A brand new Aurifil Artisan year is officially underway, and we’re kicking things off with a burst of color, creativity, and thread-filled inspiration! Each year we bring together an incredible community of makers who explore, experiment, and share their passion for stitching with Aurifil. We’re so excited to introduce our 2025 team, and what better way to start than with their very first challenge?
For June, we asked our Artisans to dive into their Welcome Packs and choose something new to spark a fresh wave of creativity. Whether it was an exciting unboxing, a bold new project, or a playful experiment with color and texture, this challenge was all about showcasing what caught their eye—and letting their creativity lead the way. The result? A joyful celebration of possibility, imagination, and the start of an inspiring new year.
To all of our June participants: thank you for your heart, your vision, and your willingness to jump right in. You’ve already set the tone for an inspiring year ahead, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll create next.
Lou Orth
Is this the best one ever? I am sharing what’s inside the 2025 Aurifil Artisan welcome package. Full unboxing video over on my YouTube channel!
Maude MacDonald
Whipped up a baby-sized 70s Sun quilt with the scraps from my previous make of a throw size. This is such a fun and quick make, and perfect to experiment with all the thread colours!
Aurifil Thread used: 50wt 6010, 1133, 5022
Amy Freyn
So excited when my Aurifil Artisan package arrived here in Ecuador! Can’t wait to get started on July’s Challenge!
Ben Millett
Every Aurifil large spool thread case I have has been used for storage. But after using the mini thread storage case as a grab-and-go kit, I realized I could use the large case from the Artisan Welcome Package for the same thing. Using the inside of the lid as a work surface is an extra benefit. I’ve been making “touch samples” for my upcoming exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center, examples with the same stitches as the quilts on display, so that people are less inclined to touch the actual quilts. The case made it easier for me to work on these away from home and the studio. The Welcome Package also included 1231 in 8wt and 28wt, which I supplemented with 1231 in 12wt and 50wt from my supply to make flair for my studio key ring. I struggle when I leave the studio to know if I have my key, even if it’s in my hand, so I’m hoping this addition will reduce that mental load.
Aurifil Thread used: 12wt 1231, 2021, 2425, 5006, 2692, 2372, 2270, 2150, 2135, 1114, 2810, 2540
28wt 1231; 50wt 1231; 8wt 1231
Sarah Morris
I used the 8wt to create a fun hand-binding stitch design that I saw another friend use! It turned out so cute for this star quilt!
Aurifil Thread used: 8wt 2250
Karlie Hunter
We have a few baseball games we’re attending this summer, so when I saw this vintage baseball fabric, I knew I would be making a cute top to wear to the games. The 50wt 2600 thread matched the fabric perfectly for a subtle stitching detail. This simple tie tank top went together so quickly, I even had time to add an embroidered belt bag to my outfit with the 8wt 2250 red thread to replicate the stitches on a baseball.
Aurifil Thread used: Tank top 50wt 2600; Belt bag 8wt 2250
Jessica Jones
For my June Aurifil Challenge, I used 12wt cotton thread in 2140 Orange Mustard from my welcome package – a heavier weight I’ve not used before – to create a textured sunflower appliqué. Layered silk and lace fabrics inspired by Starry Night formed a rich background, with free-motion stitching adding depth and movement. The finished piece is mounted on a round canvas to highlight its flow and texture.
Aurifil Thread used: 12wt 2140; 50wt 2214, 4655; 40wt 2600
Luci Camorani
Out of the welcome box I received, I used 40/3wt in White (2024) and 40wt in Medium Red (5002) to create two Popcorn Pouches with some newer Heather Ross fabrics. I had fun mixing and matching colors, prints, and thread!
Aurifil Thread used: Forty3 2024; 40wt 5002
Amari Thomsen
I couldn’t part with these toddler clothes, even though they were worn and no longer fit. So I turned them into something useful – a zipper pouch I can carry every day. A patchwork of memories and a reminder of how fast our little ones grow.
Aurifil Thread used: 40wt 2024
Julia Crook
I took inspiration from the glorious summer Solstice weekend to create this piece. Made from machine stitching and producing a very delicate woven image. I used a variety of Aurifil thread colours and weights. I especially liked the variegated blue colour. This gave a subtle colour change to the stitching.
Aurifil Thread used: 50wt 2130, 2220, 2214, 4655; 80wt 2000; Forty3 2024
Aimee Hagedorn
Using both embroidery floss and 8wt thread, I have this classic grey cardigan another chance to stay in my wardrobe. I love how the cross stitches are perfectly imperfect; it gives off a carefree vibe while still looking put together.
