As we step into a new month of making, our Aurifil Artisans turned their creative focus to one of thread’s most quietly magical heroes: variegated thread. Often admired for its shifting tones and subtle movement, this month’s challenge invited makers to let those color changes take center stage and explore the unique story variegation brings to every stitch.
Each Artisan was encouraged to choose any Aurifil variegated thread, in any weight, and design a project that truly showcased its personality. From quilting and embroidery to piecing and embellishment, these projects highlight how variegated thread can transform even the simplest design into something rich with depth, rhythm, and visual interest. With complete creative freedom, our makers embraced the challenge, creating pieces that are bold, playful, and delicate.
This month’s showcase is a celebration of movement, color, and creativity, proof that when thread is allowed to shine, it becomes the star of the story. We’re so excited to share the latest Artisan Showcase with you. Let’s dive in and discover the magic of variegated stitch.
Sofia Natty
Exploring variegated threads for the first time, I let hand embroidery become a way of listening to the material. One flame led to another, dancers emerged, and the surface filled with whimsy as I tested stitches and strand weight. The final composition was applied to a “Taleigo”, a traditional Portuguese cloth bag from Alentejo typically used to store bread.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton Floss 4658, 4659 and 12wt Cotton 4655
Belle Brunner
The December Artisan challenge was to use any of the variegated thread sent to me in my welcome box. I used both Cotton 28wt and Cotton 50wt in 4666 and 4658 to do some Baby Lock Sashiko stitching on this cute acorn block turned pillow! I created a free video tutorial for you so you can make this easy block too. This was the perfect use for variegated thread IMO! It may be winter but I’m already for next fall .
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 28wt 4666 and Cotton 50wt 4658
Amy Freyn
For the December Artisan Challenge we were tasked with showcasing the power of variegated thread. I made a small leather clutch (made with leather scraps from Cotacachi, a small town in Ecuador known for their leatherworkers). I chose Cotton 50wt 4661, named Mint Julip and it looks fabulous against the black leather.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 4661
Barbie Mitchell
For the December Artisan Challenge, I captured the essence of my natural surroundings using Aurifil Cotton 12wt in 4650, allowing the variegated tones to breathe life into my machine-embroidered backyard friends. This challenge was the perfect opportunity to elevate functional items, like sewing cases and linen bags, with decorative stitching that mirrors the beauty of off-grid living.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 12wt 4650
Sarah Bookwalter
This quilted pillow was drawn from one block of the Stellar Stripe Quilt Pattern. A warm, earthy color palette with some straight-line quilting using Aurifil Cotton 40wt 4666 to modernize the classic motif and finished as a cozy, functional home accent.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 40wt 4666
Janice Reimer
The Cotton 28wt 4654 variegated thread was a perfect complement to the fabric gradient in this Sonar quilt. The Cotton 28wt was a bold choice, and matched the energy of the quilt. Aurifil’s neon Cotton 50wt yellow 7001 is one of my favourite threads. It’s so fun to use to add a pop of colour.
Aurifil Thread used: Top thread: Cotton 28wt 4654,
Bobbin thread Cotton 50wt 1148,
Accent thread Cotton 50wt 7001
Vivian Doan
The December challenge for the Aurifil Artisan program was to shine a light on one of thread’s unsung heroes: Variegated Threads. I hope that I made them the hero of my Groove tote bag using the amazing fabric by @emilyvanhoff I had ordered the @modafabrics Groove Tote bag from my friend’s shop but the supplier never shipped them out. I was so disappointed but then decided to just make my own. And I felt like the white linear grooves were perfect to feature at least 9 colours of gorgeous Aurifil Thread variegated threads. I dusted off my lovely @babylock Sashiko II machine and got to work. And decided to finish it off with a beautiful shade of Perfect Pink from Ruby and Bee for the handles.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 40wt: 4668, 4660, 3660, 3840, 3770, 4663, 4662, 3320, 3910; Cotton 50wt: 7002
Sashanna Hart
Using a sample pack of upholstery fabrics I found at a creative reuse store and some lovely variegated thread, I whipped up this last minute tote bag for my husband for Christmas. The fabrics were a wide range of colors and I thought a variegated thread would be the best way to highlight all the glorious diversity of colors while, at the same time, tying them all together. The bag tutorial was from Bethany Lynne Makes, and enabled me to successfully construct my first ever inset zipper so that my husband could safely take all his valuables in this on a plane.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 28wt 4656; Cotton 50wt 2314
Marta Chade
A 0.35 mm hook, variegated thread, and mosaic crochet – a recipe for chaos… or the perfect way to end 2025. I love how Aurifil’s variegated threads add that subtle unpredictability, making every tiny stitch feel alive and completely one of a kind.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2021 and 4660
Tamara Darragh
My duffle project was shaped by curiosity and quiet problem solving, adapting the Patchwork Duffle pattern by Knot and Thread and using test blocks from my upcoming MEL’s Quilt pattern. Quilting with variegated 50wt Aurifil thread added subtle texture and movement, echoing the variation in the patchwork and allowing the process to guide each decision.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 4649 and 4655
Karlie Hunter
This was my first time using variegated thread, and as someone who likes to picture the finished product in her mind before ever starting, it was an interesting challenge! I also tried a new technique combining one strand of yellow with two strands of green for the corn starting to tassel. These two color sections really pop and add a little extra detail to an otherwise simple design.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton Floss 5008, 2890, 2888, 5001, and 4666
Andrea Kjorlaug
The variegated thread blended perfectly with the varied paint strokes used to create ripples in the pond from the FreeSpirit Fabrics Backyard Wonders collection. I mixed machine and hand embroidered stitches to mimic the movement of ripples across the water. The pond is one element of an imaginative children’s play set I’ve made using the Backyard Wonders collection and lots of beautiful Aurifil threads.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 3770; Cotton Floss 2715, 2850, 2838, 4644; Cotton 8wt 2880; Cotton 12wt 2619
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!