QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh, NC was a whirlwind in the very best way. After a few incredible days filled with creativity, connection, and more than a little travel drama, including flight cancellations and blizzards, we’ve finally made it home with full hearts and inspiration that is still buzzing. Raleigh brought the energy and this community brought the magic.
One of our greatest joys each year is spotting Aurifil in the wild, and this show did not disappoint. From breathtaking quilts to beautifully made garments and thoughtful everyday pieces elevated with intentional stitching, we loved seeing how you put our threads to work. The Liberty love was strong too, with stunning projects featuring shades from our Aurifil x Liberty collection blooming across the show floor.
From designer meet and greets and industry catch-ups to our much loved Aurifil Artisan meet up, the booth was a true hub of connection. Karen Miller, our Master Educator, also wowed the crowd with a demo exploring thread weight, ply, and purpose, and why those details matter in every stitch. Here’s a look back at the quilts, the people, and the moments that made QuiltCon 2026 unforgettable.
Aurifil × Liberty
Launched at the end of summer 2025, our Aurifil × Liberty collection has been quietly stealing hearts ever since and seeing it shine at QuiltCon felt like a full-circle moment. Wrapped in Emily Belle Marine Blue, the custom-designed box holds 45 small spools of our 100% Cotton 50wt thread, each shade hand-selected to sit perfectly alongside the Emily Belle florals for a truly harmonious palette.
We sent coordinating Aurifil × Liberty spools and Emily Belle fabrics to makers across different corners of the globe, and watching those projects travel all the way to Raleigh was such a joy. Seeing just how effortlessly the threads pair with the Liberty fabrics, and the incredible range of projects created from them, was a real highlight of the show for us.
** Those shown below are only about 1/2 of the projects created. Stay tuned for a Liberty feature detailing all projects created, including those shown at QuiltCon!
L-R: Liberty Jam Jar by Emma Giacalone; Bird Cushion by Sandy Saengsuk; Liberty Purse by Tamara Darragh; Jam Jar by Emma Giacalone; Sewing Pouch by Tamara Darragh, Pinwheel Bag by Suzanne Campion and Duffle Bag by Vicki Reid.
Aurifil Designers, Artisans, & Industry Friends
QuiltCon is always about the quilts, but it is just as much about the people. There is nothing quite like seeing our Aurifil Designers and Artisans in person, giving real life hugs instead of Instagram comments, and celebrating the work we so often admire through a screen. Our meet and greet was a true highlight, a chance to gather, swap stories, talk thread, and simply enjoy being together in the same space. Add in the joy of catching up with our industry friends across the show floor, and it quickly becomes clear that this community is the very heart of what we do.
Suzy Williams @SuzyQuilts
Suzy drew quite the crowd at her meet and greet, with a line wrapping around our booth as she handed out free Suzy Quilts tote bags and introduced her brand new thread collection and AGF fabric line, Picnic — it was such a joy to spend that time with her and share in the excitement.
The energy at our booth never slowed— it was a constant bustle of activity. Genesis Hall, Ben Millett, Becca Plymale, Karen Lewis, Vickeidy Plybon, and Minki Kim each spent time sharing the stories behind their latest Aurifil thread collections, talking color inspiration, stitch choices, and how thread becomes part of their design language. We were also so proud to have Aurifil Artisan and Liberty quilt pattern designer Suzanne Campion walk visitors through the making of the Liberty quilt on display in our booth, the Chester Rows Quilt. It sparked so much love and curiosity, with makers leaning in to study every detail and ask questions. Truly, there were too many special conversations to count, and every single one added to the magic of the show.
L-R: Karen Lewis; Ben Millett with Genesis Hall; Minki Kim; Becca Plymale; Vickeidy Plybon and Suzanne Campion.
It was also a joy to share the show floor with so many of our industry friends, celebrating new launches, cheering each other on, and soaking up the collective creativity that makes this community so special.
L-R: Modern American Vintage stunning mini magnetic clappers; Soak Flatter Spray display; Whole Circle Studio; Whole Circle Studio mini booth!; Sew Mariana; Moda Fabrics Sit & Stitch; Jen Kingwell; Oliso.