Aurifil Thread used: Floss 1147; 8wt 2510, 2530
HollyAnne Knight
I combined my favorite technique (free motion quilting) with some newer skills (bag making and hand embroidery) to make a fun, Lucky version of the Violet Backpack by Knot & Thread. I love the pop of the variegated 50wt quilting thread, the finished touch of the 40wt top stitching, and the extra texture of the wool blanket stitch.
Aurifil Thread used: 50wt 3817; 40wt 4093; 12wt Wool 8865
Sofia Natty
To guide me in my future stitches, an Aurifil threads reference sampler, all weights in machine stitch, hand quilting, and hand embroidery.
Aurifil Thread used: 80wt 2370; 50wt 6738, 2314, 2692, 2024; 40wt 2530, 2024; 28wt 1135; 12wt 4655; 12wt wool 8520 8130; 8wt 2250, 2735; Floss 2886, 2515; Monofilament in Clear
Barbie Mitchell
For the first challenge of 2025, I have created this fun sew-on-the-go bag inspired by the contents of my welcome box. This bag is a must-have for any hand stitcher! It’s custom-made to perfectly fit Aurifil’s new mini thread storage case and a hand-sewing project, keeping everything organised and ready to travel. I used Aurifil 8wt thread for the hand quilting (Colour 2530)—the texture and definition it gives is just stunning. I am so excited for this year! Be sure to follow my page for more incredible projects.
Aurifil Thread used: 8wt 2530
Katie Zahm
For this project, I used Aurifil Floss to hand quilt bold, horizontal lines across a modified version of my new Sweet Mae quilt pattern. The blocks were repurposed into a small quilt with a matching doll sleeping bag—part of a birthday gift for my niece. I paired textured wovens with bamboo batting, then layered machine quilting with 50wt vertical lines and hand quilting in three floss colors to create rich, dimensional texture. It was the perfect small-scale project to experiment with Aurifil Floss and let the stitches shine.
Aurifil Thread used: Floss 2215, 6731, 2515; 50wt 2310
Janice Reimer
This summer, I wanted to spend my time working on a purely fun project, and my daisy quilt is what came out of that idea. While piecing the top, I thought it would be cute to add a couple of bees to break up some of the blue background. I’ve never been into appliqué, but thought it would be a great way to try out the 80 wt thread that came in my welcome box. I was surprised by how it just disappeared, even though it’s a lot lighter than the fabrics I used! My thread case also came in super handy for taking my sewing things with me when my family went on a little weekend getaway to the forest.
Aurifil Thread used: 80wt 2000; 12wt 2135
Vivian Doan
Inspired by the summertime sunshine and heat, I decided to finally make myself a bucket hat. I found a designer called @glory.allan from Toronto who had a free pattern, and I went for it! It is fully reversible, so I used two beautiful new @rubystarsociety fabrics from a collection called Catnap and used the black and white thread that came with my new artisan box! I lined it with a canvas on both layers, so it has 4 layers of fabric, which I quilted together with the Forty3 thread. I love my new hat! I made the Medium version, and it fits my head even with a ponytail!
Aurifil Thread used: 50wt 2692; 40wt 2024; Forty3 2024
Tamara Darragh
Another year as an Aurifil Artisan is officially underway, and the June challenge started with one of my favorite things, an unboxing. The threads in this year’s welcome box were absolutely beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to put them to use. For this project, I used Forty3 weight in Dove (2600) to longarm quilt this Front Porch baby quilt – such a soft, versatile neutral.
Aurifil Thread used: Forty3 2600; 50wt 2026
Janine Heschl
Sometimes it is certain colours that inspire me to start a new journey, like these beautiful threads I received in my Aurifil Artisan Welcoming Box. I created a 3D embroidery with thread-covered wire and moss elements stitched on water-soluble stabilizer, using over 24 different colours altogether, mainly 40wt and 50wt.
Belle Brunner
For my June Aurifil Artisan Challenge, I used three different thread weights from my Artisan welcome box to create a modified Friendship Blooms Tote. The green 80wt Aurifil thread was perfect for piecing with this gorgeous Sateen Kelly Green Cotton from Benartex. Then, I used my Baby Lock Sashiko machine to add some yummy yellow sashiko stitches with 28wt, and finished it off with thick 12wt stitches to appliqué the flower onto my French seams tote bag!
Ever tried French seams? I have a three-part tutorial up on my Thread Life with Belle YouTube channel – go check it out and give it a try!
We encourage you to click through and take a closer look at each Artisan’s brilliant take on this challenge, from inspired unboxings to first makes that highlight the possibilities of thread and fabric. And of course, a huge THANK YOU to our 2025 Aurifil Artisan team. Your creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm shine through already, and we’re so grateful to have you on this journey with us!