As I planned this post I realized that this is a day full of firsts....
I used my scraps of Birch fabric to make a little pillow of simple patchwork....
This was my first experience using Wool Aurifil Thread to machine stitch the pillow top....
The Wool Aurifil is 50% Wool and 50% Acrylic. Acrylic is a man made fiber often used as a substitute for wool.
I am pleased to say I love the results....it is a heavier thread {12 wt} and at the same time a bit of a loose twist. So the thread definitely has the appearance and feel of wool....the real test was how it would perform in the sewing machine.
To prevent the thread from shredding, I used a metallic needle. A metallic needle has a larger eye - so less friction on the thread. I also adjusted the speed of my machine to slow down my stitching...again a great idea to keep thread from shredding.
The squares are 3 inches square...and the entire pillow is just about 12 X 18....I stuffed it full with a small travel pillow. I really love this pillow :)
So on to my next first! I am pleased pink to be able to share samples of Aurifil thread with you!
Yes....this is my first giveaway!!! YAY!!!
I will keep this easy...just leave one comment on today's post and you will be registered to win.
I will close the giveaway on Monday at midnight....and the winners {yes I said winners!} will be chosen at random and be announced {hopefully} on Tuesday.... August 23rd.
And now for the best news yet....I have 5 sample packs...so there will be 5 winners chosen!!! Yippee!!! Do the Happy Dance :)
Just be sure if you want to win that you are NOT a No-Reply Blogger...
I want to be able to find you and let you know that you are a Happy Winner!
I did have another fun first today. I worked on a cute little 'person' block for a student in my quilt class....I thought she may like to incorporate this idea in her quilt...
I first fell in love with people blocks when I saw the adorable block done by Marit....
How cute would it be to dress your person in those bits of baby clothing saved from when your children were little.
And now, just one more first....I continued plugging away at my first ever Spiderweb Quilt...Or Star Quilt....however you want to look at it :) I wanted to share my progress with you!
Whew....what a day!
Have a wonderful weekend!
mary :)
246 comments:
1 – 200 of 246 Newer› Newest»Love the little pillow and the thread is awesome!!!
Good grief you've been busy! Spiderweb looks great- very colourful. And I love your cushion! Thanks for the tips on using the 12wt in a machine!
Love your spider web quilt...very pretty...and I'd love a chance to win some Aurifil thread!! :o)
What a wonderful day of first. Your pillow is darling. And I'm loving the progress on the spiderweb. Crossing my fingers for the thread.
Oh how exciting!! Please include me!!
I love it!! It looks so soft! I signed up to take your class this fall, by the way! I'm excited!!
Such a pretty pillow! And the spiderweb is so cheery! Thanks for a chance to win some Aurifil.
wow that is alot of firsts, your pillow is adorable.
the threads look great
Wow, didn't know there was such a thing as a metalic needle. The stitching looks great on that little pillow. Oooh, pick me, pick me for the Aurifil giveaway. I've been dying to try them out :)
Gorgeous spiderweb quilt - I am working on one at the moment too but it is going to be very different from yours!
Stopped in the shoppe the other day to get a peek at your Birch quilt in person, such a cutie! And now the pillow, sigh :) I'm very excited to learn about this heavier thread, I've always wondered if there was such a thing or if the effect was limited to industrial machines (newbie here, obviously lol), but woohoo!
I think the baby clothes idea would too cute, I can also see these little ladies with vintage fabric scraps!
Can't wait to see the Spiderweb when all is said and done, and congrats on your first giveaway, so exciting!
I love your pillow, soft beautiful colours!
I love your pillow! The stitching with the wool-acrylic blend thread looks terrific. I'd love to try that. Thanks for the tips on adjustments to make to avoid shredding thread.
Love your pillow and I love the idea of a wooly type thread. Hoping I win, but glad to know about the thread, hadn't heard of this wonderful stuff! Thank You.