Thread in Practice with Karen L. Miller
Our very own Karen L. Miller was in her element at QuiltCon, hosting not only a lecture all about thread, but also taking to the demo stage to present Aurifilosophy: Thread in Practice. With her signature clarity and warmth, she broke down weight, ply, purpose, and creative choice in a way that truly resonated. You could feel the shift in the room as those lightbulb moments landed. Afterwards, people flocked to the booth eager to see more, ask questions, and discover threads they did not even realise they needed. It was a powerful reminder that thread education changes the way we make.
Spotted in the Wild… Wearing Aurifil
From custom shoes to quilted coats and even stitched wings, we were blown away by the incredible makes you wore to the show and shared with us at the booth, all brought to life with Aurifil.
L-R: Shoes by Mary Burroughs-Mayer and Becca Plymale; Mary Burroughs-Mayer and Becca Plymale; Artisans Sandy Saengsuk; Tamara Darragh; Andrea Kjorlaug; Mary Burroughs-Mayer & Sashanna Hart; Elephant vest by Suzy Webster; Wings by Sashanna Hart.
Quilts made with Aurifil at the Show
One of our absolute favorite QuiltCon traditions is carving out time to wander the quilt show floor. Row after row of creativity, color, texture, and incredible stitching, each quilt telling its own unique story. There’s something magical about turning a corner and discovering a new favorite, spotting unexpected details up close, and seeing the personality of each maker shine through. It’s inspiring, energizing, and such a joyful reminder of why we all love this craft so much.
Come take a walk through the quilts with us here, these are the pieces makers told us were stitched using Aurifil.
Appliqué
The Great Unbuttoning by Donna Blalock @donnab317
The Great Unbuttoning is one of the quilts in my Disassemble the Patriarchy collection made from parts of disassembled men’s shirts. In this quilt, amputated button plackets are hand appliqued on to a pieced and quilted background: all from men’s shirts. The plackets fly around like birds set free into the sky.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt for piecing and monofilament for top stitching the quilting and Cotton 50wt in the bobbin.
Slices of Joy in a Sea of Despair by Karen Duling @karenbduling
There once was a quilt top with a happy, bright citron colored background sprinkled with five joyous modern dresdens. Started in a 2024 class with Marge Tucker, it wasn’t matching my mood after the 2024 presidential election. Cut into that quilt top, my emotions said. Joy was transected into slices and set adrift on a dark and foreboding background. Bias-cut checked fabric served as a husk in an attempt to protect the slices from harm.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 6727
Handwork
Forgive Her by Jessa Sebastian @sebastian.ohana
“Forgive Her” was born from the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. A way to keep myself busy during weeks without power, it was constructed by hand while waiting in line for showers, in between volunteer shifts, and after long days of repair and survival. The thousands of non-repeating, unique prints represent acts of kindness anheilence. When we had no physical light, these to ries becatetsur points of light, guiding us through Mother Nature’s devastating darkness.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2800
Fractured Hexies by Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill @wholecirclestudio
This quilt is part of a series where I explore the shapes that appear when I cut apart hexagons. Hand-pieced using English Paper Piecing over 18 months and lots of road trips, it was made entirely from fabric scraps. The process became a way to slow down and find calm through repetition. What started as a study in geometry turned into a meditation on imperfection and finding beauty in the familiar.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt for English Paper Piecing and Quilting
Santa Fe Trip by Kylie Menagh-Johnson @baste_camp
I pieced “Santa Fe Trip” for the 2024 Pantone Quilt Challenge: Peach Fuzz after a visit to Santa Fe with friends to observe our 50th birthdays. Sunrises and sunsets, mountains, turquoise doors and gates, adobe buildings, tiles and textiles, artworks including many by Georgia O’Keeffe, and a hike through evergreen trees and snow are represented. I pieced, constructed, quilted and embroidered this work completely improvisationally, incorporating all the scraps generated. It’s messy like my feelings.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt and 8 wt
Improvisation
Gedankenkarussell: Insomnia by Donna Blalock @donnab317
I can’t sleep. I don’t sleep. I haven’t slept through the night in over 20 years.
