Palazzo BOM: Aurifil Thread-of-the-month for 2024.

A brand new Aurifil BOM thread subscription program for 2024 has just been unveiled, and I am pleased to share the latest chapter in Aurifil’s creative journey with you. The Palazzo BOM will launch in April, featuring an exclusive monthly foundation paper piecing quilt pattern designed by Kitty Wilkin (Night Quilter) in partnership with Aurifil's 50 wt. Italian Colour Builders.

The Palazzo BOM promises to transport makers to the heart of Italy, encapsulating a rich and storied architectural history through the use of vibrant colour and contrast between fluid and angular shapes.  Regardless of whether you think of a large palace or really wide pants (!) when you hear the word Palazzo, you will end up with a breathtaking quilt and an enviable Aurifil stash. This program uses the very popular 50 weight 2020 Colour Builder sets, but includes new patterns and videos. 

Each curated set contains three large spools (1300 m each) of 50 weight cotton thread in a light, medium, and dark shade of the same colour.  These are SOLID coloured threads, not variegated shades. Along with the threads, you will receive an emailed newsletter which will contain a downloadable pattern in PDF, tips & tricks, and an exclusive video from pattern designer Kitty Wilkin. The pattern is recommended for Advanced Beginners utilizing the Foundation Paper Piecing Method. As my customers well know, I am happy to provide any help you may need with your pattern.

Cost of the program is $49.99/month CANADIAN for 12 months, plus applicable tax. Registration for the program opens today, and runs until March 12, 2024.  I have more details I can send along to you via email, or message me on Facebook.   (or find me on Instagram @sewkarenly).  This will be my fourth year hosting an Aurifil thread subscription program, and I can personally vouch for how pleased folks are with these programs, and how smoothly they run. 

January 2022

 All I can say is...it's a good thing I don't make new year resolutions because if I did...I would have broken one by now!  It's in my head to blog more this year as I really enjoy writing and posting, but the time just seems to zoom by and much of what keep me busy just isn't good blogging material (like inventory, answering emails, shovelling snow!).    There are some fun things too, and the highlight of January has been starting the new 2022 Colour Builders program with Aurifil.

My list of subscribers has grown this year, and I am delighted to have last year's enthusiastic group returning.  That speaks volumes about the program.  This year the focus is on variegated 50 weight threads and the patterns supplied are all flowers to be appliquéd. The pattern was designed by Kate Brennan with help from graphic designer Christina Weisband. The block for January features a "Frangipani" also known as "Plumeria". It's a very dainty flower, and so pretty with the star centre.

The hardest part was choosing a fabric for the background; I ended up with a neutral tan.

My flower is done using fusible applique, with shapes traced onto the paper side of the fusible web.  I tried a new-to-me kind of fusible called “Flexie Fuse Light” and it worked great.  I printed out the sketch full sized, and placed it on a light table underneath my background fabric.  You can see the black outline showing through the fabric in the picture below. Mind you, I don’t have an actual light table: it’s a glass-topped coffee table with a lamp underneath with the light bulb pointing up.

It worked great! I found my Bohin tweezers with the pointy ends were a tremendous help putting those tiny petals in place without disturbing the others.  Serger tweezers with long points would also work really well.

   When I was happy with my flowers, I lifted the background fabric straight up to my ironing board and fused everything in place.

These are the colours in our thread box this month which I used for the free motion stitching around the pieces.

I also added a darker green to outline the leaves and a bright yellow from my stash for the centre stars.  I hope to add a few more details when I join the blocks for the quilting.

It was a fun block to do and I am enjoying seeing all the pictures around the internet showing off these pretty blocks.  

There is still time to join the program, just email me for details.

Aurifil Color Builders 2022

 

Aurifil has just announced the details of their 2022 Colour Builders, and it looks pretty amazing!  This highly successful thread-of-the-month program is now heading into its third year season, with each year building on the success of the previous.  As a dealer, I participated for the first time this past year and have to say that everything ran like clockwork.  It’s a super way to build your thread stash and save a bit off the price of individual spools while doing do.  Personally, I loved going to my thread rack and having just the shade I needed at my fingertips.

