Americana Stitching with Susan Ache

If you’ve been following along here for a while, you know that a Susan Ache post is one to bookmark. Our favorite cross-stitch queen and devoted Aurifil thread enthusiast has been sharing her stitchy wisdom on the blog for years, and she just keeps getting better. Today we’re handing her the keys, because nobody tells the story of a new collection quite like Susan herself.

Proud & True is Susan’s latest curated set for Aurifil, and it’s a first in the best possible way— her very first box to bring multiple thread weights together under one roof. Cotton Floss, Cotton 12wt, and Cotton 8wt share the stage in a modern Americana palette that’s equal parts playful and purposeful. Whether you’re cross stitching, embroidering, or simply building the most beautiful stash in the room, this box was designed to give you options.

There’s also a bonus for anyone who fell for her 2023 Summer Memories collection: Proud & True was created to coordinate seamlessly with it. Together, they’re everything you need for a summer full of stitching. Tuck them into your project bag and you’re ready for the porch, the patio, or wherever the season takes you.

Have fun, and be sure to pop over to Shop Aurifil to grab your own set of Proud & True threads. The complementary chart is linked via a QR code on the back of the box and will also be delivered right to your inbox upon purchase.

We’ll let Susan take it from here!

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Wow, how many of us would love a year-long birthday celebration? And better yet, know that every single party on the calendar requires red, white, and blue attire? I, for one, would love that… and since you’ve made it past those first couple of sentences about birthday parties, let me reintroduce myself. I’m Susan Ache, @yardgrl60 on Instagram, and I love everything related to color, especially my Aurifil threads.

Back to birthdays. If you haven’t noticed, everything you see and scroll through has to do with “America 250.” How fun that every corner of every industry is playing the birthday game! If you collect Americana-themed trinkets for your home, now is absolutely the best time for finding it all. But really, I’m here to talk about my newest collection with Aurifil, and I think it’s a fun one, called Proud and True.

Before I get there, let’s back up a sec. A couple of years ago I had a collection called Summer Memories, done in conjunction with my quilt book of the same name. I couldn’t get enough of those colors, and knowing I also wanted to do something fun for America 250, Erin and I came up with a plan that let me play with different weights of thread in one box while also complementing my existing Americana color box. How fun is that?

So here’s how I came up with the colors for this collection. If you recall, right when the Aurifil Cotton 8wt came out, I wrote an unsolicited review sharing what size linen I thought it stitched the prettiest on, and that actually helped shape the design process for the chart included with this new set. Just a heads up: I stitched this chart on 28-count raw linen, because why not? It was fun and looked pretty with all of the colors.

Now, about the color choices. I wanted to give you fresh additions to your Aurifil stash, but some colors are wonderful to have in different weights. My favorite red was added in the 8wt, and some other favorites were added in 12wt, so you have options across all kinds of projects, not just this one. That’s why Proud & True and Summer Memories play so well together. You’re building your America 250 stash with more versatility for everything you create.

Let’s talk stranding. I personally use 2 strands of Aurifil embroidery thread for all of my cross stitch and embroidery work, which gives terrific coverage on most linens in my stash, though of course that’s a personal choice. For 12wt, I use one strand for cross stitch, and only reach for it in embroidery when lines are very light and fine. For most embroidery I prefer the feel of 2-strand floss. And the 8wt? Oh my, oh my, oh my. I love it best on 28-count linen. There is truly nothing prettier than that thread on that count. If you’re working in that range, collect every single color and you will float through your project.

There, all the technical bits have been said! I hope you’ll want to play with these newest colors, which have truly been a joy to choose and stitch with. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with your projects. I am a great cheerleader and love to see what you create. Always remember: stitching is for fun. Don’t stress; enjoy the process one stitch at a time. Now let’s all go eat a birthday cupcake and sit and stitch.