Gendankenkarussell: Insomnia shows how my mind swirls around and around and around when I’m trying, in vain, to sleep. My mind just will not shut off as the minutes and hours pass.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt for piecing and quilting
Jukebox by Jo Avery @joaverystitch
I used all my favourite improv piecing motifs along with organic needle-turn appliqué shapes to create this maximalist quilt. I tried to be as spontaneous and joyful as possible, using all my greatest hits of improv to make this giant quilting jukebox. A rather aggressive-looking spiky carapace will help protect it from intruders. Quilted using my modern improv doodle FMQ pattern.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt and Cotton Forty3
Doodlebug by Jo Avery @joaverystitch
I love playing with improv curves and creating patterns within them. I decided to place these quarter circles on point and added square blocks. With the addition of needle turn appliqué circles for wings and antennae an giant fantasy insect appeared. Machine quilted using my Modern Improv Doodle FMQ pattern.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt, 80wt and Forty3
Minimalist Design
Gentle Fade by Amy Friend @amyfriend.studio
Gentle Fade was inspired by the lavering and overlapping of petals and the way that flowers fade at their edges as they reach full bloom. Every fall, I am struck by how beautifully flowers age and fade into more subtle shades. I translated those ideas into simplified, geometric form and an ombré palette. Dense quilting with variegated pink to deep red.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 4660
Modern Traditionalism
Hue’s to Say? by Erin Kroeker @theblanketstatement
We all view the world through a unique lens shaped by experiences, values, and perspectives. When these lenses overlap, like in a Ven diagram, shared connections emerge alongside distinct viewpoints. Just as overlapping coloured lenses create new hues, our perspectives blend to form something richer. My father and son, both colourblind, experience colours differently, reminding me that even when our views don’t align conventionally, the unique perspectives of others enrich our understanding of the world.
Aurifil Thread used: Pieced and Quilted with Cotton 50wt 2311
Double Decker Checker by Sarah Ruiz @bysarahruiz
With careful attention to color/value placement, the traditional Washington’s Puzzle quilt block creates a two-layered checkerboard – and the quilting adds third layer! This quilt was a fun scrap-buster, with 216 different fabrics used to create the final design.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt for piecing, Cotton Forty3 for quilting
Drunkard’s Orange Peel by Emily Ruth @tabbycatquilts
This quilt is a love letter to my box fan and a visual representation of the invisible sensory experience of air currents circulating. I love the secondary shape patterns this block creates when repeated. The design combines innovative techniques with classic foundational quilt blocks. Each block has 72 pieces and took 2-4 hours to cut. This design was made possible by Steph Skardal’s Curved FPP technique which I learned at Quilton 2025
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 28wt Avocado and Mint
Form Follows Fashion by Tara Glastonbury @stitchandyarn
This quilt is a love letter to my box fan and a visual representation of the invisible sensory experience of air currents circulating. I love the secondary shape patterns this block creates when repeated. The design combines innovative techniques with classic foundational quilt blocks. Each block has 72 pieces and takes 2-4 hours to cut. This design was made possible by Steph Skardal’s Curved FPP technique, which I learned at Quilton 2025
Aurifil Thread used: Lots of Cotton 12wt and a bit of Cotton 28wt.
Please note this quilt is also a feature pattern in the Quiltcon magazine this year – specifically on using the threads.
FLOCK by Rachel Brown @rachelbrownartstudio
I have been exploring the many possibilities of prairie points. They have the same geometry as flying geese, so I challenged myself to make a flock of geese without any “flying geese”.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2600
Piecing
2718 by Yvonne Fuchs @QuiltingJetgirl
2718 seams. A meditation on what can be taken for granted; without occasional focus, what is taken for granted can fray and unravel. Each seam works to hold a quilt together, and together they are mighty. I shined up these seams (they are not raw edges), but here they are, asking to be seen. Looked at. Inspected. Thought about. 2718 is my ode to what is often hidden in the messy middle.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2000, 2735, 2725, 2479, 2235, 1135, 2835, 5005, and 4030
Wildflower Remix by Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill @wholecirclestudio
Wildflower Remix is part of my ongoing exploration of the natural world. The abstract field of wildflowers achieves its organic look through many foundation paper pieced (fpp) stitched straight lines, rotated at different angles to form curved petals. This quilt is a playful study of twelve floral blocks exploring color, scale, and shape, which together create a cohesive composition.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt paper piecing, Cotton 50wt & 40wt quilting
Witches Sabbat Temperature Quilt by Jo Avery @joaverystitch
Improv triangles depict the highest temperatures with the background the lowest each day from October 31st 2022 till October 30th 2023. The witches’ calendar is divided into 8 ‘sabbats’ starting on October 31st (Samhain) which is the Pagan New Year. I wanted to honour my ancestor’s beliefs by using this different way of dividing the year. I used freehand foundation piecing to create the spikes. Hand quilting adds texture to the random plaid grid.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt, Forty3 and Cotton 12wt
Sonar by Janice Reimer @prairieandocean
I was tired of being intimidated by sewing curves, and so I set out to not just get comfortable with sewing curves, but to actually enjoy the process. Mission (mostly) accomplished.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt
Small Quilts
Half In Half Out by Yvonne Fuchs @QuiltingJetgirl
In this inside out and upside-down moment, I wanted to explore “right-side up” from a different perspective. After first honing finished seams using turn and straight stitch seams, I explored typical quilt blocks and fell in love with these hourglass blocks. It was a fun challenge to puzzle how to alternate fabric right- and wrong-sides. I especially like the subtle 3D effect created by the seams. These 2″ finished blocks started as 5″ squares!
