Greetings, Aurifil family! As Master Educator and Aurifilosophy Program Director, I’m delighted to welcome back fellow Aurifilosopher Annie Smith of AnnieSmith.net for this month’s Thread Matters.
Annie, a longtime friend of Aurifil, is celebrated for her hands-on, in-depth thread education workshop that inspires makers to explore all weights of Aurifil thread. She’s also known for her fabulous machine appliqué technique, where she highlights the beauty of Aurifil 28wt. This month, she’s turning her expertise toward a topic that every quilter can relate to: choosing the right color of thread to complement your creative projects. Annie’s thoughtful tips will help you make confident choices—whether you want your stitches to blend seamlessly or stand out with intention.
We’re so grateful to Annie for sharing her wisdom and passion once again.
Is your shop, group or guild looking for insightful, inspiring and educational information on thread? Consider booking a virtual or in-person program with one of our skilled Aurifilosophers. Learn more about Aurifilosophy and find your favorite Aurifilosopher here.
Happy Stitching!
Karen L. Miller ~ Redbird Quilt Co.
Whether you’re a piecer, seamstress, English paper piecer, or hand/machine appliquér, choosing the right thread color for your project is essential. You want the thread to blend seamlessly with the fabric— or stand out intentionally— without drawing attention in an unbecoming way.
It’s so simple, you’d think everyone knows how to do this. But you’d be surprised to learn that this question comes up in workshops, guild visits, and even while viewing quilts at shows. Thread is an integral part of our quilts, yet its benefits are among the least understood.
Here’s the key: don’t rely on the thread color as it’s wound on the spool. Holding the wound spool against your fabric gives a false impression of the thread’s true color. Instead, pull a length of thread off the spool and lay it directly on the fabric you’re trying to match. That’s how you’ll get an accurate read.
TIP: When you have a multi-colored print, choose one thread color to stitch with.
Want to see this in action? I filmed a short video for C&T Publishing a few years ago that demonstrates the technique:
While the video focuses on matching thread for machine appliqué using Aurifil Cotton 28wt, the technique works for all Aurifil thread weights— and for any quilt, garment, or creative project.
This method also helps when choosing contrasting thread. Lay the thread on the fabric to see if the color feels “just right.”
TIP: Lighting matters. Use true-color or natural (white) light whenever possible. Blue or yellow light can shift how both the thread and fabric appear.
In addition, there are several tools you can use to get it just right. Swatch cards, fabric swatch boxes, and third-party tools work together to give you greater visual help.
I use a lot of Cherrywood fabric, and I was delighted when they partnered with Aurifil— my two favorite things to use for making my quilts. I can pull out a section of Cherrywood color gradations and find the perfect Aurifil thread colors to match, using the Swatch Book.
Recently, the Palette Scout box of color-matching cards became available. They also partnered with Aurifil, so we can use the cards to get the perfect thread matches!
See how they work beautifully together?
Understanding how to match your Aurifil thread colors to your chosen fabrics will make all the difference in the success of your work.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story about Aurifil thread, and for considering how it can work for you.
Happy Stitching!
ABOUT ANNIE
Quilt Imagineer, National/International Quilt Instructor and lecturer, Designer and pattern publisher, C & T Author, Producer of online classes, Quilt Judge, BERNINA Ambassador, Aurifilosopher, Cherrywood fabric Ambassador, Creator of “Quilting Stash”: the first podcast for quilters.
In Annie’s words: I’m a Professional Quilter by career definition. Whenever anyone asks me what I do for a living, that’s my answer. The next thing they ask me is how much I get for my quilts— assuming that I sell them. When I tell them that I don’t sell what I do, you can see the confusion in their eyes, but then I tell them what defines what I really do. You could say that I wear several hats. My life is pretty much quilting; all day, every day. It’s not a stretch to say that I’m consumed with everything having to do with quilting. I love everything about quilting— the machines, the fabric, the patterns, the books (oh— I’m especially obsessed with quilting books!), the shows, the notions, the threads, the techniques, but mostly— it’s the people I meet.
A life-long Californian, I now live in Texas with my family and love the “buckaroo” culture. I have ten grandchildren and a golden retriever named Posey.