Sometimes I like a little handquilting. Up until last year, I hadn't tried with anything other than standard quilting cotton.Then I saw perle cotton being used and decided to try it. Not knowing there were different weights - well, there weren't in my shop. So I got a heavy weight perle cotton which I have been wrangling through this quilt for MONTHS. Threading the needles is one problem. Getting it through the layers is another. I have blisters to show for it. It's SLOW going.
So when it came to deciding what to do with the inside of the Lorax blocks, handquilting wasn't my favourite idea. I considered free-motion quilting using the invisible thread, but as the Lorax is an environmentally friendly book and I've used environmentally friendly bamboo batting, I wanted an all-natural thread.
Enter the stash of Aurifil Mr Alex sent me for reviewing. There is a reel of 12 weight variagated cotton that I wondered if I would EVER use (green really is not my colour). But putting it next to The Lorax - well, it really could have been made for this fabric.
To my delight, it threaded easily and slipped through the fabric like melted butter slides through hot pasta. (Mmmm... Pasta...). Can you see how the colours change and blend into each other?
The cotton does start to shred a bit towards the end of your sewing, from the needle pulling on the same bit of thread, but that's what you get with cotton. It feels and looks so lovely I really don't mind.
I love the way hand quilting highlights things and adds that dimension in a different way to machine quilting.
I'm going to enjoy using this. About as much as those bears are enjoying the truffula trees. And I have a few packs of Aurifil to giveaway, courtesy of Mr Alex. I'm going to spread it out to save the pain of postage. Soooo...
Tell me how you'd use 12 weight Aurifil cotton (1 entry).
Tweet or blog this giveaway including @quokkaquilts and let me know (1 entry).
Entries close Sunday 18 March (that's Saturday night for most of you!).
I'd never thought to use Aurofil for hand quilting! I'm constantly working on baby quilts so I'd love to give that a try!
ReplyDeleteYour handquilting looks great! I'd love to give it a try myself on a pillow I'm piecing. thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love using Aurifil for hand quilting. That variegated thread was perfect for your quilt! Sorry you had so much trouble with perle cotton. It is wonderful in the right weight. I've been a hand quilter for years (I'm a novice at FMQ as you've seen!)- Jeanne
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try using it on the centre blocks of my king sized quilt once it reaches quilting stage; I think it's going to be too big to machine quilt the middle.
ReplyDeleteI would use it for free motion quilting. Love variegated threads!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted @catrancher.
ReplyDeleteI'd use the 12wt for hand quilting or even some needlework/embroidery.. possibly applique too.
ReplyDeleteI've tweeted your giveaway too.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love hand quilting. Did I say love? I meant LOVE!
ReplyDeleteSoooo... in all of this love, I'd probably use it for hand quilting.
The Lorax is a favourite - can't wait to see the film in a couple of weeks.
I've tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/SameliasMum/status/179045722774175744
ReplyDeleteI loved to try in hand quilting too.. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteTweeted - https://twitter.com/hueisei/status/179051771497418752
ReplyDeleteI love to hand-quilt, so I would use the thread to quilt my niece's wedding quilt - need to get that started ASAP! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteThe varigation looks great--I imagine fun to see the colors change as the quilting is done too (anything to keep me entertained!) I'd love to give the Aurifil a try--probably in both hand and machine--gotta try it all. Really appreciate the heads up on the Perle cotton. I've been contemplating using it--which weight did you use that was too heavy?
ReplyDeleteTweeted the giveaway, too.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/AlphaBecky/status/179054933050523649
I want to try embellishing some clothes with wonky cross stitch. Seems the right weight for it.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to try hand quilting for a while now... haven't quite worked up the courage. But I'd love to have some Aurifil to get started with!
ReplyDeleteThat looks excellent! I don't know about the Aurifil. I'd love to try it, but I haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteI used Aurifil wool on some hand quilting and agree..it was liking slicing through butter! Glad you are having success!
ReplyDeleteThe threads might work for embellishing some baby clothes im making? I'm willing to give it a try anyway!
ReplyDeleteI have just used some aurifil that i won for hand quilting and like it. The only thing is that I like to use a loooooong thread and that thread needs to be used in shorter bits for the very reason you noted. I have not seen any of the varrigated yet. Yours looked great.
ReplyDeleteI would use it for nice chunky machine quilting - lovely.
ReplyDeleteLorax is looking great x
if using 12ct i'd definitely use it for hand quilting on daiwabo taupe fabrics!!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura! Your quilting looks beautiful! I love to hand quilt but haven't tried Aurifil! Thank you for giving a change to get some!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and welcome to your new baby! Waiting to see and hear more about her!
x Teje
Ooooh! I'd definitely use this for hand quilting my hexagon quilt I've been working on forever :)
ReplyDeleteHand quilting! I too have been wrangling perle cotton (#8) through my quilts and taking F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to do it. So I'd love to do some melty aurifil thread handquilting :o)
ReplyDeleteI would love to try handquilting!
