We’re delighted to introduce a bold and beautiful new addition to the Aurifil family: a collaborative thread collection by the dynamic duo Sally Kelly and Chris English. This vibrant set features 10 Small Spools of Aurifil’s luxurious 100% Cotton 12wt thread, a curated spectrum of richly saturated hues designed to infuse your quilting projects with colour, depth, and dimension.
This exclusive collection marks a powerful partnership between two remarkable designers whose styles, while distinct, complement one another in the most unexpected ways. Sally Kelly, known for her elegant linework and masterful use of colour—refined during her years as a senior designer for Liberty of London—joins forces with Chris English, a fearless improv quiltmaker celebrated for transforming vintage textiles into bold, contemporary heirlooms. Together, they’ve created a palette that bridges traditional and modern aesthetics, weaving their individual perspectives into a cohesive and inspiring whole.
This is Chris’s second curated set with Aurifil, and we continue to be in awe of the expressive artistry he brings to the world of thread. It’s also our great pleasure to officially welcome Sally into the Aurifil community—her debut is nothing short of dazzling.
In today’s interview, we chat with both Sally and Chris about their creative journeys, the inspiration behind this new collection, the joy of collaboration, and the limitless potential of 12wt thread. From graffiti-inspired quilting to lush, illustrative design—this is a celebration of individuality, partnership, and the power of creative synergy.
Hi Sally & Chris! We are so thrilled to welcome you here today in celebration of your brand new collection, Sally Kelly X Chris English. Before we dive in, we’d love to give our readers some context and background.Can you each share a bit about your journey—how did you first find your way into the world of quilting and textiles?
Chris: My textiles journey started in high school at age 15 when I was introduced to stencil screen printing by my art teacher! With his help, I printed some fabric and turned it into a pair of board shorts. After studying Textiles at Uni, I couldn’t find a job in that area and eventually found myself in a corporate job… however, I’ve always retained my love of art, design, fashion, and fabric. It was through this that found I quilting and I loved it straight away. Last year I was made redundant from the aforementioned corporate job and the first thing I did was start printing my own fabric and using that in my own quilts. It now feels like this is what I need to do with my life! I’m sure that’s what the universe is trying to tell me!
Sally: I grew up in an artistic household—my mother was a painter and an avid quilt maker and crafter, and my granny was a devoted knitter. She lived in the house just across from ours, and every evening after dinner, I’d head over to watch Coronation Street, learn to knit, and eat loads of sweets.
My creative journey began with compulsively covering every bit of space in my school books with patterns, painting fantasy landscapes, and creating highly detailed still lifes featuring people going about their daily routines. Every element in those paintings was adorned with patterns—something I felt made them more interesting… and also a handy way to cover up mistakes!
I also remember my mum being constantly exasperated with me for clogging up her Elna sewing machine, breaking needles, and generally lacking the patience to slow down. Still, she taught me English Paper Piecing, for which I’m very grateful. I once made a cot quilt for my goddaughter—it took forever, but the sense of satisfaction was incredible. There’s nothing quite like giving someone a special something handmade with love; it’s the most precious gift.
As a child, everything became a crafting or creative opportunity. Growing up on an island, I was always collecting shells, pebbles, and sand to paint, stick, and create with. I loved pressing flowers and leaves to make pictures, decoupaging onto wood, and experimenting with monoprinting.
I believe crafters are always seeking new materials and techniques as a way to channel their creative energy. It’s a continuous journey of self-expression, discovery, and joyful moments.
What drew you to this creative industry, and how has your practice evolved over the years?
Sally: I knew I was going to work in a creative field and knew I wanted to study art at university. I just wasn’t sure whether it would be fine art, sculpture, or textiles. I did a foundation course before my degree where it became obvious that textiles was my passion.
Looking back at the artwork from my childhood, I notice that my passions haven’t really changed— they’ve simply grown more skillful through daily practice.
