An advent calendar for thread lovers - how fun! Better than chocolate, each of these 24 compartments holds a small spool of Aurifil thread . The palette of 24 hues includes five brand-new, limited-edition 50wt colors exclusive to this advent calendar as well as the introduction of five new shades of 8wt and a medley of Aurifil’s cotton thread weights. We are taking pre-orders for Canadian customers now until June 28. That's only 8 days away! These calendars are limited production and need to be pre-ordered. We are happy to ship across Canada for a very reasonable rate. Please ..read more

Drum roll please!  I am happy to announce the release of the 4th pattern in the Tidewater Totes series.  There's nothing that says "east coast" more than lobsters.    I sewed the red, white and blue bag first and then saw this picture online, which suggested a totally different palette for my crustacean.   I had the perfect mottled orange-red batik in my stash. All the stitching on the bags is done completely by machine. The colours are off in this shot, it's actually prettier in person, but you can't order up sunny days at will.  (Or at least I can't ..read more

I am excited to announce that Sew Karen-ly Created...will again be a host shop for the latest thread-ucation program from Aurifil thread.  Thread Labs 2.0 is the sophisticated successor to the inaugural educational subscription offered last year. Building upon the foundational knowledge provided in 2023, the 2024 program will offer an intriguing exploration of techniques and applications, guided by a distinguished team of educators. From July to December, participants will engage in an immersive learning experience, covering a diverse range of skills from FPP to Machine Quilting, th ..read more

"Tidewater Totes" photographed at the Lighthouse Park in Five Islands, Nova Scotia. I am thrilled to announce that the first three patterns in a series of "Tidewater Tote" Bags are now ready.  These have truly been a labour of love, and learning.  The challenge in designing is to make things attractive and detailed -while keeping the sewing as simple as possible- and I believe that goal has been achieved in these simple-to-stitch projects. Whale tails flashing above the water line, lobsters with their claws held high, anchors, and sailboats adorn the tote bag fronts, which a ..read more

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 sh ..read more

Last year when Hoffman California Fabrics announced the fabrics for their annual design challenge, I knew right away I had to have them!  They were an enticing selection of watery greens and blues, just begging to be sewn into something with a seaside theme. To top it all off, they were batiks;  how could I possibly resist?  The prestigious Hoffman Challenge is an annual , long running event;  you can read more about it at this link. This is the second time I have entered the challenge, the first being in 2015.  My entry that time was also juried in as a finalist ..read more

As our good friends at Monty Python's Flying Circus used to say, "and now for something completely different!"  I've had a series of life-sized wall hangings bopping around in my head for months now, and finally managed to birth the first one (s). These giant (6 ft. tall) toy soldiers add a fun, whimsical touch to our Christmas decorating. Simple to make for even a beginner quilter, the pattern has straight seams, rotary cut pieces, and fused appliqué features. These wall-hangings are intended for indoor use, protecting doorways, or standing guard beside the presents under your Christmas ..read more

  Introducing Thread Labs, Aurifil’s 2023 subscription series curated in celebration of Aurifil’s 40th Anniversary. Thread Labs is a six part series that tells the story of Aurifil– from the history and unique production process to an in-depth education on their revered threads. It was developed as a no-fuss program in reaction to the increased consumer demand for education. From July through December, subscribers will gain the necessary tools to more confidently create with a variety of thread weights and techniques. You will finish the year inspired, armed with new skills and a wealth ..read more

 Sometimes life circles back on itself... When I started designing quilts professionally, my first submission (back in...cough...1989) was to Quick & Easy Quilting magazine. The pattern was for a set of placemats using Seminole piecing.  Then editor Sandra Hatch accepted the design for publication and contacted me again to ask would I be interested in doing a regular column on that technique? Writing that column (pre-internet, and on my typewriter with hand-drawn piecing diagrams) spanned the next 12 years, and was a wonderful, wonderful learning experience. Eventually, three si ..read more

Hurricane Fiona made a whirlwind visit to the Maritimes on the weekend, and has certainly left an impression wherever she visited.  Here in Amherst, N.S. we got off rather lucky, our area of town in particular.   We lost power during the night as the storm raged; the winds were wicked.  Before stepping outside to assess damage in the morning, we were greeted with this odd view from a kitchen window.  There were leaves covering everything!  Even the house was plastered! There were several large trees down on our street, including this one which fell across the ..read more