Oh, wow! Go you! That Aurifil is goooooood stuff. I had never tried it until Lynne of Lily's Quilts did a post about it, and I must say, I'm glad I found a spool of it at the local discount store (yes, it's like they have their own little quilt shop in there, minus the class area!). It has definitely opened my eyes to how much of a difference thread can make when you're piecing a block together, or quilting!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Wow! I didn't even know wool thread existed! I'd love to win some Aurafil-I keep hearing wonderful things about it & it doesn't seem to be available where I live!
Your pillow is darling, I just love your pillow and the thread is perfect for the effect.
hi! i would love to try some aurafil! thanks for the chance to win!
I love your little pillow - do you remember what the red fabric with the white dots is?
I'd love to win some aurifil thread - I keep hearing great reports about it but I haven't found any yet!
beautiful set of 'firsts' Mary!
your posts are always so lovely.
I really like the colours of the pillow you made. I'd have never chosen that colour-combination but now that I look at it I really like it very much!
i love your spiderweb blocks!
Cute pillow!
How wonderful of you to share this Aurifil with us! For a first giveaway this is the best!The 12wt looks amazing and you did a great job on the pillow. Those travel pillows are great aren't they!
Beautiful spiderweb block, and so many different fabric choices. Beautiful work. you had better sit down and have a cuppa!
Thanks for the giveaway.
A giveaway - what a fun first...especially for the winners!
My goodness you had a lot of beautiful things to share today! Thank you for the great giveaway! :)
Love your spiderweb and pillow.
Ooo, I love the look of the 12 wt.!!! Thank you for the great giveaway and sharing your beautiful pieces :)
I've been wanting to try this thread. I've heard it's the best.
I love the pillow! I think I need some of that fabric too:) Would really like to check out the Aurifil ! Thanks for a chance to win!! Jackie@Pacitti.us
I would love to try the thread! It's not carried in any of my local stores and I have been dying to check it out!
Can't wait to see the finished spiderweb quilt!
That little quilt person is so cute--love it! Would love a pack of Aurufil... I use white and cream to do almost all of my piecing...
Oooo! Would love some Aurifil. = ) Thanks for the chance. Love the pillow, too!
Love the spiderweb quilt! thanks for the opportunity to win some wonderful thread.
Your pillow is sweet--the spiderweb is a favorite--and i love your 'person' block!!
What a lovely pillow today. I like the quilting, too!
I love a spiderweb quilt! :)Thanks for the chance to win!
naptime.stitches@yahoo.com
you have such beautiful quilts on here. I like the chain stitching to spruce up a towel or something...good idea!
I just found your blog through a link on FB from Aurifil Thread. I'll be visiting often and I hope win some of that thread!
You had me at polka dots! Cute pillow.
What a jam packed post!! Your little cushion is so lovely. The Birch fabrics are so dreamy!! I love the photo of the 3 cushions together. And your spider web - Wow!!!! It such a great giveaway you're having, Aurifil is the buzz word at the moment and I love to try some!! I'm crossing my fingers that I'm one of the lucky 5.
What a FABULOUS pillow - GREAT Job!
Your work is lovely--and that pillow is adorable! I just recently realized there are so many more colors of Aurifil available and so much more I can do with it! I would love to try more!
The pillow is just darling. But I love the quilt it's laying on better!! Wonderful!!
Love your spider web. What an awesome thread giveaway. Hope I win!!
I love love that pillow !!
The little pillow is so cute.
How lovely ! I really love your spiderweb quilt, I think I will put it on my list of need to make quilts !
Love your blog! I especially love the spider star blocks. That looks amazing, and I love having a secondary design pop up. Thanks for the info about the thread, too.
what a big day for you! thanks for sharing and thanks for the chance to win!
Beautiful thread and the quilt is going to be awesome!!
Ooh, I love your person block! That's way cute! Thanks for the giveaway.
Cute pillow. Love what you are doing and I'd love to win some Aurifil Thread. I have not used it yet, so it would be fun to try.
I'm so glad you posted about using wool thread in your sewing machine! Good info! It looks great, as I've found, all Aurifil thread does!