Sally, your work as a designer for Liberty Fabrics is truly iconic. How did your time with Liberty influence your design aesthetic today?
Sally: Liberty has had a huge influence on both my design aesthetic and my creative discipline. I started working there after university as a sales assistant in the Scarves Hall. Most textile graduates dream of joining the Liberty design department, and I was no different. But opportunities in that team were limited, so I set my sights on becoming a buyer and worked my way up to that role.
I absolutely loved it. We traveled extensively— across Europe, America, Thailand, and India— collaborating with artisans from all over the world. I also really enjoyed the analytical side of buying: poring over spreadsheets, understanding what sold well and what didn’t, and considering how elements like product positioning, display, and pricing impacted performance. That experience gave me a solid sense of commerciality and a deeper understanding of the customer—an invaluable part of my education.
Being surrounded by such beauty and craftsmanship every day at Liberty gave me a deep appreciation for good design and inspiring colour, and set a high standard for quality. I was lucky to work alongside incredibly creative and inspiring people, and that collective energy pushed all of us to continually develop and refine our skills.
Liberty’s archive is another treasure—some of which was recently showcased in their exhibition celebrating the brand’s 150th anniversary. As designers, we had access to this archive, and it was endlessly inspiring to explore the work of so many incredible textile artists. William Morris will always be the king in my eyes, but I was especially drawn to the hand-painted paisleys—so intricate and densely detailed, they must have taken months to complete.
Chris, your improv quilting is bold, expressive, and unmistakably yours. Can you walk us through what that process looks like for you?
Chris: My creative process is truly driven by the inspiration I find all around me. It’s everywhere—I love snapping photos on my phone to capture a colour combo, a shape, or a quilting idea. When I start a quilt, I usually begin with a small experimental sample. After making a few of these mini experiments, I start thinking about how they might work together… and before you know it, you’ve got a quilt top!
How would you each describe your personal creative processes—and how do you feel those processes align or contrast with one another?
Chris: I always have a small A5 sketchbook on the go where I collect things that inspire me. I’ll draw and paint in it, then start thinking about how those ideas might translate into a quilt or a fabric design. From there, I begin sewing and just see what happens. I often abandon pieces and come back to them later with fresh eyes.
Sally: I think we both work in a free spirited way. I don’t have a set formula for how my creativity flows. I tend not to plan things, but absorb lots of creative inspiration that I collect by taking constant photos, visiting exhibitions & galleries, thrift shopping, and talking to other creative people.
I don’t like planning. I like to get inspired by beautiful things and gorgeous colours and then just start drawing. It’s a flow that develops and changes as I go and I never know how it will end up. I am currently working on an appliqué quilt using the threads from our collection. I just enjoy embroidering individual elements and then I will make a picture with them at the end. For me it’s about enjoying the process— being in a meditative state with an open mind. The ideas then just flow through.
What are your biggest sources of creative inspiration? Are there specific artists, movements, or life experiences that have significantly shaped your work?
Chris: I’d say the biggest influence on my work and approach to my work is Punk. I love punk rock music (my favourite current band is Amyl and the Sniffers, parental advisory bad language). I love the energy and creative spirit that inspired the music.
I also love visiting art galleries, museums, and exhibitions, especially if it’s textiles related, I’m lucky to live near the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. They always have amazing shows! I saw the Althea McNish exhibition and her use of colour is just amazing!
Sally: I like to be inspired by the earth, with its incredible plants, flowers, vegetables, seas, sunsets, and oceans—being outdoors, away from screens, and enjoying all the senses that come with being in nature.
Visiting an art shop or haberdashers really gets me excited! Living in London most of the time, I enjoy regular trips to the V&A Museum and the Tate, among others.
I did a lot of dancing in the ’90s, which definitely got the creative juices flowing!
I love Matisse, Hockney, Josef Frank, Ernst Haeckel, Andy Goldsworthy, Anish Kapoor, Mughal painting, 60s and 70s fashion, and the styling of Jimi Hendrix… to name just a few.
