Aurifil Thread – Thread Review

Aurifil is an Italian Thread company popular among quilters. They make threads in several weights and fibers, including cotton and wool.

For needlepointers and other hand stitchers, there’s been just one tiny problem — the packages are way to large to be useful. Coming on spools in several sizes, except for the embroidery floss, you’ll be getting a lifetime supply of each color.

Happily for us they have recently repackaged their 12 wt cotton and wool threads into skeins. With 65 yards per skein it’s still generous but it’s an amount you can use.

These threads are starting to appear in needlework stores, including Needle in a Haystack, so I tested them in several projects.

!2 weight is about the same thickness as two strands of embroidery floss (it’s also the size of Sulky Petites). Looking at the thread, it looked thinner. I tried both cotton and wool on a Charley Harper owl. Both worked beautifully. I could use, as I expected two strands with great coverage on 18 mesh.

The cotton had a lovely sheen, more shiny than floss but without the strong texture of pearl cotton. The picture shows this thread on a spool so you can see the lovely texture.

The wool is about the same thickness as a strand of crewel but isn’t quite so fuzzy. I used it in a couple of textured stitches and was pleased with the results.

Although not packaged for hand sewing, the thinner 28wt can also be used for stitchery. It’s slightly thinner than a strand of floss. I used it single strand for shadow stitching on 18 mesh. While you can clearly see that it’s been stitched, when you are working it’s so fine that it can be hard to see. Work in good light with this thread.

The floss comes on 18-yard wooden spools, about twice the amount in a DMC or Anchor skein. It’s next on my list to try.

I’m delighted by these threads.

PLEASE NOTE: Samples of these threads were made available to me for testing and review purposes.