We’re delighted to celebrate a full-circle moment with Becca Plymale as we reintroduce our partnership and welcome her debut Aurifil thread collection. We first met Becca in 2017 as an Aurifil Artisan, and it’s been a joy to watch her creative journey grow from those early collaborations to this exciting new chapter as a collection designer.
Becca’s work is defined by versatility and a thoughtful approach to color and detail. Moving fluidly between apparel, quilting, and accessories, she creates pieces that feel both playful and refined, always encouraging makers to experiment and enjoy the process of creating.
To complement her latest fabric collection, Gulf Breeze, Becca curated a 10-spool Aurifil thread set designed for a wide range of making. With five spools of 50wt cotton for piecing and quilting and five spools of 12wt cotton for hand quilting and embellishment, the set pairs beauty with function and echoes the coastal palette of her fabrics.
We’re thrilled to continue working alongside Becca throughout the coming year as she shares new projects and inspiration with our community. We can’t wait to see how her vision unfolds and to celebrate the creativity she brings to makers everywhere.
Can you take us back to the beginning? How did you first find your way into the creative industry, and what initially drew you to textiles as a medium?
Growing up surrounded by generations of seamstresses and quilters, you’d think sewing would have come naturally to me early on. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until I was expecting my first child that I truly found my way into the creative industry.
My very first project was a diaper bag made from my husband’s flight suit, and from there I began sewing special-occasion outfits for my daughter. What started as a practical project quickly became a passion I couldn’t shake.
Textiles drew me in because they hold both meaning and function. Fabric and thread tell stories—of who we are, where we’ve been, and the moments we want to remember. Today, that love shows up in everything I create, from the designs I develop to the pieces made to be lived with, cherished, and passed down.
Early on, who or what most influenced your creative direction? Were there particular people, places, or experiences that shaped how you see design today?
My children have always been at the heart of my creative direction. Designing for them, and because of them, taught me to slow down and notice the beauty in everyday moments. Those experiences shaped my desire to create work that feels warm, nostalgic, and meaningful rather than trendy or fleeting.
As I grew into fabric design, my experiences as a military wife became just as influential. Moving often meant learning how to create a sense of home wherever we landed, building community in new places, and holding tightly to the memories that mattered most. Those seasons of change shaped how I see design today and continue to guide my work. I’m drawn to creating fabrics that feel sentimental and comforting, with a sense of joy woven in, pieces that tell a story and feel like they belong.
What do you love most about working in the world of textiles specifically— fabric, thread, and the tactile nature of making?
What I love most about textiles is how deeply personal they are. Fabric and thread aren’t just materials, they’re carriers of memory, care, and intention. There’s something powerful about taking something flat and ordinary and transforming it into something meaningful through your hands.
You’ve worn many creative hats over the years. What goals guide you now when you sit down to design a fabric collection?
When I sit down to design a fabric collection now, my goal is always to tell a story, one that feels personal, timeless, and meaningful. I want to create something that can be passed down from generation to generation, carrying memories along with it.
Above all, I design with longevity in mind. If it’s something I truly love, something I’d choose for my own home and family, then I know it has the potential to resonate with others in the same lasting way.
Through your work, what do you most hope to communicate to makers who choose to sew with your designs?
I hope makers feel inspired to slow down and create with intention. More than anything, I want them to feel connected—to the craft, to the materials, and to a larger community of makers.
Every stitch tells a story, and I hope my designs help those stories become meaningful pieces that are loved and passed down.
We first met you back in 2017 as an Aurifil Artisan. Looking back, how did that experience influence your growth as a designer— and how did it plant the seed for curating your own thread collection someday?
Oh my gosh, 2017 feels like a lifetime ago. Being an Aurifil Artisan was such a meaningful and fun experience, especially since I had already been using and loving Aurifil thread for years. That role really opened my eyes to the many ways thread can be used, not just as a necessity, but as a design element that elevates a project.
That experience planted an early seed for me. As I began dreaming about fabric design, I also began dreaming about how thread could complete that vision. Curating my own thread collection with Aurifil has felt like a full-circle moment, one that’s been quietly in the making since those early Artisan days.
At that time, you were especially active in the children’s apparel space. How has your creative focus shifted since then, and what prompted that evolution?
At that time, my focus was very much on children’s apparel, which was a natural extension of designing and sewing for my daughter. As she grew, she quite literally grew out of my sizing chart, and I found myself at a creative crossroads. I knew I still wanted to keep sewing and designing, but I was ready for something that could grow with my family rather than outpace it.
That shift led me to quilting. Quilts became a way to create something the entire family could use, cherish, and pass down.
Do you have a favorite type of project to create right now— quilts, apparel, or something else entirely?
Right now, my favorite projects are the ones that bring my daughter into the sewing room with me. Whether we’re upcycling a sweatshirt she spotted on Pinterest or choosing fabrics together for a new quilt for her bedroom, those shared moments have become my favorite kind of making.
Gulf Breeze is deeply personal and rooted in place. Can you share the story behind the collection and what the Emerald Coast represents for you and your family?
Gulf Breeze is incredibly personal and rooted in memory. In 2015, we were stationed in Pensacola and moved to the small coastal town of Gulf Breeze, not knowing it would become such a meaningful chapter of our lives.
Those four years were filled with simple, lasting moments;children playing in the sand, waves at their feet, my son spending hours chasing birds along the shoreline, and friendships that quickly became family. They’re the kinds of memories that stay with you long after you leave.