Was there a key person, mentor, or pivotal moment that helped define your path as a creative?
Chris: My art school background definitely encourages experimentation. At the start of my quilting journey, I took a class with Luke Haynes which opened my eyes to improv quilting. I also love Unconventional & Unexpected by Rod Kiracofes and The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Lynn Woods.
Perhaps, though, my biggest influence is the quilts of Gee’s Bend. Their work is both beautiful and practical. My favourite Gee’s Bend quilters are Mary Lee Bendolph, Loretta Pettway, and Annie Mae Young. I was fortunate enough to see some Gee’s Bend quilts in real life at the Tate Modern, and they blew me away— I love them.
Sally: I had some very inspiring leaders at Liberty who really pushed my creativity forward, made me think outside of the box, and encouraged me to be brave.
How did the two of you meet, and what drew you to collaborate creatively?
Chris: Well, this year at Festival (The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK) will be the first time we’ve met in real life! I found Sally’s Instagram account and instantly fell in love with her use of colour and design. We soon got chatting, and Sally very kindly sent me an amazing package of fabric scraps, which I loved incorporating into my quilting.
I believe that contrast is what makes life interesting, and after using Sally’s fabric alongside mine—and loving how it looked—it felt obvious that a thread collaboration would produce something amazing. I’m pleased to say it has!
Sally: I found Chris on Instagram— I love his character, his unconventional approach and punk attitude, and that he is such an unexpected face in the quilting world. I appreciate how he uses recycled fabrics and thought it would be pretty amazing to see some of my designs in his creations. I, too, love contrast and my work can often tend towards intricacy and precision so it’s nice to see it used in a bold and unrestricted way.
How do you see your two styles—Sally’s rich, intricate patterns and Chris’s freeform, layered improvisation—coming together to create something truly unique?
Chris: For me this is exactly the contrast I love to see, and what I think makes things super interesting. Contrast is the most important thing— really quite applicable in quilting, art, cooking, and, well, basically everything!
Sally: I love the push and pull of different styles, unexpected mixes, and shared journeys.
What kinds of projects are you currently working on together? Can you share any sneak peeks of what’s to come?
Chris: We don’t have anything planned at the moment but I will always love using Sally’s fabric in my quilts. Now that we’ve been through this process, I’m thinking maybe a joint quilt entry for next year’s Festival of Quilts… Come visit us at Aurifil’s stand at Festival to say hello and see what we might have up our sleeves!
Let’s talk about the Sally Kelly x Chris English thread set— 10 vibrant spools of Aurifil 12wt. What inspired the color palette?
Chris: I love colour and use lots of it in my quilts. I enjoy creating unexpected combinations and experimenting with bold, unconventional choices. So I was super keen to help people feel more confident and adventurous with their colour usage. Too often, we’re told, “this colour doesn’t go with that one”—but I say, if you like it, then go for it!
Sally: For me, it was all about bright, bold stitches standing out against different fabrics. I love Kantha quilts and the impact a simple running stitch can have— transforming a piece by adding texture and beautiful pops of jewel-like colour.
Were the colors selected based on your own palettes and go-to hues, or were you looking to introduce something unexpected?
Chris: My choices were selected based on what I use in my work. I’m drawn to rich bright colours, but I also like using more muted tones to provide contrast. My recent fabric is in black and white, so I also wanted to include the variegated spool in the collection to provide that desired contrast with the bright colours.
Do you both find yourselves naturally drawn to bold, saturated color in your work, or was this an intentional contrast?
Chris: For me, yes—definitely! I love Sally’s use of colour and tend to work with similar palettes myself, just in a different way. That’s exactly why I suggested a collaboration.
Sally: My recent collections have all focused on saturated colour, but I like to combine those brights with more muted palettes to make the colours sing and create some resting space. I especially enjoy using brightly coloured threads on olive and oatmeal hues.
