September Aurifil Artisan Fall Showcase

For September, we invited our Aurifil Artisans to capture the cozy spirit of fall and sweater weather. The prompt was simple: create something that reflects the warm, layered look of the season. This could include quilted textures as soft as your favorite blanket, sweater-inspired embroidery, or visible mending on beloved knits. It’s a celebration of autumn’s creative energy, stitched in true Artisan style.

Our makers rose to the challenge with projects that showcase everything from bold, chunky stitches using Aurifil Cotton 12wt and 8wt to delicate seasonal details in finer threads. Some creations echo the warmth and texture of a hand-knit sweater, while others draw on the rich palette of autumn leaves or the layered coziness that defines cooler days. Together, they form a heartfelt tribute to the season.

To all of our September participants, thank you for your warmth, your creativity, and your cozy-season spirit. You’ve shown us how thread can capture the essence of autumn—its textures, its colors, and its comfort.

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Amanda Loewen

How better to embrace the cozy season than by enhancing a sweater with embroidery? I used fall-themed embroidery patterns from @laineirenedesigns and a pretty autumnal gradient of Aurifloss to embellish a basic sweatshirt, turning it into my favourite fall wearable.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton Floss 2390, 2350, 2395, 2385, 2345, 2355

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Amy Freyn

For the September Aurifil Artisan Challenge, we were tasked with celebrating all things sweater weather with stitches that embrace the spirit of fall. Even though we don’t have 4 seasons in Ecuador, it can get quite chilly at night! I used Aurifil Cotton 8wt to add this leaf to my sweater.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 8wt 2735 and 2545

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Sarah Ruth Morris

Sweater Weather is no such thing in Houston–we’ve still got Sweaty Weather! So I stitched up some PBS Kids shirts for my husband and son. They’ve been asking for matching shirts for a while! I used jersey knit as my applique pieces, and topstitched with Aurifil Cotton 50wt. I can’t wait to use Cotton 8wt or 12wt next time and maybe hand stitch the letters down!

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2021, 1242, 1128

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Maude MacDonald

These vibes feel just where I am – somewhere between fall and summer! This quilt is for someone special, and I thought Emily Dennis’s Patchwork Hearts was the perfect pattern for this young one. I used the Juicy collection by Ruby Star Society, and since I couldn’t decide on just one colour thread to quilt with, I used four! (two colours on top and 2 on backing).

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2845, 1231, 1300, 1133

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Sashanna Hart

This quilt, named “Angels must be like red maples in Autumn”, was designed to capture, in color and movement, the way it might feel to encounter either the Deity or his angelic messengers. I created it with the intention of breaking out of my dislike of using red in quilts, and with a goal of capturing the spirit of Fall. The title is taken from one of the lines in my husband’s latest book of poems, which serendipitously tied both impulses together into a whole that makes perfect and beautiful sense. This was my first time piecing using Aurifil Cotton 50wt thread, and it was the smoothest and most pleasurable piecing experience I have ever had.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2314

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Sarah Bookwalter

This charming Rue Coat (pattern by @spaghettiwesternsewing) is a cozy-season dream come true. With its patchwork of bright florals, gingham lining, and playful textures, it wraps you in the warmth of handmade nostalgia. Perfect for crisp autumn strolls or curling up with a cup of tea, it’s a wearable hug that celebrates comfort, creativity, and color. Aurifil thread is used throughout, from the hexie hand-basting and sewing, the machine appliqué of the hexie flowers, to the piecing and sewing of the coat.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 28wt 2560 & Cotton 50wt 2123

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Jessica Jones

For this month’s challenge, I’ve been inspired by cozy autumn walks, creating a piece that reflects the layered textures and warm spirit of Fall. I’ve embraced the softness and rich colours available in Cotton Floss to hand-stitch a woodland Fly Agaric toadstool, adding French knots and seed beads to capture the look of dew and early frost.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton Floss 2026, 2021, 5011, 2890, 1147, 2905, 2250, 1103, & 2260.

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Barbie Mitchell

Sharing my finished piece for the Aurifil Artisan September Challenge! This warm quilt is what happens when you celebrate the change of seasons with a needle and thread. Even better? This design will be one of the amazing designs featured in the upcoming 2026 Patchwork Calendar! So happy to tie these two projects together. Needle turn appliqué with Cotton 80wt & big stitch hand quilting with Cotton 12wt.

Aurifil Thread used: Needle turn appliqué using Cotton 80wt threads & big stitch hand quilting using Cotton 12wt.

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Sarah Bookwalter

Wrapped in warmth and whimsy, this gingerbread quilted tree skirt is ready to charm any cozy holiday corner. Featuring some sweet little houses and playful pops of color, it’s the perfect festive touch for snuggling up by the tree.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 40wt 2314

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Sofia Natty

September’s challenge called for the spirit of Fall — and nothing says Fall like sweaters. My mind immediately went back to THAT moment years ago when I pulled a tiny, shrunken mohair sweater out of the washing machine. After mourning it for far too long, I finally gave it a second life: the sweater was reborn as a cuddly wool pillow and an embroidered mug cozy — just in time for cozy Fall days.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 40wt 2530; Cotton 12wt 2026 & Wool 12wt 8130