LaDonna
What a fanastic prize. I have one spool that I've only used on felt but will have to try on cotton fabric too. Like the effect on the cushion.
Evelyne
What a wonderful collection of "firsts"! I love them all. The pillow is adorable; the thread giveaway sounds GREAT! the people block is cute and I love spiderweb quilts-- your colors are awesome!! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Love your little pillow! Love Aurifil thread and have yet to try the wool. Thanks to Alex for posting the link to your blog!
-Lara
Oh, that spiderweb quilt is gorgeous! That's the first one I've seen that didn't use all the same solid for the non-web parts--I like it! That's a quilt I'd make!
What an adorable pillow! I love your blog :) Thanks for the chance to win the thread :)
caribousmom (at) gmail (dot) com
i haven't tried Aurifil thread yet & would really like to. Thanks for the chance to win. I love your little pillow & the fabrics you used in it.
Love your scrappy string! Thanks for the chance to win!
Love that quilt!! And would love to win the thread! Thanks for the giveaway!
That little pillow is so cute. I'll have to see about making some for my doll quilts.
Wonderful pillow and I love your quilt below. I have yet to try Aurifil, but it is on the shopping list when I travel 220 miles to the big city. I can hardly wait!
Count me in I would LOVE to ein this thread!!I liked the spiderweb/star progress-very nice
Hi
Found your blog through Aurifil on FB, won't be my only visit! Love the spiderweb (especially the colors). Thanks for doing the giveaway and congrats on your first, hopefully of many!
Deb
I recently purchased my first aurifil spool of thread and I love love it. Would love to win some more because it is not easy to find around here!
What a lovely pillow. The Aurifil looks great on it. Would love to try some.
Mal
I love Aurifil threads!!! Just thought I'd say that 1st off :)
Your person block is adorable and the spiderweb quilt looks like it will be added to my quilting "To Do" list today!
Thanks for the sweet giveaway!
oh how I adore and admire your work. So inspiring.I would love to win a set of Aurifil, the best thread, ever!
Thanks for the giveaway.
I love your Spiderweb quilt..it looks so cheery!
Beautiful pillow!
Would you recommend this project to beginners? I just got a sewing machine a week ago (before I did everything by hand) and still have problems to do a straight line, but somehow you have to learn it ;)
Firstly, I am SO glad Molly let you out of the basement! I was getting worried and thought I might be hearing about you on the news! Now to all your lovely 'firsts'!! The pillow is gorgeous! I love how you try out new things- thread, needles, blocks! Do you know the saying.."When was the last time you did something for the last time?"? I think it is a great slogan to live by! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love all the happy colors you have used in your pillow & spider quilt. I feel a pretty pillow in my furture.
I just love the little pillow you made with the scraps. It's simply elegant. Looks like it was fun to make too! The other projects on your blog are lovely too....so creative and inspiring. I'd love to try some Aurifil thread...keep hearing how superb it is. Have a happy day! :)
that little pillow is beautiful! I love the colors and your spider web quilt is awesome! Wow!
Thanks for the blog and the thread review and the clear concise way to handle it. I particularly like the variegated thread. Lots of ideas come to mind.
Many thanks
Michelle
Cute Pillow! Thanks for the tip on using the metallic needle with this thread.
Love your little pillow!
I just love give aways, and Arifill seems to have a lot of them lately.
I love the thread. The spider quilt is beautiful. Your work is wonderful.
I just started using Aurifil thread on a hand applique project. All I can say is mmmmmm good! I need MORE!! lol
I LOVE THE SPIDER WEB QUILT! It's fabulous! I also love aurifil! Thanks for the giveaway!
Ohhhh found your blog on Facebook (not sure through who! LOL) and I'm so glad I did! I love it and am now a new follower. I haven't tried the Aurofil threads yet, but have heard rave reviews. I'd love to be entered in your awesome giveaway. Also, check my blog soon (probably Monday), as I will be having a giveaway, too! You'll like it!
Love the pillow and the people block so cute.
That string quilt is TO DIE FOR.
I so want to make a spider web quilt. Love yours and your pillows too. Inspirational.