The 2022 Color Builder Subscription is created in celebration of Aurifil’s variegated 50 weight thread. Aurifil produces 36 variegated thread colors; threads that contain multiple colors or multiple shades of one color. Twenty-four of these shades are represented in the 2022 program, which arrive in mini-collections of 3 spools each month. Each set contains 3 large spools of 50wt -- 2 variegated and 1 complementary solid.

This year the color inspiration is drawn from 12 breathtaking rainforest plants: from the Amazon Water Lily and the Bird of Paradise to the Jade Vine and the Spider Lily. These plants are a representation of our earth’s most threatened tropical forests, largely affected by deforestation and climate change. For 2022, Aurifil has partnered with Rainforest Trust , an organization dedicated to the long-term protection of these forests. The patterns for 2022 were designed and developed by Aurifil’s own Kate Brennan in partnership with graphic designer Christina Weisbard. Patterns are centered around floral-themed appliqué, allowing each featured monthly plant to take center stage. While instructions are given for fusible appliqué, we’ll highlight a variety of methods of appliqué and finishing throughout the year. Blocks may be finished as 12 individual mini quilts or pieced together to create a full quilt. Patterns will be exclusive to subscription holders for one year. 

As you know, 50 weight is the most versatile (normal) weight of thread. It is perfect for piecing, hand or machine appliqué, and for quilting. This thread will see your project through from start to finish. 

The program is delivered monthly; if you are local (or close to!) Amherst you are welcome to pick it up here. Otherwise, the thread will be mailed to you each month for a small postage fee. You will be billed monthly in a pay-as-you-go system, not all at once, either via credit card or etransfer.

The feedback I received on this year’s program has all been positive, and I am excited to be part of this program again. I look forward to having you join in. There is more information here: https://www.aurifil.com/2022-color-builders    

Please be in touch with any questions, or to have your name added to the list. The program will begin on Jan 15/22, and your first payment will be due then, but we need to let the plant in Italy know before Oct. 15th  so they can be packaging up the threads just for you!

Aurifil Colour Builders 2021

 

As you may have read on the Aurifil blog, the Colour Builders program for 2021 has been announced, and sign-ups are now being accepted.  The Colour Builders program is a no-fuss monthly subscription service hosted by your favorite Aurifil thread dealer – that's me! – whereby you receive a curated selection of threads each month, paper-piecing and embroidery patterns using the theme and colours, AND help  out a worthy cause while building your thread stash.  It’s a win all around!

Last year the very successful program highlighted different areas of Italy;  this year will focus on a cause that falls in line with the goal to increase Aurifil's sustainability and positive environmental impact: endangered species. The program highlights the very first thread weight produced by Aurifil: 40wt. Wound on a bold green spool, Aurifil's 40wt/2ply thread is every bit as versatile as the 50wt but with just a bit more strength. 40wt is tremendous for sewing bags and garments, or for when a more defined topstitching or quilting pattern is desired. It is also the number one recommended weight for quilting and machine embroidery. 

Featured animals are the Sumatran Elephant, the Red Panda, the Sea Turtle, the Iberian Lynx, the Pink Land Iguana, the Whale Shark (I can’t wait to stitch him!), the Sumatran Tiger, the Blue-throated Macaw, the African Wild Dog, the Cross River Gorilla, the Pangolin, and the African Penguin.

The Colour Builders program is modeled on a BOM concept, except you receive thread and a pattern each month instead of fabric.  

Each block or pattern serves as a tribute to an endangered species.

Our list of subscribers is steadily growing, and we would love to have you join us. I plan to participate as well and will be sewing the blocks along with you each month.  I don't have an embroidery machine, but look forward to stitching the designs free hand on my sewing machine.  It sounds like a fun program, and a great way to kick off 2021. Cost of the program is $46.99/month plus tax (and shipping if needed)  if you register by December 1.  Registration is through email  (karen@karenneary.ca)

You can check out these links on the Aurifil blog to see the threads and read more about the program:

https://auribuzz.com/2020/10/16/2021-color-builders/

https://www.aurifil.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2021ColorBuilderPresentation.pdf

If you are interested, kindly let me know asap so I can add your name to my list. We would love to have you join in!