Some quilters see thread as a supporting player. Aurifil Artisan Janice Reimer (Prairie & Ocean) sees it as part of the design conversation from the very first stitch. Her brand new Companion Palette, Prairie Fields, is built to prove it.
Janice created this set to cover the full range of what she reaches for in her own studio, day in and day out, from the seams no one sees to the stitches intended to be seen from across the room. To showcase the collection, she pieced and quilted a stunning original quilt using every color and weight in the set. (More about Janice’s Friendliest Flower Quilt Pattern HERE)
Janice is taking over our Instagram today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday, September 19/20), sharing more thread education and a behind-the-scenes look at how she used these threads to create this quilt. Give us a follow so you don’t miss it!
The Collection
Prairie Fields brings together five large spools spanning three thread weights:
- Cotton 50wt: 2515 (Light Orchid), 2887 (Very Dark Olive), and 4030 (Plum)
- Cotton 40wt: 6728 (Cinnabar)
- Cotton 28wt: 2210 (Caramel)
Janice chose large spools rather than small ones on purpose. With enough thread on each spool to match top and bobbin, quilt densely, or take on a queen-size project without swapping spools mid-seam, the large-spool format is meant to keep you moving without interruption.
Part of what makes this palette special is that it’s a hands-on introduction to working across thread weights, something Janice is passionate about helping quilters explore with confidence. Here’s a bit more about each one, in her words and ours:
Cotton 28wt
Available in all 270 of our cotton colors and wound on a grey spool, Cotton 28wt 2ply thread is built for techniques like quilting, fiber art, bag and garment sewing, and appliqué. Janice calls it the weight that “brings the drama”. She likes pairing it with a contrasting fabric to really draw the eye to her quilting lines.
Large Spool: 820 yards / 750 meters
Machine Needle Recommendations: Topstitch or Sharp 90/14 or 100/16 with 50wt in the bobbin, Longarm MR3.0 or 3.5 with 50wt in the bobbin
Hand Needle Recommendations: Embroidery or Crewel size 5
Cotton 40wt
Wound on a green spool and available in all 270 colors, Aurifil Cotton 40wt 2ply thread strikes a balance between visible and understated. Janice puts it simply: “she’s cute, she’s capable, she gives 100%”. It’s her go-to when she wants her quilting to show without overpowering the piece.
Large Spool: 1094 yards / 1000 meters
Machine Needle Recommendations: Topstitch or Sharp 80/12 or 90/14 with 50wt in the bobbin, Longarm MR2.5 or 3.0 with 50wt in the bobbin
Hand Needle Recommendations: Embroidery or Crewel size 10 or 11
Cotton 50wt
Aurifil’s Cotton 50wt 2 ply is our most popular and versatile cotton thread, wound on the iconic orange spool and available in all 270 colors. Thin, strong, and reliable, it’s the thread behind flat, crisp seams in machine piecing, paper piecing, appliqué, and machine quilting. Janice describes it as the “workhorse” of her process… the quiet, steady support behind the real star of the show: your quilt top.
Large Spool: 1422 yards / 1300 meters
Machine Needle Recommendations: Topstitch or Sharp 80/12 or 90/14 with 50wt in the bobbin, Longarm MR2.5 or 3.0 with 50wt in the bobbin
Hand Needle Recommendations: Embroidery or Crewel size 10 or 11
Want the full breakdown of every weight, method, and needle pairing we make? Download our Product Guide and keep our Thread Reference Card on hand next time you’re planning a project. Download the both by clicking on the buttons below.
From Janice, In Her Own Words
On her own blog, Janice walks through the palette spool by spool: the colors she chose, how she used each weight in her showcase quilt, and the techniques she leaned on to bring it all together. She also shares her take on why she reaches for each weight, described in her own memorable terms and why this particular collection felt best with large spools:
“Next, let’s talk spool size. I purposefully chose large spools over small spools because I want you to feel like the sky’s the limit when it comes to your quilting design (and prairie skies are pretty expansive!) You want to use the same thread color for your top and bottom thread? You want to quilt super dense or quilt a queen size quilt? The large spools have you covered with enough thread to get your project done.
Thread weight is such a fun element to experiment with, especially as you get more comfortable with quilting. These are my thoughts on how to use the different weights.
- 50wt: this is your work horse. It’s great for piecing, works well in the bobbin with heavier threads, and is the supporting actor to the star of the show, your quilt top.
- 40wt: she’s cute, she’s capable, she gives 100%. I like using this thread when I want my quilting to be more visible without overpowering.
- 28wt: use this when you want to make a statement because this thread brings the drama! I like using 28wt with a contrasting fabric color to really draw focus to the quilt lines.”
Head over to Prairie & Ocean to read the full post and see her quilt up close.