Want to find out more about Aurifil threads?

When I was at Sheena Norquay's free motion quilting class last week, she was telling us about Aurifil threads.  I also keep reading about them in blogland but don't know much about them.  I do know that my fabulous LQS, Quiltessential, is about to start stocking them.


But in the meantime, I want to find out more about these threads everyone keeps talking about, especially as I keep hearing them being mentioned across blogland as favourites for both piecing and quilting.  So I'm going to be investigating, trying out and reviewing the different Aurifil threads over the next few months and giving some of my favourites away but, in the meantime, I came across this free app for the iphone, ipod, ipad etc. (soon also to be released as a droid app).  Just type in "Aurifil" into the search section of the app store and it comes right up.


There's information on what the different Aurifil threads are used for which will be my starting point.  There's also a useful section to find online or bricks and mortar shops stocking the threads including one of those bits where you find the stockist nearest to your location.  I'm thinking this would also be a useful tool when on holiday or away from home to see if there happens to be a LQS just around the corner.


There's lots of other info on there too but I'll leave you to dig around and discover that for yourselves.  In the meantime, what are your go-to threads?  Have you used Aurifil threads?  Which ones do you go for and what do you use them for?  Do you use different ones for different types of quilting - straight line, hand, free motion?  I'd love to know because personal recommendations and advice from blogland are always the most useful for me.

Comments

  1. Thanks Lynne, you can now satisfy my curiosity about these threads as I keep hearing about them too. I shall follow your reports and then make a decision based on that. Right now I just use Gutermann because that is what is at my lqs so easy for me to get. Thanks for being our sleuth.

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  2. I use the 50wt for piecing. Love it, and stack up on it whenever I can find it.

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  3. I love aurafil and use it for both piecing and quilting. I like the look of the app I will have to check that out!

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  4. So the first thing I've learnt from the app is how to spell Aurifil!! The suitcase is amazing!!

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  5. Aurifil is a wonderful thread. I work with different numbers for appliqué, piecing and quilting. My LQS has a wide range and there are so many colours and variegated threada as well! I bet you will love to work with Aurifil. (this almost sounds like a commercial!)

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  6. I've not used Aurifil, but like you I've heard a lot about it. So I'll be waiting with baited breath for you to do all the hard work and find out about it. The app looks useful too.

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  7. I've been using Aurifil for several years now and absolutely love it! I use the 50 wt. Orange spool for piecing and machine quilting. I love how fine it is and results in a more accurate seam allowance. It's perfect for quilting when you don't want your thread color to stand out. I'm a big fan!

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  8. Hmm...I hadn't noticed this thread but maybe it was just low on my radar. Speaking of which, I like using the app as a LQS finder. THAT is a clever use of an app.

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  9. I use the 50 wt orange spool for piecing too! I've been using a med grey for 15 years because it strong, smooth and has little lint. I love thread as a whole - and am eager to find out about the other kinds of aurifil you review!

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  10. Aurifil is fabulous thread! I used to work for a Husqvarna dealer and he stocked Aurifil thread...just wonderful stuff. You can really feel the difference in the thread quality and it produces less lint as well.

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  11. I pretty much use various weights of thread by Superior Threads and am very satisfied, particularly with their new Kimono Silk thread for quilting.

    Not to say I won't be following along with your research. Thx for doing it.

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  12. I use Gutermann. We were talking about this on #talknt last night (Talkin Tuesdays) and there was a Aurifil giveaway. No one in the group could say enough about how awesome this thread is to use! They had me convinced.

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  13. I LOVE the 50 for piecing and quilting and 28 for topstitching or quilting. it's kind of embarrassing how much of it I have :)

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  14. I love Aurifil thread! But it is so hard to find. The 50wt thread is becoming more common, but the rest I still have to order off the internet.

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  15. I use Aurifil 50/2 (orange spool) for piecing. It's my go-to thread because it is so fine, although it is more expensive. Lately I've used Connecting Threads Essential Cotton, which is a 50/3 weight. It's much less expensive and I haven't had any problems with lint, but it is a bit thicker than the Aurifil.

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  16. For 'fine' do you think I should take that as 'horrible to unpick'?? If so, I better avoid it!

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  17. wow ... this is so interesting ... I can't wait to see your reviews Lynne ...

    I use Gutermann, and have since I first learned to sew. My new machine needs good thread, so I'm going to keep most of the vintage cottons I have for my vintage machine, or for special, and start trying a variety of modern threads.

    The YLI I just used for the BritQuiltSwap was delicious to work with. So fine. I so get the whole more accurate seam allowance thing.

    Oh Yay! Another obsession ...

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  18. oh and FlyingBlind ... the answer to that is yes, unpicking can be a mare, but you can increase your stitch length a bit because it is so fine.

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  19. I love Aurifil - I use it for piecing and quilting - the orange spool or 50w for both. I have had absolutely no issues using this thread.

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  20. I've been using Aurifil thread (50/2wt) for piecing since 2000... I use/love it so much I buy the cone size on these 3 colors 2021, 2600, 2325...

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  21. Curious to see what you find -- thread is one of those things that I find most confusing about quilting. When I was sewing a shirt or something, I knew what to get, but quilting seems to have different rules and I'm still navigating that scary maze!

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  22. My LQS only stocks Aurifil and I've used it a couple of times for quilting. Their variegated threads are gorgeous, they have a really subtle sheen to them and seem to change colour at just the right rate for quilting.

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  23. This is information I needed, since I recently won some Aurifil threads and really didin't know how to use them.

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  24. I use Gutermann threads for machine sewing and quilting. They are expensive so I stock up when they go on sale. For hand quilting I like Coats and Clark 100% cotton glace.

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  25. I use Coats cotton for hand/machine piecing and hand/machine quilting...in fact, for all my quilting needs! I only use quilting weight thread (King Tut or YLI) if I want a variegated thread but that's not very often. I've also used Coats for free motion embroidery and quilting and it worked really well. I'm interested in finding out more about Aurifil - have fun on your quest!

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  26. I started using Aurifil a few months ago and love the difference it makes.
    Here's a good website to order it.
    http://www.redrockthreads.com/

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  27. I love Aurofil and have used it for about 4 years now. It is my favorite thread. I use it in the machine and for hand sewing and applique as well. Strong and very little lint. It is good stuff!

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  28. Thanks for the heads up about the app! Love quilting apps!

    Just won my first spool of Aurifil - a 50wt neutral. Like you, I've heard so much about it that I can't wait to get down to piecing and give it a try.

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  29. LOVE aurofil and piece with it exclusively. It's the bees knees of thread and I can't believe they've got an app!! Very cool. It's loading on my phone as I type. You're so hip, thanks for the tip!

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  30. So happy to know more about Aurifil. I haven't tried it yet but sounds like I need to!

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  31. I've heard lots of comments on Aurifil also, but haven't used it yet. I see that FatQuarterShop is offering now too.

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  32. i always use aurifil, and i prefer to piece with the light gray.

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