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2600
Chameleon on the Radio by Emily Ruth @tabbycatquilts
I like exploring how analogous color palettes can create conflict and impact. I’m interested in how saturation and value can alter color combinations. This quilt has different values of green and aqua organized in opposite directions in order to create a specific visual effect. Lately I’ve been making piecing experiments, this block was a new way for me to test my own abilities, as well as the constraints of the piecing technique.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 28wt
Bauhaus Kelp Forest by Emily Ruth @tabbycatquilts
I designed this quilt during a migraine. The migraines change my relationship to visual sensory input while driving reward seeking choices. Which I think is reflected in the rhythm, repetition, balance, and color interactions of the resulting design. I’m not sure, but I believe the block of this quilt was inspired by a Bauhaus poster and the colors were from an underwater photograph of a kelp forest.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 28wt
Lines by Karen Duling @karenbduling
A special fabric offered just the creative spark needed to continue an exploration of lines in my quilt making. Print “Timberline” from e bond’s collection “Lineage” for Free Spirit fabrics is the focus. Seventy-two half square triangle units, made by pairing striped fabric triangles with solid color triangles, complete the quilt. I was surprised how well the solids held their ground with the stripes.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 6727
Mediterranean Moonlight by Patricia Reynolds Heath @mysterypoppy
This captures the moment one turns from the shore to behold the moonlit of a seaside village. A layer of hand quilting sweeps across the surface like a breeze.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 12wt
Jazz Quilting by Hannah Parks @halfsquarehannah
The piecing of this quilt felt like jazz music, each layer influencing the next and building on the previous like instruments playing together. Once the quilt was finished. the black and white curves brought to mind a meandering piano tune blending with and shaping the music of the rest of the band.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt piecing, Cotton 80wt appliqué, and Cotton 12wt hand quilting
Use of Negative Space
Redacted by Amy Friend @amyfriend.studio
Redacted was designed during the early days of Trump’s second presidency, while listening to the news. I didn’t set out to make a political quit, but as I deconstructed my block design, I started to see parallels. The quilt begins with order, then breaks down-revealing gaps that represent systems being dismantled. The beauty is intentional, drawing you in with balance and repetition, but the negative space tells another story: what’s missing, redacted, erased.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt
Frost Filigree by Yvonne Fuchs @QuiltingJetgirl
Inspired by the delicate and intricate shapes on a frosty car windshield, Frost Filigree was designed to create visual interest by juxtaposing curved piecing with varied negative space shapes. I have never made a red and white quilt before, and I enjoyed curating a subtle gradient for the quilt top and continuing the color story through the binding. My goal for the quilting was to continue the conversation between the piecing and negative space.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2024, 2468, 2460, 2260, 2250, 2277, and 1104
Stash Colour Wheel Revisited by Lynne Hanson @lynnepusscat
I was never truly satisfied with my original version of this quilt; attending a workshop with Carolina Oneto helped me understand why, and inspired the creation of this updated version. Each individual colour ring is traditionally pieced as a full, concentric circle, and I used various free motion quilting motifs in the negative space to echo my design. The quilt uses 41 different fabrics and thread colours, all drawn from my personal stash.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt
Line Dancing Girly Gig by Karen Duling @karenbduling
It all started with lines of scraps from a previous quilt and ended with a whirly gig – now known as a girly gig. My mom was a line dancer and I thought of her often with my design. The energy all around this piece has so many possibilities. Will the line dancing spill out to the edges? Or shrink for fear of judgment? I just kept telling myself “You go girl, you got this”.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 6727
Youth
STARin’ Contest by Everett Kroeker @theblanketstatement
This is my first ever finished quilt, so it may not be the best but I think it’s pretty good for a first try! When I was little, I wanted to be a space garbage man when I grew up. The star in the corner has googly eyes because I thought it would be funny if, instead of the people gazing at the stars, it was the stars gazing at the people.
