During a recent re-organization of my sewing studio, I found a number of things I considered too special to throw away. The box contained orphan blocks, the one or two English Paper Pieced (EPP) elements that didn’t quite work, and many other things saved for “someday”. I found my box of “special bits” at around the same time I received a sample pack of WonderFil Specialty Threads. What else could I do but make a little mini quilt for my studio?
Assortment of WonderFil threads
The thread package contained WonderFil’s InvisaFil (for English Paper Piecing and other fine work), Efina, fine cotton thread that’s a dream to use on appliqueing cotton fabrics, and a brand new star in the WonderFil’s constellation of fabulous embellishing threads called Ellana. It’s a fine wool thread specifically developed for projects involving wool applique. This brand new thread is going to play a big role in my little mini quilt, Studio Bird.
Ellana is a 2-ply thread blend: 50% Merino Wool (for a soft, luxurious feel) and 50% acrylic for strength. Here’s the fun bit, it’s not fuzzy.
InvisaFil, cottonized soft polyester, 100wt – 2 ply
Efina, 60wt 2ply 100% Egyptian Cotton, made from 100% Giza 88, the highest caliber extra long staple Egyptian Cotton. Fibers spun with Giza 88 are prized for their extreme softness, strength and unparalleled luster.
The lovely spools of Ellana Thread, 12wt 2 ply, 50/50 Merino Wool/Acrylic Blend. To die for…
I avoid working with wools because of the fuzz factor. Ellana is engineered with a tight twist that doesn’t allow for fuzz. That twist is also important because it allows your whip stitches to sink into the appliqued wool pieces if you want them to. It’s also a good choice for embroidering details onto wool applique pieces. Throughout the project, I used this thread doubled. I was really happy with how it performed.
I found some of WonderFil’s Dazzle thread in my studio re-organization. Dazzle is like perle cotton with a metallic pop, so it’s going to be part of this new quilt too.
WonderFil threads embellish this quilted mini wall hanging
To make your own special mini quilt, look for the following items.
materials
- EPP pieces
- wool felt bits
- scrap of ric rack
- strips of neutral fabrics, about 2½” long
- cotton quilt batting
- quilter’s muslin
- quilting spray
- contrasting basting thread
- safety pins
- hand quilting and sewing needles
- beads
WonderFil Specialty Threads will make your project shine. So gather up your collection of bits and pieces, and come on back tomorrow when we get to terms with the fun of quilting leftovers.
4 stunning threads, pins, and beads to use in the Studio Bird mini quilt
This is part 1 of 5 in this series.
Go to part 2: Neutral backgrounds make your scrappy quilt design stand out