Last week as I was working on my first bed quilt for 2018, I realized I needed to place an Aurifil thread order to have matching thread for my projects for the year! I had planned ahead and purchased a lot yardage of the Kona Cotton colors my husband and I selected (Ocean, Astral, Lake, and Sky), but I had neglected to do the same for matching thread. Since my goal was to piece the quilt top before QuiltCon so that I could come home and begin quilting it, I really needed to figure out what I was going to do!
Hawthorne Threads Aurifil Order
First thing one morning last week, I took out my Aurifil color card and color matched to the Kona Cotton colors I purchased. I placed an order with Hawthorne Threads, and I was fortunate to receive the thread just before I left for QuiltCon to double check my color matching.
Aurifil Thread Order
I ordered (near to far in the photo above):
- 1 large spool of 50wt 2784 (Dark Navy) to replace the spool I all but used up on the Beacon mini mini quilt,
- 3 large spools of 50wt 2740 (Dark Cobalt),
- 2 large spools of 50wt 2725 (Light Wedgewood),
- 1 large spool of 50wt 2710 (Light Robins Egg), and
- 1 large pool of 50wt 2612 (Arctic Sky).
I think that will work very nicely! In case you are curious why I photographed the thread still in the plastic wrap, I personally like to leave my thread in the protective shrink wrap until I am ready to start using the spool of thread because I live in a very dry, desert climate.
I do plan to use more contrasting thread colors on at least one of the quilt projects I plan in this series for the year, but I figured it would be wise to buy several spools of the darker values of thread because those are the colors my husband and I are most drawn to in the grouping.
Do you buy your thread for a project at the same time you order fabric or do you try to use what you have in your stash or purchase when you get to the quilting stage? I am all over the place with my planning for thread lately, but I do usually intend to place the order closer to the beginning / planning stages of a project.
I’m very curious as to what difference a dry or humid climate makes on thread. If I haven’t started a reel I leave it in the plastic AND I live in a dry climate too so obviously just as well.
Dry? I can certainly send you some rain, we have had an abundance and then some this winter my garden is a quagmire. I leave my thread in the packaging until I use it too but I don’t usually think about thread colours until I need it and I always piece with a neutral thread which I top up as it get’s low, I’d hate to run out. I do wish I had an Aurifil thread chart though, I have to order on line mostly and it’s just pick a colour and cross my fingers.
I order my thread after I have the fabric in hand, I love my Aurifil thread chart and use it to match my thread to fabric. I also don’t unwrap my thread until I’m ready to use it.
I’m still working on my thread collection, so if I think of it, I purchase it when I purchase the fabric. Often I’m using what I have in my stash, though. I need to find an Aurifil card; it sure would be helpful. I love those blues, they are so vibrant yet calming!
That’s a lot of Dark Cobalt! Love it!! I have a stash of thread but there are a couple colors (purple, dove gray, and surprisingly, lime green) that I seem to order extras of.
I try and use what I have in my stash. It’s hard for me to plan ahead, I usually don’t know what I’ll be making. I’m getting better at it and have actually planned quilts, thread and design ahead of time! Your blues are so pretty lined up!
My thread is almost always an afterthought. I use what I have. I’m intrigued with the idea of it being part of the design process from the beginning of the project.
What a gorgeous blue range of thread. Aurifil had a wholesaler where I live and once a year they had a sale for the public. That is how I discovered Aurifil. I bought a ton of thread that day and buy whenever on sale now. I have my go-to colours and keep at least two large spools of each of those. I bought a colour card then ordered a bunch of thread on-line. I now have a stash large enough that I always have a matching colour for my quilts. I keep the unused spools in their plastic and all are in a sealed plastic tote, to keep them organized but also to keep them from becoming kitty toys. 🙂
I am drooling over all those spools of thread. I would be lost without my Aurifil color card. I usually wait till I’m almost ready to quilt to decide what threads to use. I try to use what I have on hand, but sometimes I just have to order something that matches better. I’ll have every color eventually 🙂
pretty blues!
Colorado is dry as well so I also keep the plastic wrap over my thread until I’m ready to use it. I always try to use thread I have in my stash but will also purchase thread when I have to. That blue is you!
I like to have thread on hand, so I purchase when I find sales and at quilt shows. I often buy with a future project in mind, so usually have what I need on hand. By the way, when a spool of thread gets dry and brittle, rub a little mineral oil onto the spool. That’s a tip I learned in a class by Sharon Schamber. It works!
I don’t think I plan for thread but as I seem to be quilting more of my quilts now I’m thinking I should. I’m limited in what colours I can get around here so I’d likely have to order on line to match the threads.I guess thinking ahead would save time.
Planning? Thread? Those words rarely fall together in a sentence in my world! I use a lot of white, and I always have that.
I generally end up using non quilting thread for quilting . This msybe explains my quilting ! We don’t have a great depth of quilting shops here
Your colors match beautifully. I usually try to make do with thread I already have, but buy it for the project if nothing works.
Love those blues! Generally, I buy color groupings when they go on sale. I generally have what color I need by doing this because my projects tend to be in the baby to lap size. I am working on a quilt that’s larger than my norm and ran out of my thread about 3/4 of the way through the quilting stage. Thankfully I had another brand in a similar color so no one will notice. I have been buying mostly Aurifil but I really like Superior (as does my machine).
Thread is a funny thing. I generally don’t have a plan, BUT, have been so used to being in a quilt store for work that I always just picked it up in the next day or two. However, now I am working through my stash and realizing I may need to make some plans (maybe even an inventory sheet – that would be way too organized).
I usually wait until the top is completed and then audition thread. In the 5 years I’ve been quilting, I’ve amassed a nice collection of Aurifil, so I usually have what I want. If I don’t, well, it’s always a good day when you get to add another spool to your Aurifil stash, right?
Such pretty thread colors. I also tend to get thread after the fabric is chosen/purchased.
Beautiful blues! I don’t do my own quilting, so I leave that up to Trudy. She always manages to come up with something pretty amazing.
Love those blues!! I usually leave my thread wrapped until I’m ready to use it too, though not for any particular reason. I’m still adjusting to needing to order my thread, now that I’m wanting to use Aurifil, rather than just running to the store that’s 3 minutes away for Gutermann. I’m trying to think ahead, but I definitely want the fabric in hand first so I can use my thread card to match the colours.