When my husband’s retirement approached in 2022, returning to the Emerald Coast felt like coming home. Gulf Breeze was designed as a reflection of that nostalgia, a collection meant to honor the place where so many of our family’s memories were made and where we chose to finally put down roots.
Many of the prints— sea turtles, shells, hibiscus blooms, rays, and jellyfish— feel almost like visual memories. What do these motifs signify for you personally?
Each of the motifs in the collection comes directly from what you see when you spend time on the Emerald Coast. Sea turtles swimming just beneath the pier, jellyfish drifting by in the water, shells scattered along the shoreline, these were all part of our everyday life there.
Hibiscus is especially meaningful to me. It’s one of my favorite flowers, and we had hibiscus bushes in the yard of our first home, so it immediately brings me back to that time. The footprints in Sandy Strolls are inspired by my son’s tiny footprints in the sand as he chased birds up and down the beach.
These designs are personal because they’re based on real moments and places that became part of our family’s story.
How did you approach building the color palette for Gulf Breeze? Were there specific coastal moments or moods you wanted to capture?
The color palette for Gulf Breeze came together very naturally. These are colors I already love and use throughout our home, so they felt familiar and lived-in from the start.
I was drawn to the softer, calmer tones of the coast; the kind you notice when you’re there day after day rather than just on vacation. I wanted the palette to reflect those quiet coastal moments and create a sense of ease, warmth, and longevity rather than something overly bright or trendy.
This collection is your debut Aurifil thread set. Why was it important to you to create a coordinating thread assortment alongside your fabrics?
Creating a coordinating thread assortment felt like a natural extension of the fabric collection. Thread plays such an important role in how a project comes together, and I wanted it to be just as intentional as the fabrics themselves. Designing them together allows makers to easily bring the full vision of Gulf Breeze to life.
How do you see the 10-spool thread set extending or deepening the overall story of Gulf Breeze?
The 10-spool thread set extends the story of Gulf Breeze by giving the collection another layer of expression. I selected a range of weights and colors that coordinate directly with the fabric collection, so the thread becomes part of the design rather than an afterthought.
Each color was chosen to reflect the same moods and moments found in the fabrics, allowing the threads to quietly tell the story alongside them as makers bring their projects to life.
You chose to include both Cotton 50wt and Cotton 12wt threads. How do you envision makers using each weight in partnership with the fabrics?
I wanted to include both 50wt and 12wt threads because they give makers options when working with the Gulf Breeze fabrics. The 50wt threads are perfect for piecing and quilting when you want the fabric to be the focus and everything to come together cleanly.
The 12wt threads are there for the fun details; bold quilting lines, decorative stitching, or seams you want to stand out a little more. Together, they make it easy for makers to use thread in different ways, whether they want something subtle or something that adds a bit of personality to their project.
In your own creative practice, how do you like to work with 50wt versus 12wt thread? What roles do they each play for you?
When deciding on the thread weights, my roots in apparel sewing definitely came through. The 12wt thread is perfect for visible topstitching, especially on garments like dresses where those details really shine. While I may not be sewing for my daughter as much anymore, I love that I can still use it for special pieces for my niece.
The 50wt thread is my everyday workhorse. It’s ideal for piecing, quilting, and general construction, making it easy for makers to use the fabrics and threads together across a wide range of projects.
You’ve been sewing with Aurifil threads for many years. What is it about Aurifil that continues to make it your thread of choice?
Aurifil has been my thread of choice for many years because it’s consistently dependable. It runs smoothly, has a strong, well-balanced finish, and the color range is easy to work with across many types of projects.
I trust it to perform well whether I’m piecing, quilting, or sewing garments, and that consistency is what keeps it in my sewing room.
As both a quilter and an apparel sewist, do you have thoughts on working with cotton thread alongside cotton fabrics— especially for garment sewing?
I like using cotton thread with cotton fabrics because they work well together and wear naturally over time. It gives garments a softer, more cohesive finish while still holding up to everyday use.
How do you hope makers will utilize both thread weights together when working with Gulf Breeze— whether in quilts, apparel, or accessories?
I hope makers see the two thread weights as tools they can use together without overthinking it. The 50wt works beautifully for piecing and construction, while the 12wt is there when you want to add a little emphasis, whether that’s quilting lines, topstitching, or a small detail that makes a project feel special.
Used together, they give makers flexibility to let the fabric shine while still having fun with the finishing touches across quilts, apparel, and accessories.
Do you have any favorite tips or tricks you’d like to share with our readers when it comes to thread choice, color pairing, or adding texture with stitching?
One of my favorite tips is not to overthink thread choice. A thread that blends with your fabric will almost always look intentional, especially for piecing and construction. When you want to add texture or highlight stitching, that’s a great time to step up in weight or choose a color that’s just a little darker or lighter than your fabric.
Where can makers find you this year— shows, events, or online— and what are you most excited about next?
This year, I’m excited to attend QuiltCon and h+h americas. If you’ll be at either show, I’d love to meet you, please come say hi.
The best places to find me online are my website, beccaplymalecreative.com, and on Instagram at @becca.plymale.creative. Alongside the Gulf Breeze thread box, I also have a coordinating Gulf Breeze collection with Renaissance Ribbons, and a fun collaboration with The Stitched Bowtique featuring hand-painted needlepoint canvases inspired by the collection’s motifs.
There’s always something in the works, and I’m especially excited about upcoming collaborations, patterns, and fabric collections planned for this year.