And, of course, I love Aurifil in all colors, but that bright pink certainly has caught my eye. Yummy.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Wow. A give-away. How fun. Love the colors you used on your string quilt..... yum. yum.
I love your Spider Quilt!! Love to win some thread!!! Like you for sure!!! SallyKingemail@gmail.com
Sweet pillow! Sweet fabric! How I've been wanting to try Aurifil thread. I read so much about it but have never seen any "IRL". I wish ... I wish ...
Wow, you sure get alot of bloggers when there is a give away....LOL.
Anyhoo.....your quilts are darling, and the thread is something I would love to try.
Wendy
I'd love the thread (and it's my bday ....WOOOOOOO)! I'm also coveting your pillows.
I love your pillow. It is so nice! The Aurifil works great!
Your pillow is pretty! I have not used Aurifil thread before. Thank you for this opportunity to win a give away.
Love the little girl...I made a similiar one recently....so much fun. I really7 like your spiderweb quilt too...so colorful!
Wow, the spiderweb is awesome! Would love to win Aurifil thread. Thanks.
What a cute little pillow and wool thread huh? That would be fun to try. I'm still going to make a string quilt and would love to try the block person too!
Wow! Sounds like you really enjoyed your day of firsts! I love the look that the Wool Aurifil gave you pillow and the quilt you used it on, so would love the opportunity to try it out!
Cute pillow. I'd love to win some thread.
I would love to win! Please count me in to win!
The pillow is so sweet and I love how your spiderweb quilt is coming along! Thanks for offering such a fun giveaway!
Oh my gosh I love this fabric!! I would love to win!!
Beautiful fabric! Always fun to win something!
Beautiful fabric! Always fun to win something!
The pillow is very cute! Do you mark the quilting lines or use a guide? I am always afraid my lines won't be straight enough! p.s. Aurifil is wonderful thread, but I haven't tried the wool yet...
A whole bunch of lovely firsts... well done and thanks for the chance to win some lovely thread... I have heard it is great to use...
Hugz
Great tips to know for sewing with the Aurifil Wool Thread. It looks really pretty on your pillow. I really love your little people block. So cute. Plus, I would love to be a winner of some Aurifil thread.
That is a beautiful quilt!
Love your pillow - and thanks for the giveaway!
Your pillow looks lovely. I love the little windmill! Thanks for the giveaway.
I love your work! Very interesting items and colorful!!! Loved everyones coments. Keep up the good work!
Wow! Great blog & thank you for the chance!
I love Aurifil thread, but have never tried the wool. Looks really nice!
Hi, thanks for the opportunity to win some fine thread! Your spider quilt is looking great!!! Have a nice day.
Love, love, love your pillow. I also like Aurifil thread so would really like to try this too!
Thank you for your review and tips about this thread I shall order some right away....Jill
This is me happy dancing!!!
I love how this thread makes your project look almost hand quilted! Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Spiderweb quilt is FABULOUS!
Have a great weekend.
Your little pillow is very cute. I need to make one for myself and my grandsons.
Your blog is full of inspiration! Great giveaway!
Really like that little pillow (its a great idea for my granddaughter's new room!). The Spiderweb/Star quilt is gorgeous - I don't recall ever seeing that pattern before.....good job!!
I love reading your blog! The spider/star quilt is just wonderful, really great. oxoxo
love your projects. so scrappy and pretty!!!!
I keep looking locally for the thread other than piecing cotton, hopefully someone will want to carry it. Looks awesome! The 23rd is my birthday so I'm wishing hard!
I've heard really great things about that Aurifil threads. I'm going to have to track some down.
I have wanted to try this thread for a while now......keeping my fingers crossed.....your spiderweb quilt is coming along nicely......
I'd love to try this thread! I've been hearing a lot of good things about it. Thanks for the chance to win!
I'd love to try the aurifil threads everyone is talking about. I've never seen them in my LQS so they'd bevreally newt me . Thanks for the chance to win.
I already love Aurifil thread - so this is a great giveaway!
