The Festival of Quilts has a way of filling you right up, and 2026 was no different. Back at the NEC Birmingham and back at Stand H41, this year we slowed things down and gathered everyone around one thing: a shared Stitch Table at the heart of the Aurifil Lounge. Four days later, we came home with sore feet, full hearts, and a collective make covered in stitches from makers all over the world.
The idea was simple. Pull up a chair, pick up a needle, and add a few stitches to something bigger than any one of us. No stage, no schedule pressure, just real conversations about thread, technique, and the people behind the work. Hosted by the wonderful Jenni Smith and Kay Walsh, the Lounge became exactly what we hoped for: the spot nobody wanted to leave. Here are some of the moments we are still thinking about.
Jen Kingwell Gets Us Started
There was no better way to open the frame than with Jen Kingwell. Jen pulled up a chair, added the very first stitches to our collective make, and set the tone for the whole weekend: relaxed, generous, and all about the joy of thread in hand.
She also gave us a little something to look forward to. Jen chatted through her brand new thread collection, Jar of Lollies, a joyful mix of 80wt, 50wt and 12wt that lands in October. If the name alone doesn’t make you smile, wait until you see the colours.
A Stamp Swap to Remember with Sarah Ashford
Some of the biggest crowds of the weekend gathered for Sarah Ashford’s Stamp Swap. Makers arrived clutching their handmade fabric “stamps” to trade, swapping colour, pattern, and tiny pieces of personal story in one happy flurry.
What made it extra special was the history. The Stamp Swap first launched right here at the Aurifil stand three years ago, and watching it grow into one of the most anticipated moments of Festival was pure joy. Sarah hosted with her usual warmth, and the buzz around the table said everything.
Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably Stop By
A real pinch-me moment: Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably came to the Lounge and added their own stitches to the frame. Unsurprisingly, they drew a crowd, and the energy around the table lifted the whole room.
Even better, you can bring a little of that magic home right now, because Brandon’s brand new collection is available to shop today. Go and see those colours for yourself.
Nicholas Ball on the Bernina Longarm
This one was a treat for anyone who loves a bit of thread education. Nicholas Ball, Aurifil Designer and Aurifilosopher, also works with Bernina, and he gave us a brilliant demonstration of our Cotton 12wt cones running on the Bernina longarms.
Seeing that heavier 12wt thread lay down bold, textural quilting lines on a longarm was a real lightbulb moment for many visitors. If you have only ever thought of 12wt for handwork or big-stitch details, this is your sign to try it on the machine.
Of course, it isn’t only longarms getting the Aurifil treatment. Plenty of you are piecing, quilting, and stitching on your domestic machines too, and Bernina is a favorite in our community. So we grabbed Nicholas Ball for a quick bit of education on getting the very best from Aurifil on your Bernina at home.
From double-checking your threading path to giving your spool cap a little breathing room, matching your needle to your thread weight, and balancing your bobbin with your top thread, Nicholas walks through the simple checks that make all the difference. They’re the small setup tweaks that turn good stitching into beautiful, effortless stitching every time.
Whether you’re a seasoned Bernina owner or just getting to know your machine, it’s well worth a watch.
A First Look at Il Salotto
We could not let Festival pass without a little sneak peek. Jenni and Kay sat down at the frame to talk through our 2026 Aurifil Advent Calendar, Il Salotto, and give a first glimpse of what to expect this year. If our Advent Calendars are a highlight of your festive season, this preview is one to save.
Sheena Norquay and Her New 28wt Collection
One of the real joys of this year’s show was having Sheena Norquay with us behind the booth, sharing her knowledge with everyone who stopped by. Sheena is one of Aurifil’s most beloved designers, and her brand new Cats Collection is her first in two years. Ten shades of 100% Cotton 28wt thread, each one drawn from the soft, subtle variations you see in real cats’ coats.
Inspired by the many cats she’s known over the years, her own, her sister’s, and a few friendly visitors along the way, the collection is pure Sheena: careful observation turned into color, and color turned into craft. To show just how versatile the thread is, she made 24 different pieces, each using the collection in its own way, from free motion quilting and machine embroidery to appliqué and hand stitching.