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Janine Heschl

I made this one for my monthly Aurifil Artisan Challenge, where we were encouraged to create a project with the theme Sweater Weather. There were several ideas involving actual sweaters and knitting patterns, but what autumn really is to me is taking my daily dog walks through the woods and watching the leaves change their colors and eventually let go of their home to fall onto the ground, protecting it from the cold that is approaching. It’s the circle of life up close, and it is a beautiful transformation to watch. I used Lutradur and Aurifil Cotton 50wt thread to stitch the leaf skeleton pattern. Once done, I got some welding tools out and carefully melted all the negative spaces away. With a touch of gold acrylic paint, I gave the leaf an ‘autumny’ glow.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2930

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Julia Crook

I used the colours of Autumn as inspiration for this month’s challenge. Changing leaf colours of green, yellow, orange and red were used to embroider this piece. Machine embroidered using Cotton 50wt 5022, 5024, 2214, Cotton 80wt 2890 and Cotton 40wt 3817. The colours were mixed while stitching to give multiple colours within the work. The variegated thread worked really well for this.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 5022, 5024, 2214; Cotton 80wt 2890 and Cotton 40wt 3817.

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Tamara Darragh

An embroidered wool wrist cuff felt like the perfect fall accessory. I started with a rough sketch, layered scraps of wool, and added floral embroidery detail with Aurifil Cotton Floss and Cotton 8wt threads. Antique bronze snaps give it a simple finish, while the layered textures and autumn colors bring out the cozy, boho vibe I was hoping for.

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton Floss 2887, 2445, 2026 & Cotton 8wt 2930

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Vivian Doan

Nothing says Fall cosy vibes more than cats in pumpkins!! I could not resist making the new FPP pattern called #JackieCatMiniQuilt that features a cat wearing a pumpkin as a sweater!! I wanted a good excuse to use my Cotton 80wt spools, as I felt like it would be a good thread to keep the tiny pieces together. What I discovered is that it is the perfect thread for Foundation Paper Piecing! It is so tiny and with a stitch length of 1, it is super discreet yet very sturdy. From now on, I will always use Cotton 80wt for FPP! Pattern by @the.weekendquilter

Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 80wt 2600

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Vicki Reid

September’s theme has been all about embracing the spirit of fall, and what better project than to finally get around to sewing up this quilted jacket that has been on my to-do list for far too long! I used one of my own fabric designs, ‘The terrariums’, in the light colour way. I decided to go for orange for the collar and the tops of the pockets for a bit of a colour pop. I thought long and hard about how I wanted to quilt this fabric, the design has a geometric element, and so I didn’t really want to go with straight lines for the quilting. In the end, I went for 3 lines of waves in different coloured threads and alternated the direction of the waves. I am so pleased with how this project has turned out.

Aurifil Threads used: Cotton 40wt 2123 & Wool 12wt 8823, 8574, 8960, 8402

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Tamara Darragh

Nothing feels more like Sweater Weather than a cozy quilt, especially if it’s the Sweater Weather Sampler! My quilt block contribution to this year’s sampler is the Collective Kettle. The design holds the spirit of quilting tradition, the strength of creative community, and the feeling of autumn’s cozy season. It reflects the comfort of a warm drink shared in good company, filling our hearts and sewing tables with love and connection.

Aurifil Threads used: Cotton 50wt 2026 for piecing;
Cotton Forty3 2311 & 2315 for longarm quilting;
Cotton 12wt 2155 for big stitch binding.

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Amari Thomsen

This scrappy fall project uses selvedges sewn into string blocks and transformed into the cutest fabric pumpkin!

Aurifil Threads used: Cotton 12wt 2430 & Cotton 50wt 2350

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Katie Zahm

My favorite fall project is sewing a quilt patch coat for my niece. Now that she’s growing, we’ve transitioned them into jean jackets. I fitted the quilt block into the jacket’s seams so that it looks built-in and wears well. I also wrote a blog on turning a quilt block into wearable art.

Aurifil Threads used: Cotton 12wt 2311, 1147; Cotton 50 wt 4658; Cotton 8wt 2215 & Cotton Floss 2920

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Sandy Saengsuk

For Aurifil’s September Challenge, I created a quilted wrap inspired by the cozy spirit of fall. I used warm, autumn-toned woven fabrics and hand quilted with Aurifil’s Wool 12wt wool, Cotton 8wt thread, and Cotton Floss for extra texture. The varied weights bring out different dimensions in the stitches while keeping the wrap soft and inviting. Part shawl, part quilt, it’s perfect for layering on crisp autumn days.

Aurifil Threads used: Cotton Floss 2134, 2886, 2515; Cotton 8wt 2720 & Wool 12wt 8331, 8540, 8344

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Claire Houghton

Autumn leaves created on water-soluble fabric. I also stitched through leaves to create a delicate pattern.

Aurifil Threads used: Leaves collection by Sheena Norquay, Cotton 28wt

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Mira Jones

When a quilt coat has been top of your sewing bucket list for ages and you suddenly realise you cut two right sleeves after hours of piecing & quilting. Not to be beaten by this, I decided to use the sleeve panels for something else and experiment with a few alterations to make a fitted gilet instead. I took in the sides for a more tailored cut and added darts on top of the shoulders to take in the armholes. I’m so chuffed with the result and the fact I’ll probably get much more wear (indoors and out) out of a gilet this autumn/winter.

Aurifil Threads used: Cotton 50wt for piecing and Variegated Cotton 50wt for subtle quilting,
Cotton 40wt for hand stitching binding,
Cotton 28wt top stitching the pockets,
Cotton 12wt in contrast colour for hand basting during alterations.

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We encourage you to click through and take a closer look at each Artisan’s brilliant take on this challenge. 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!