Have a great weekend!
Great giveaway. I've heard so many good reviews of Aurifil thread. Thanks
I've been a little afraid to use a 12wt in my machine, never thought to use a metallic needle. Thanks. Your little pillow looks awesome! And the spider quilt WOW!
wow- I have never heard of this thread. It would be fabulous to try it!
Thanks for sharing the Aurofil joy!
LOVE, LOVE the spiderweb quilt ... its one I've been wanting to do for years. Guess I should get started, eh? (I'd also love to try the thread.)
I would love a chance to win some Aurifil thread....now off to my happy dancing : )
Oh, and I love the little pillow!
I've been signing up all over blogland to win some Aurifil thread! I've never tried it but I really want to--thanks for the giveaway!! ♥♥
yummy! aurifil thread is the best! i do need some more!
my, my, you do have a very good blog ... lots of interesting things. have popped it into my faves so read and browse at my leisure.
thanx for the opportunity to win more good thread!
Hi, love your spider web quilt! You have a nice site and what a great thing for a give away! Love the prints and quilting on the pillow, did you do that by hand? I will have to check back and see what you have coming up!
Missy with Toadally Quilts,
toadallyquilts@yahoo.com
blog: www.toadallyquilts.com
I absolutely love the Aurifil Thread!! I have used the 50wt for piecing and would love to try others too!
Thanks!! love your pillow too!
Gorgeous spiderweb! I'd sure love to win the thread.
The little pillow is so cute!
I´m sooo curious how you´re gonna quilt this spiderweb :) (I have bought some new peaarl cottons for mine ... maybe I can make the back this weekend....)
You are such a talented lady. I love all of your work and I am so jealous of all the hand sewing that you can do. It is so beautiful!
p.s. Hope I win the thread. I love it and so does my Bernina 830!
Love thr pillow. I need to make one. Would love to try the thread on a pillow like that.
Love your Spiderweb Quilt so much & of course I really love Aurifil thread. Hope maybe I might win. Thanks
Just popped over from facebook. Saw the post about your giveaway via Aurifil, and now I'm hooked! Love the crazy dresden :)
I sure like to see that someone else likes to jump from one project to another. Thanks for the chance at agile away!
What a cute little pillow and I'd love to give the thread a try...count me in.
Your Spider Web Quilt is beautiful and the little pillow adorable - I love the fabrics! I'd love a chance to win the threads...thanks for the chance :o)
i love your spiderweb quilt. and thanks for the chance to win some aurifil!
I love that pillow and the Birch fabrics you used. I just purchased my first ever Birch fabrics last week and I think I am hooked already. All your firsts are wonderful!
Love the sewing you got done. Oh and how you used DS's fabrics. YUM. I would love to play with some Aurifil. . my favorite!
Aurifil is my favorite thread, but I've never tried the wool blend. It would be great to win! And I love your blog, I read it all the time.
Awesome job on the pillow! The thread is pretty cool!
Pillow is so cute, and the spider web quilt is amazing!!! Just love the interplay of colors and patterns.
Your pillow is fantastic!
Love the spiderweb quilt. Aurafill will complement any of your creations. Your home page is so colorful it makes one want to play with color whether it be with thread or fabric. Nice creations
Love your inspiring blog! The spider web quilt is so cheerful. Thanks for the giveaway.
I am green with envy Mary, over all the beautiful things you accomplish! So much inspiration for a plod along like me, lol!
I felt quite guilty when I read about those cottons, and the special needle. I haven't changed the needle in my 50 year old sewing machine for about ten years...maybe even more. It sews, so I just leave it there !!!
Love the aurifill and would love to win
I've never used wool thread before and I appreciate the helpful hints you provided. I love how your pillow turned out. Thanks for the giveaway.
I keep reading how fabulous Aurifil is, I would love to give some a try!
I love the pillow. Did not know that Aurifil makes a wool/acrylic thread and am eager to try it out
I have used the Aurifil to quilt with and it is like sewing with silk!!!
