Aurifil Artisan Challenge | DECEMBER 2024
THEME: Top Aurifil Tips ~ Let's Get Organized!
The end of the year can be hectic, so for this challenge, Aurifil asked Artisans to share our top Aurifil tip. For me, as with all of my creative process this was an easy one - ORGANIZATION! I would definitely be "Little Miss Organized" if there was an official Little Miss character!
If you are looking to set some goals or a new years resolution to get organized, this post is definitely for you! Read on and see how I stay organized and inspired each time I walk into my studio to sit down to stitch.
I organize my in-studio and on-the-go threads in several ways:
WEIGHT - I use stationary hanging thread racks on my Ikea SKADIS units separated by weight and in rainbow color order. Aurifil makes this process super simple with color coded thread spool/caps.
50wt - orange spool cap
80wt - cherry wooden spool
12wt - red spool cap
28wt - grey spool cap
40wt - green spool cap
For those new to Aurifil threads or needing a refresher, you can download the
Thread Reference Card from Aurifil Resources that reviews each thread weight in more detail including meters per spool, grams per spool, weight/ply, color number, and dye lot! You can see that I also like to keep my filled bobbin with its associated spool for ease of use in my machine when I sit down to stitch. I keep most of my bobbins with my 50wt threads as I find it is the most interchangeable across the Aurifil thread weights for use in my bobbin. The exception to that is my 80wt - I prefer to match top and bobbin weights for the lightest of the Aurifil threads for fine foundation paper piecing.
COLOR - I like to organize my threads in rainbow order according to the color wheel (thank you 7th grade art class for cementing ROYGBV into my brain!)
If you are like me and want to be even more precise in your color coded display, you can let the
Aurifil Swatch Book do the work in sorting your threads in a harmonious display of color that will keep you inspired to create. This also helps me keep tabs on when it is time to reorder as I can see when I am low on a specific color in my stash!
COLLECTION - A
beautifully curated thread collection with colors designed to work in tandem with each other and a specific collection of my favorite fabrics always has me at HELLO! I keep my collections together in their storage friendly packaging because it makes ease of selection in my projects super efficient - I know that the colors of the thread were specifically selected to work with my fabrics seamlessly to deliver the best finished results.
FUNCTION - Machine stitching threads stay on my studio walls, while my hand stitching threads are stored to be transported around my home, traveling to teach and lecture, and everywhere else "on-the" go". I keep my 50wt small spools in my
A Place for Everything 2.0 bag. I have configured the pockets for one of the interior pages of this bag to hold 60 small spools of Aurifil thread. Ohhhhh, it is SO GOOD! This is one of my favorite bags to make because it quite literally holds all of my things, it packs in SO many threads to choose from, and gives me a great opportunity to use a ton of threads in the construction to strike the right balance of beauty and functionality for a professional, eye catching, and long lasting bag. Also pictured is my
Catch All Caddy 2.0 bag that holds storage boxes (four full storage boxes pictured inside of my caddy here), my Swatch Book, my
Aurifil Thread Exemplar Aurifilosophy 7-spool pack available in
Aurifil Thread Labs 1.1 and so much more.
For my heavier hand stitching threads, including 8wt and Aurifloss, I like to keep these out of direct sunlight and dust by storing these cherry wooden spools in my
Thread Storage Case by Aurifil. 8wt thread is 2ply and available in 45 colors (as of the time of this post), while Aurifloss is 6-strand and available in 270 colors. I also keep my Wool thread in a storage case that comes on a red spool. This is my least used thread but soft and beautiful nonetheless!
I hope that this post motivated you to get organized with your thread, but also to take some fresh ideas and inspiration to your projects in the new year. Remember to give yourself some grace when creating, have fun, and most of all ...
Keep Calm & STITCH ON!
To learn more about the whole family of Aurifil threads, please check out this downloadable product guide from Aurifil Resources that provides more information on number of colors available in a given weight of thread, needles best paired with each weight of thread, suggested stitching methods, and amount of thread on each small or large spool or cone by thread weight.
Stay Inspired & Happy Stitching!
~ Elissa
