Aurifil Artisan Challenge :: Using Aurifloss | Beginning Big-Stitch Quilting

This month, the Aurifil Artisan Challenge is to create or share a project featuring Aurifloss embroidery thread. I had a set of Aurifloss all ready - Rosso Rubino by Susan Ache @yardgrl60 - with the intent on doing a cross-stitch project. Problem was, the pattern I had planned on using was way too small for my aging eyes, so a redirection was needed.

I'd read that Aurifloss worked great for big-stitch quilting, so I decided to go that route. And since I'm still in my 100 Day Project, I decided to make a scrappy quilt. On a whim, I chose to use mostly neutral scraps, thinking they would be a background that would let that Aurifloss really shine. I included just a few pieces of Kona Shell for a tiny bit of contrast, plus it coordinated well with the floss.

The quilt top measures about 34" x 40". I confess I cut it down a bit to 'fit' the Craft size (36" x 46") of Quilters Dream Natural Cotton Request Batting I'd purchased. I'd had good success with using this batt for hand-quilting before, so was eager to use it again.

For a change, I chose a solid quilt backing of Kona Ivory, again, so that hand-quilting would show well on the back of the quilt as well as the front. And, of course, pin-basting was in order. Luckily it didn't take long at all on a quilt sandwich this size.

So...the project is well underway! I'm quilting, deciding as I go on whether to be influenced by the pattern in a particular fabric or 'just' do straight lines or something else. It's a work in progress, and I'm figuring it out as I go. Meanwhile my hope is to use all 10 floss colors in the collection I'm working with, so I expect the color to be pretty random across the surface of the quilt. Sounds fun to me!

And yes, my leather thimble has stretched a bit due to use. But a wonder clip truly does work wonders on keeping the fit snug as I stitch!