Why did you choose to work with 12wt for this collection in particular?
Chris: I love how the 12wt creates nice bold stitches that you can see. I use it both for hand quilting and machine quilting. It sews beautifully and it’s my go to thread weight.
Sally: I think the 12wt is perfect for hand quilting and embroidery
How do you personally use 12wt in your own work—and how would you recommend other makers incorporate it into their own creative practices?
Chris: As mentioned, I use 12wt for all my hand quilting. If you haven’t tried it before, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go—it sews beautifully, and the colours are amazing. I love experimenting with new stitches, adapting embroidery stitches into quilting ones, and seeing how they look.
Sally: It’s perfect for adding texture and colour that really stands out. I’m a novice embroiderer, so I can’t offer much advice beyond saying that, personally, I love using it!
Do you have any tips or tricks for working with 12wt— thread weight, needle pairings, machine settings, or finishing techniques?
Chris: I use a fairly large eyed quilting needle for my hand quilting. When I’m using the 12wt in my machine, I use 50wt in the bobbin. Now that my eyes aren’t as good as they once were, I’ll sometimes use a needle threader for my hand quilting.
What are your go-to stitches or applications when using 12wt for maximum visual impact?
Chris: I love using a simple running stitch for most of my hand quilting. I also use cross stitch and chevron/crows foot stitches to add visual interest. I like to add lots of hand quilting—I’m definitely a maximalist when it comes to quilting. I’ve also used 12wt thread to hand-tie my quilts, effectively using a series of small knots instead of stitches to hold everything together. I like this approach and personally enjoy how the hand ties look.
Where can our community find you this year? Will you be showing work or teaching at any upcoming events or exhibitions?
Chris: I’m most active on instagram, now that I’m not working full time. I have a new Quilt Club (think Fight Club but with quilting, obviously) that is launching in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Outside of that, I’m continuing to work on developing my fabric collection.
Will you be at Festival of Quilts this year? If so, what can attendees expect to see from you there?
Chris: I love my annual trip to Festival of Quilts in Birmingham and I’ll be there Thursday and Friday. I have a quilt in the show— which is always exciting— and I’m teaching a couple of classes. I’ll be on the Aurifil stand talking about the new collection, quilting, and anything and everything else.
Sally: I will be there on Thursday and Friday at the Aurifil stand. I’m so excited to meet all the people who have become Insta friends but whom I’ve never met in person! I’ll have some of my original artwork to show the process— from first thoughts to fabric. Hopefully, there will be opportunities for collaborations and interesting conversations.
What does this collaboration mean to you personally—and what do you hope makers take away from working with this thread collection?
Chris: This is the second Aurifil collection I’ve been involved in and I’m possibly more excited by this one than my first one. Collaborating with Sally has made me really think about my colour choices, honing them down to the colours I absolutely love. As a result, I’m beyond thrilled with this final collection.
Sally: As a fabric designer I spend most of my time with a pencil, paintbrush, or wacom pen in my hand. Collaborating on this thread collection has made me find the time to pick up a needle and get back to a hobby I love! I’m excited to finish the quilt I will be displaying on the Aurifil stand. It is by no means a skillful piece, but I have enjoyed the process and absolutely love how it looks. I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time with Chris in real life rather than on zoom or insta dm!
Any final words of creative encouragement or inspiration for our readers?
Chris: Be more punk.
Sally: Don’t follow the crowd. Be playful and make sure you enjoy the process.
I love the emotional memories and attachments each creative project takes me back to. What was happening in my life at the time and how that affected my work. It’s nice to have those stories.
And lastly, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Mistakes can be quite charming!
HUGE thanks to both Sally & Chris for chatting with us. We absolutely loved learning more about how these two creatives came to collaborate! Eager for more inspiration from this incredible duo? Be sure to follow along with them via the links below:
SALLY KELLY Website & Instagram | CHRIS ENGLISH Website & Instagram