At Aurifil, we’re endlessly inspired by visionary makers—those who dare to explore, innovate, and reimagine the world of textile art. Emily Van Hoff is one such designer. With each new project, she leaves us in awe, infusing her modern aesthetic with bold color, clever design, and an unmistakable sense of creative joy.
Emily’s path to textile art began with a foundation in graphic design, but over time, she craved a more hands-on, tactile way to express her creativity. A few years back, she turned to quilting as both a healing practice and a journey of self-discovery. Free from outside expectations, Emily embraced the freedom to create for herself—ultimately developing a bold, expressive style that is entirely her own.
Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the debut of Groove, Emily’s vibrant new fabric collection with Moda, along with a coordinating Aurifil thread set that brings every detail to life. Featuring 10 small spools of our richly hued 100% Cotton 12wt thread, this set was curated to complement and elevate Emily’s striking designs—perfect for adding bold embellishment, expressive stitching, and thoughtful texture.
Together, the fabric and thread tell a dynamic story—one that pulses with energy, imagination, and, above all, Groove.
Emily, welcome to the Aurifil family! For those who may be discovering you for the first time, can you share a bit about yourself and how you found your way into textile art and design?
Hello! I’m an artist and designer living and working in my Chicago home studio. My background is in graphic design, and I’ve been sewing in some capacity for as long as I can remember. I found my way to quilting in 2021, and it has been the perfect way for me to use the parts of graphic design that I loved, while also creating something tangible with my hands. My work combines fine art and careful craft into something new and unexpected and joyful.
Was this always a passion for you, or did your creative journey evolve in unexpected ways?
I have always been passionate about making beautiful things with my hands, and this is the latest incarnation of that desire. I’ve played with many mediums over the years, and quilting is the one that has allowed me to combine all of the things that I love into something that feels very specifically me.
Your work has such a unique and bold voice — how would you describe your artistic style in your own words?
It can be hard to describe, but lately I’ve landed on “experimental quilt-based textile work.” I love using unexpected shapes and forms along with traditional techniques to make vibrant, textural pieces full of movement and joy!
You create such an incredible range and variety of art – from quilts to 3D sculptures to apparel and accessories. Are there particular projects that you tend to gravitate toward, or is the joy truly variety?
I do love the variety, but lately I’ve been most drawn to finding ways to make my work feel more 3 dimensional and have more of an object-like quality. I feel like it’s opened a whole new world of challenging possibility and I love the puzzle of it all!
Let’s talk about your new fabric collection, Groove, with Moda. The prints are so vibrant and full of energy. What was the inspiration behind this collection?
I tend to work exclusively with solids, but with my background in graphic design I’ve always been drawn to the idea of pattern design. This collection is the result of a quest to find the kind of prints that I would be excited to work with. That is where the very large scale patterns came from! The scale feels like a size that could have been pieced, but the designs are far too intricate to have actually been pieced. At least not by a sane person. 🙂
Each of the prints in the collection are built from continuous lines, unraveling in their own ways. I designed them with the idea that they could act as a hand quilting guide, simplifying the process.
Was there a particular mood, place, or rhythm you wanted to capture?
As someone who loves hand quilting and finds it very meditative, I wanted to facilitate that feeling of getting deep into a project and losing track of time. The name “Groove” comes from that idea of getting in the groove, the very best feeling while making things. And of course I also wanted it to be bright and joyful and full of movement and energy!
You’ve paired Groove with a stunning Aurifil thread set of 12wt cottons. How did you select the colors for this set, and how do these threads interact with your fabric designs?
Because this collection was designed with hand quilting in mind, I chose the 12wt thread to really highlight all the work that goes into those stitches. It’s thick enough to look great with some big stitch quilting, it adds such a fun texture to the large scale prints, and it’s lovely to work with. The colors pair well with each of the lines in the fabrics, giving you the option to match more closely or use a bolder contrast.
Do you see the thread as an accent, an enhancement, or even a co-creator in your work?
Thread is such an important element! I design much of my work digitally before making it, and there is always some magic that happens in the making process where the finished piece feels so much richer and more alive than the digital mockup could ever. Thread plays a huge role in making that happen! It adds texture, additional color, helps blend things that need blending and delineate areas that need distinction.
You’ve mentioned using different weights of Aurifil thread for different purposes. Can you walk us through how and where you use different weights in your textile art?
I’ve been very obsessed with needle turn applique lately, and I love the 80wt for that. I use a 50wt for piecing my quilt tops, 40wt for machine quilting, and 12wt for hand quilting.
Do you have any favorite techniques or go-to stitches you love to use with 12wt thread?
I mostly just use a running stitch, or the occasional chain stitch.
We’re sure that you’re excited to see makers working with your fabrics and threads out in the world. Are there projects types that you’re particularly eager to see?
I’m very excited to see how other people mix and match the prints or pair them with collections by other designers, how they choose to play with scale, and what kind of hand stitched details they might add!
What does it feel like to see someone else make something with the textile tools that you’ve created?
It’s truly so fun! I work alone in my studio all the time, and seeing other people create beautiful things with tools that I’ve designed makes me feel part of a much bigger making community. My fabric is so different from much of what is available in the quilting world, and it’s a joy to see that other people get it, and have responded to it with so much excitement and enthusiasm and are adding their own voices.
Living in Chicago, with its rich architecture, culture, and design heritage — do you find that the city inspires your work?
It absolutely does. I find it rejuvenating to be surrounded by the energy of the city. My studio is also my home, so it is sometimes necessary to get out and away from work and be reminded of the endless creativity and ingenuity of people.
Are there particular places or moments in the city that feed your creativity?
Lake Michigan is a magnet for me. I live close enough to walk out to my favorite beach several times a week, all year long. I have the beach all to myself in the winter and I share it with a happy crowd come summer. There is nothing quite like a patch of overwhelmingly beautiful nature in the middle of a bustling city!
What are you working on right now? Any sneak peeks you can share about what’s next for you — projects, collections, exhibitions, or collaborations?
I have a new fabric collection with Moda in the works! And other than that I’ll be in my studio making the next thing that makes me excited. 🙂
You’ve already inspired so many with your bold and personal artistic voice. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in textile art or creative design? Any words of encouragement or practical tips?
Make the things that make you excited! And when you’re working on a project, notice the elements or techniques or decisions that feel worthy of a little more exploration, and try it out. Keep following all the most fun rabbit holes, and your work will continue evolving in a way that is the most you it can be. Thinking about making things will never get you very far, you need to dive in and get your hands busy!
Finally, if you had to sum up what you hope people feel when they experience your art — whether it’s your fabrics, a stitched piece, or even a social media post — what would that be?
I am always on the lookout for beauty and craft, something that makes me curious about the process, and feels unexpected and joyful. I hope that people feel a bit of that magic when they find my work!
HUGE thanks to Emily for chatting with us and sharing such a beautiful window into her process. Be sure to follow along with her on IG to ensure you never miss another moment of inspiration: @emilyvanhoff