. She is a researcher by day and a hand quilter by night. She enjoys using scraps of whatever is around to finish her projects and loves a good challenge. (US)
Sashanna Hart
Sashanna is a photographer turned fiber artist during covid. She fell in love with the hands-on aspect of creating involved particularly in quilting,and has developed an appreciation for even the slower aspects of the craft. She is inspired by color and light. When not quilting or sewing, Sashanna likes traveling with her husband and son, and reading big Russian novels. (US)
Sofia Natty
Sofia Natty is an NYC-based textile artist who combines quilting, appliqué, English paper piecing, and embroidery to create narratives that invite the viewer-wearer to reflect on radical political imaginaries. Her work engages with shared memory and collective dreams through the creation of unique, colorful pieces—from soft sculptures to wearable art. (US)
Steffi Glaves
Steffi is a UK-based designer who specialises in micro crochet jewellery. She crafts detailed pieces using fine threads and tiny hooks, incorporating flowers and geometric patterns that are inspired by vintage textiles. She is the author of 100 Micro Crochet Motifs and 100 Micro Amigurumi, and her work is available through her Etsy shop, where she offers both finished jewellery and crochet patterns. (UK)
Susanne Kuprella
Susanne is passionate about sewing bags and quilts, whether from patterns or simply on a whim. Since last year, she has also become addicted to embroidery and tries to combine the different techniques in her work. In the meantime, her long-time hobby has also become a small business, and she gives courses and designs patterns. (Germany)
Suzanne Campion
Suzanne is a British designer and maker whose portfolio specializes in English paper piecing and cathedral window patterns. She has designed and made a collection of spectacular English paper pieced cushions and quilts for Liberty Fabrics. She is renowned for her attention to detail and eye for colour, and many have given her the unofficial title of Queen of fussy cutting! Sje is a strong believer in William Morris design philosophy of “having nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. (UK)
Tamara Darragh
Tamara Darragh is the designer and storyteller behind Remi Vail Studio, where she creates quilt and bag patterns that celebrate connection, memory, and the quiet magic of handcraft. Based in Minnesota with her husband and two furbabies, Tellee and Corduroy, she finds inspiration in nature, nostalgia, and the beauty of slow, intentional making. Her cozy modern aesthetic is woven into every piece, from naturally dyed textiles to hand-finished details. When not stitching, Tamara can be found digging in the dirt of her beloved garden, drifting through the kind of daydreams that spark her next creative adventure. You can find Tamara on Instagram @remivailstudio. (US)
Tara Glastonbury
Tara Glastonbury is a modern quilt maker and the designer behind Stitch and Yarn. Her work blends strong geometry and bold colour with a focus on process, materiality, and thoughtful design. In addition to creating, she exhibits her work, curates group shows, and loves sharing her passion for quilting through workshops and talks. (Australia)
Vicki Reid
Vicki has taught herself to sew over the last 10 years, gaining experience with a wide range of different types of garments, as well as some quilting over recent years. She found her love of sewing through being able to sew for her children, and it has also helped her find a love for her own body. She feels liberated by her ability to sew as she no longer feels restricted by ill-fitting, ready-to-wear garments that don’t represent her style. Vicki was also a Semi-finalist on the Great British Sewing Bee 2023. (UK)
Vivian Doan
Vivian is a Montreal photographer and bona fide “Quiltaholic.” In January 2020, she received her first sewing machine from her sweetheart and promptly made a memory quilt for him, which sparked an instant “love at first sight” with sewing. Now, with a “raison d’être” to get up and quilt, she believes everyone needs to embrace their creative side. What makes her heart sing the most is anything with rich, vibrant colours, but especially pink! (Canada)
Yasmeen Kreebani Branton
Yasmeen designs and creates sewing patterns, tutorials, and workshops through her business, Sand & Stars. Her passion is supporting other makers in embracing the power and therapeutic benefits of creativity through fabric, needle, and thread. She adores all forms of hand sewing but has a particular fondness for needle-turn hand appliqué, which enables her to bring creative ideas to life. (UK)
We hope that you enjoy following along with us, and we encourage you to check out these makers. Click each Artisan’s name above to join them on their creative journey!
I love Aurifil thread! I don’t see multicolored thread colored thread to embellish a special quilt. Is that something that you have or will be offering in the future?