In the video below, Sheena talks through every single piece and how she made it. It’s a real masterclass in how much one thread collection can do.
More Moments Around the Frame
The beauty of the Stitch Table is that it never really stopped. All weekend, friends old and new pulled up a chair and left a little of themselves in the make.
Chris English stopped by and added his own stitches to the frame. Carolyn Forster sat and sewed with us and shared her brand new book alongside her Chicken Scratch Embroidery floss collection. Karen Lewis hung out with us and picked up a new skill, learning to “rock” her needle with hand quilting legend Joe Cunningham, whose booth happened to be right next door.
And still they came. Sally Kelly and Kate Jackson each took a turn at the frame,Sasha from Soak swapped her Sew Fine demo for a few stitches of her own and Sarah Hibbert added to the make too. HollyAnne from String and Story and Chris English caught up over the quilt, the kind of easy conversation that only happens when your hands are busy. And in a moment we won’t forget, the legendary Kaffe Fassett sat down and added his own stitches to the frame. Every one of them left a little piece of themselves behind, which is exactly what the Stitch Table is all about.
If the frame taught us anything this year, it’s that the making is only ever half the story. The rest is the people you make it with. Nothing captured that better than this next moment, when Nicholas Ball and Daisy Aschehoug pulled up a chair beside Kay Walsh for a proper natter about the things we all love about hand quilting. It’s the kind of unhurried, generous conversation the show does best, and well worth a watch.
The good company didn’t stop there. We loved seeing Mariana Diaz of Sew Mariana and Karla Overland of Cherrwood together at the stand. It was a real treat when Aurifil Artisan Shelley Colton dropped by to say hello and show off the stunning scrap bag she made for our latest challenge. Mariana and Sally Kelly caught up too, proving once again that Festival of Quilts is as much about the friendships as it is the fabric.
Cherrywood at Festival of Quilts
A first for this year, and a real thrill for us, was welcoming Cherrywood to Festival of Quilts. It was Cherrywood’s first time with a stand at the show, and both Karla Overland and Nathania Apple stopped by to add a few stitches at the frame and catch up with us.
Seeing the Poppy Challenge Gallery in real life was a highlight all of its own. Photos never quite do it justice, and standing among all those pieces, each one made from the same limited palette yet completely unique, was genuinely moving. It was wonderful too to see so many people discovering Cherrywood’s hand-dyed fabrics in person and getting excited to take some home. There’s real joy in watching a community fall for something new right in front of you.
If you didn’t get to see the gallery yourself, keep an eye on Cherrywood, their challenges are always worth following.
A Walk Around the Show
We did manage to slip away from the stand now and then, and when we did, we went looking for our friends across the show floor to walk their galleries. Two in particular stopped us in our tracks.
Daisy Aschehoug’s Modular Curves gallery was a joy to see gathered together in one place. Daisy’s work with curves is instantly recognizable, and seeing the pieces at scale, all that precision and movement side by side, was something photos never quite prepare you for.
Then there was Russell Barratt’s Within/Without gallery, which was every bit as striking. Russell’s eye for composition and color is remarkable, and walking the collection in person gave each piece room to breathe. It’s the kind of work that rewards a slow, second look.
If you spotted either gallery at the show, you’ll know exactly what we mean. And if you didn’t, both artists are well worth a follow to see what they do next.
A Neighbourly Moment: Luke Haynes
One of the joys of Festival is your neighbours, and this year ours was Luke Hayes, who had his own gallery at the show. We were thrilled to see Aurifil woven into his work, and even more so to grab a photo of Luke with the quilt he made using our threads.
Until Next Year
Now that we are home and reflecting on a few very special days, we are holding on to the conversations, the creativity, and the quiet magic of a table full of makers all stitching together. To everyone who pulled up a chair, added a stitch, shared their work, or simply stopped by to say hello, thank you. You made this one unforgettable.
Until 2027, keep stitching, keep sharing, and keep making magic with Aurifil.