ReplyDeleteI am just about to try my first ever hand quilting project---and so I need ALL the help I can get :)
ReplyDeleteI have a dozen quilt tops stashed in the closet just waiting to be quilted. Or I might even create another quilt just for the occassion! :)
ReplyDeletesowingstitches [at] yahoo [dot] com
I've never hand-quilted before, but I would love to try. It could be a nice accent on zip bags, book covers, etc. (start small!).
ReplyDeleteI haven't done much hand quilting but would love to try the 12 wt. on a pillow.
ReplyDeleteHand quilting is not for me, but I do like aurifil for fmq. I'm building up my colors for some landscape banners of the four seasons.
ReplyDeleteI would use it to hand quilt the center of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quilt I'm making my hubby. I used vintage curtain panels & I'm worried machine quilting them will be a little too rough.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing a little embroidery on wall quilts lately but I have tendonitis and it's really difficult. If I had Aurifil it would be so much easier (and prettier too, I'm sure)!!!
ReplyDeleteI have some UFO blocks that need some hand embroidery. I haven't had a chance to use the 12wt Aurifil so this may be my chance if I win. I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteI twittered you also!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Aurifil thread, but I'd do have a small project coming up that I would love to try handquilting.
ReplyDeleteYour hand quilting looks great! Would love to try it on a cushion cover! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI would love to hand quilt with Aurifil the blocks of Sunbonnet Sam which I am making for my little great-grandson.
ReplyDeleteI want to try hand quilting. I also want to try Sashiko by machine, so if I get any 12wt, that's my first experiment. Great quilt!
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ReplyDeleteI have used 3 strands of variegated embroidery thread for hand quilting and would love to try the Aurifil :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was perfect for the Lorax!
ReplyDeleteAs for using it, I've not tried hand quilting yet, so, err, just getting started on hand quilting?
Super cute lorax quilt, just love it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try some Aurifil for hand quilting.
I'd use it for quilting. I don't know about hand quilting...But...
ReplyDeleteI HAVE A QUESTION!
What weight of the pearle cotton did you have a hard time with? I'm getting ready to buy some, but I've never tried it. I'd love to learn from your "hellish" experience! Thanks!!!
I would love to try the 12 wt. for the hand quilting I'm doing on my granddaughters kitty quilt.
ReplyDeleteI am planning to hand quilt around stars from a pattern from Anna Maria Horner featuring Tula Pimk's Prince Charming fabric.
ReplyDeleteMy first grandchild will be making an entrance in August. I would love to try some Aurifil for accenting the hand quilting in some of his baby quilts.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm not entering (b/c I felt the love from Aurifil, too) but I love the way your hand quilting looks!! So pretty. I used a 5wt to quilt my little Arabesque quilt and I hated it!! So, I fell your pain! Especially with your burnt finger!
ReplyDeleteI've never used Aurifil. I know, I know, I should have, but I've never been brave enough to try handquilting and so for now my standard white (or black) sewing machine thread does the trick. Kinda like dressing in black feels safer somehow, I hide behind my standard white thread! But if I win this, I promise I will add some handquilting embellishing to my son's I-Spy quilt.
ReplyDeleteYour handwork is turning out great! I'd like to try some of the 12 wt as embellishment on a pillow or two. Maybe one hand stitched and one machine--in other words, I'd like to experiment as I've never tried this thread.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! You're right, this is a perfect thread for this project.
ReplyDeleteLooking at this reminds me that I want to do some hand quilting. Which means I should stop knitting and start piecing again. As I don't actually have a completed top to do some quilting yet. That's the one downside of doing it all by hand... takes a lot longer
I love handwork, so I would use it to embroidery and hand quilt in place of my preferred perle cotton. The variegated thread is very cool and looks great on your Lorax quilt!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on my first ever quilt. It will contain bee blocks with designs chose by others. This variety makes hand quilting the perfect choice- I can't wait to give it a go!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
Hand quilting a doll's quilt. You got my attention when you said it quilted like butter through pasta! I definitely have to do more hand quilting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice touch of love to add to the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love variegated thread! Only just got to view your blog via PC (instead of mobile) so it's a bit late for me to re-blog and share your giveaway, but I will still leave this comment at least. I've never experienced Aurifil thread.
ReplyDeleteI have used variegated thread to satin stitch applique and loved the result but never hand-quilted with it, perhaps this is the time to give it a go!
ReplyDeleteI have been trying Aurifil recently for needle turn Applique and am a convert...and would love to try the quilting weight once my applique blocks are finished. Great giveaway thanks.
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