Aurifil Artisan Challenge :: New 8wt Thread

As an Aurifil Artisan, I was recently offered the chance to try the new, soon-to-be-released Aurifil 8wt, and I jumped at the chance. I was sent three small spools in colors 2840 [Loden Green], 2420 [Light Blush], and 2930 [Golden Toast].

Of course, I needed to come up with a project to try them out on, and with Arounna Khounnoraj's @bookhou Contemporary Patchwork: Techniques in Colour, Surface Design & Sewing fresh on my shelf, I chose a project from it - Squeeze-Frame Pouches.

Arounna's samples in the book are all patchwork, made with a combination of linen and cotton fabrics, so I followed suit, choosing solids that coordinated with the threads, some Essex, and a couple of prints. I opted to stitch with a double-thickness of thread, just as I have done in the past with perle cotton no. 8. Gotta say, it stitched beautifully, has a beautiful sheen, and I'm definitely a fan. 

Each pouch measures 5" x 5" when done, and uses a 4 3/4" metal squeeze flex frame. I had three of the correct-sized frames on hand, so I went ahead and made a trio of pouches. Recently I've been doing embroidery with a double-thickness of Aurifil 12wt, and I could tell the 8wt was thicker. And compared to the perle I had on hand, it felt very similar.

 The patchwork pouches were stitched on both sides.

What a fun little pouch design, right? I'm anxious to try more of the projects in Arounna's book.

I've long thought an 8wt would be a perfect edition to the Aurifil line-up, so I'm thrilled about this latest development. Initially, the 8wt will be available in 20 introductory colors. The Evolve collection, in partnership with @suzyquilts, launches on February 24 at QuiltCon.