I LOVE your little pillow, so cute. I too did not know about the wool/acrylic thread, but would love to win and try some out.
First, I want to tell you that your blog is the first or second that I look at each morning. I get alot of inspiration and encouragement from you! I would love the thread. Thanks for the chance to win. quiltexas@gmail.com
Your spider web blocks are a great reminder that I want to make one too. This quilt has been on my to-do list for quite a while.
Thanks for the Give Away. Count me in!
Love you work and seeing what you accomplish. You're amazing. I'd love to try this thread!
Love the Person Quilt block, Molly. Have to do this with DD.
I love the thread and I love your website!
Sounds like a wonderful day. Aurifil thread is fabulous!
great work in the spider web quilt. The Aurifil thread will stand oput so nicely on it. Thank you for the information about the needle type you used for your stitching on the pillow and other hints on the technique.
Yeah, me and my sewing love this thread!
I've been hearing a lot about this thread! Must be time to try it out. Love the spider web/star quilt. It's gorgeous!!
That little pillow is so cute. I love it.
Love the pillow and the Spiderweb Quilt is very intriguing. I've been wanting to try the Aufifil thread.
I love your pillow,and thanks for the chance Aurifil thread
I'd love to win the thread but also have a question - did you have to adjust the tension? I've always heard to use novelty threads in the bobbin but I'm happy to see that this worked in the top! The pillow is darling.
I should say you've been quite busy! I love the little person block and the Spider Web blocks are very cool.
Your pillow gave me the answer of what to do with some quilt blocks a friends grandmother had pieced - thanks. And thanks for the chance to win the thread sampler _ I love heavier weight threads for quilting - they look good.
I love Aurafil thread! Count me in!
I would love to play around a little more with Aurifil, seeing as you and so many others have recommended it to me. I only have one test spool in white and I'm sure those lovely colours would persuade me to switch completely!
I just love your pillow. I would like a chance to try the thread.
I would love to try this Aurifil wool thread. I love all of their other products.
Beautiful work! & yummy aurifil threads!
Hi, I could really use this Aurifil thread. Please pick me!
I made a border of "people" blocks around a bed quilt. I alternated boy-girl and by butting the blocks they are holding hands.
I recenly found your blog. You have a fantastic work. I like the pillows.
Have a nice day.
Great post! I do not need to be registered in the giveaway, but I have been using the wool thread for a while now for my hand applique with wool. I love it a bunch. I've not tried it in the machine yet, but thanks to your post, I will! It gave a very nice touch to this pillow! Love it!
Love your spiderweb quilt - especially the variety of background fabrics. I may have to give this a try! I'm a fan of Aurifil but have'nt tried the wool thread. Looks great. mangelnsm(at)aol(dot)com
I love the pillow but your YoYo's on your Blog are the best!! Good luck with your 1st giveaway and I can always use Aurifil thread!!
The spiderweb quilt is very pretty. I'd like to try one. LOVE Aurifil Thread. I didn't know they did a wool/acrylic blend.
What a great give-away! I'd love to try this thread.... Pretty please? Maybe? Thanks for a great blog!
Love the pillow, so simple and allows the fabric to shine.
I haven't tried the Aurifil, so that would be fun! Thanks for having a great giveaway!
Sandie
zaftig2k at yahoo dot com
Love your little person block Julierose
Yay for first and giveaways! What great thread and such a cute pillow too! :)
The pillow is so cute. I would love to have some of that thread.
My email address is lovinthesunnow@yahoo.com
Congratulations on your first giveaway!
I love your pillow, too, so may need to make one for DH, as he is going on a trip in the next 3 weeks.
I will checkout the rest of your blog; I don't do much hand sewing, but I want to do a crazy patch so have been testing if hand stitching or machine will work.
Thanks for entering me into the Aurifil giveaway, I LOVE their thread!
Your pillow is so sweet & I also *love* your spiderweb quilt!
Aurifil is my favorite, thanks for the chance to win!
What a nice day of 'firsts'.. i love the spider web quilt. Thanks for hosting a give away... I'm in!!
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