My first Aurifil purchase was a large spool of 50wt thread in color 2600 (Dove) at a local sewing & quilt show back in late February/early March 2013. I had seen the recognizable orange spool in some local shops, but I had never tried it. I figured that it was worth a shot, so I purchased the color that I most frequently use for piecing and the rest is history.
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| Look! There it is in the pile of things that I bought at Sew Expo on March 3, 2013. |
Today, I still actively use both 40 and 50 weight. I do all of my quilt piecing with the 50wt (including foundation piecing and a little bit of english paper piecing that I've attempted) because it's the great combination of being fine enough so that it isn't bulky in the seams, it blends well into the fabric, and it doesn't generate a lot of lint. I prefer using 40 weight (on the green spools) for quilting, attaching binding, and making bags. 40 weight thread is thicker than 50, so the stitches become a bit more visible. The slightly heavier thread also adds a bit of extra durability which I love, especially for binding. If you are reading this and wondering whether you can you use 50wt for all of those tasks, the answer is yes, absolutely!
So, why do I choose Aurifil?
- It's really great thread. The long staple Egyptian cotton used to create most of Aurifil's products is amazing. Unless you are talking about nice bed linens, I don't think Egyptian cotton is generally part of a conversation. For Aurifil, it is. Starting with high quality raw materials, their threads are refined through an extensive process that results in amazing consistency and quality.
- I am a big fan of the wide range of colors offered. With 270 colors (!!!!) available in multiple weights and spool sizes, it's exceedingly rare for me not to be able to find an excellent color match for my projects. As of today, there is no true neon pink. ;)
- Aurifil offers a variety of different weights to choose from. From the heaviest 12wt thread to fine 80wt thread and floss, I know that I can find what I need for my projects.
- Multiple sizes of spools are available in the most weights. I buy some small spools when I need a color that I am less likely to use regularly, and I prefer the large spools for my favorite go-to colors or when I have a medium to large project.
- I've used Aurifil threads in a variety of sewing machines with amazing success. From a small Singer Featherweight to an inexpensive Brother and my current 7 Series Bernina (with a bunch of Pfaffs of varying ages, multiple Baby Lock machines, and a few assorted other brands and models over the years), I've seen incredible consistency with the thread's performance.
- As I mentioned earlier, I love how the 50wt is fine enough so that it doesn't create a lot of bulk in the seams so my seam allowance stays accurate.
- It's low lint. It's cotton thread, so there will be some lint, but that is easily manageable if you brush out your bobbin area as recommended. I find that most of my lint is often generated from the fabric itself rather than the thread.
- My cats really enjoy playing with the empty spools (PSA - string/thread can be incredibly dangerous to a cat if ingested, so please use appropriate caution)!
Well, there you go. Now you know the story, and you hopefully understand some of the reasons for why I rely on Aurifil for my quilting and sewing projects. My name is Leslie, and I'm proud to be a 2018 Aurifil Artisan. p.s. There's a wealth of information available on Aurifil's website - aurifil.com.
