Pat Sloan Starter Thread Kit from Aurifil

Pat Sloan Starter Kit of Aurifil Thread
Gifted by Aurifil
www.aurifil.com
Reviewed by Jessica Nichols, Editor of FaveQuilts.com

The Pat Sloan Starter Kit of Aurifil Thread includes 12 spools of basic threads for machine applique and machine quilting. Pat Sloan has chosen the 12 colors she uses the most, so you get all the essentials for quilting and applique. The Aurifil spools included in the Pat Sloan Starter Kit are filled with 1422 yards each of 50 wt, 100% cotton thread. This fiber content and weight is perfect for both quilting and applique. These threads can be used with either a sewing machine for machine applique and free motion quilting or with hand-sewing needles for hand applique and hand quilting.

Pat Sloan prefers this particular thread because it resists tangling and fraying. I too enjoyed using Aurifil thread; the vibrant color and luster of the thread made my stitches look beautiful and professional. There are very few threads that are versatile enough for both machine stitching and hand quilting, but Aurifil did the job! I was also pleased that each spool held over 1400 yards of thread. There was plenty of thread on each spool to make an entire quilt, including bobbin thread.

Beyond the durability and versatility of the threads in the Pat Sloan Starter Kit, I also appreciated the variety of colors chosen for the kit. Pat Sloan selected a muted rainbow of colors that were subtle enough to blend easily with many fabrics. She avoided bright, primary colors that would stand out too much and show mistakes on a finished quilt. Instead, she chose practical, blendable colors like burgundy, true blue, cream, goldenrod, and moss green. Aside from choosing softer colors, Pat Sloan also picked out colors that were most commonly used in her projects. Since most of us don't quilt in brash, fluorescent colors, the selection of colors included in the kit are sure to be the most practical. I personally identified several colors I had used in my last few projects in the kit, including a salmon, a dusty light blue, and a chocolate brown.

The Pat Sloan Starter Kit of Aurifil Thread makes a wonderful gift for a new quilter who hasn't built up a stash of threads yet. It is especially useful for crafters fond of applique, since they need small amounts of threads in many different colors. These basic spools will be their go-to applique threads for years to come!