Aurifil Thread used: Quilting Cotton 50wt, Piecing Cotton 50wt 2134
Princess Tea Party Quilt by Fiona Hopper @sonicstirches (Fiona’s mom)
This is my first ever finished quilt, so it may not be the best but I think it’s pretty good for a first try! When I was little, I wanted to be a space garbage man when I grew up. The star in the corner has googly eyes because I thought it would be funny if, instead of the people gazing at the stars, it was the stars gazing at the people.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt
Windham Fabric Challenge
I Scream Out Loud by Lynne Hanson @lynnepusscat
Childhood summers brimmed with carefree days and the familiar chime of the ice-cream van. This quilt is a pop-art-inspired homage to that fleeting moment: trading nard-earned pennies for a delicious ice-cream cone at the end of a hot, sticky day. Now, although heat and humidity challenge me every summer, childhood memories endure-and I still feel a surge of excitement when the approaching chimes of the ice-cream van heralds the promise of a cold, sweet treat.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt for piecing; monofilament for stabilising seams prior to quilting; Brillo for quilting
Pink Moon by Patricia Reynolds Heath @mysterypoppy
Colors in this quilt evoke memories of the years I lived in northern Italy. The shapes echo the arches, columns, vaults, and domes ubiquitous in Italian architecture. Wanderers who navigate twisting stairs and narrow alleyways are often surprised to arrive at a spacious piazza or a scenic overlook with views of the countryside or the city below.
Aurifil Thread used: Variety of Cotton 50wt.
American Patchwork & Quilting Challenge
Mesmerist by Jo Westfoot @thecraftynomadfleet
This block is based on a line drawing dating back to 1882, and possibly even before that due to its simplistic nature, but its clean lines, and geometric shapes, produce a modern look that belies its age. I love that when positioned in this layout with alternating rotated blocks, a larger secondary diamond design emerges, picking up on / highlighting the smaller diamonds within each block. The quilting draws attention to this emerging pattern.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 40wt 2886, 5016, and Cotton 50wt 2311
Different Stripes on a Great Big Tent by Karen Duling @karenbduling
First, freely cut lots of long strips and pair with interesting color partners. Second, sew the strip pairs into slabs. Third, cut slabs with a template to make acute triangle shapes. Lastly, choose pairs of acute triangles, that when joined on their shortest sides, will appear as diamonds. This is an aspirational piece, visualizing harmony despite individual differences. All the stripes belong on this great big tent. Out of many, one.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 6727
Group or Bee Quilts
Ode to Joy by Debbie Jeske @aquilterstable
Each 6.5″ block in Ode to Joy represents something that brings a Bee Sewcial maker joy. The back is embroidered with all the expressions of joy shared on the front. The blocks on the front are roughly arranged in categories (nature, home & family, food, etc.), with the words arranged on the back similarly, behind them. Pieced by Leanne Chahley, M-R Charbonneau, Karen Foster, Debbie Jeske, Felicity Ronaghan, Stephanie Ruyle, Jen Broemel, Tia Curtis, Émilie Trahan
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt 2625
Square Dance by The London Modern Quilt Guild @londonmqg
This quilt really was a team effort. Planned during a guild meeting, designed by Jo and refined by Katie. Everyone spent their summer assembling the 132 blocks before posting them to Katie, who joined them into a quilt top. This is our first group quilt under new leadership, and we all really enjoyed ourselves.
Aurifil Thread used: Cotton 50wt
** Shared with the knowledge that there are far more quilts than shown that used Aurifil threads. If we missed you this time around, be sure to keep tagging us to let us know what you’ve used so we have the opportunity to celebrate your work.
Now that we’re home and reflecting on an unforgettable few days in Raleigh, we’re holding tight to the conversations, the creativity, and the community spirit that make QuiltCon so special. To everyone who stopped by Booth 131, shared a quilt, joined a meet and greet, cheered on a demo, or simply said hello, thank you. You are what makes this event so meaningful.
Until next time, keep stitching, keep experimenting, and keep telling your stories with thread.