Quilts of a Feather: In Memory of Jessica: Aurifil threads

Sunday, November 22, 2015

In Memory of Jessica: Aurifil threads

I really want to thank Aurifil threads for supporting this quilt by sponsoring the threads. This post is to honor and celebrate the company, people behind it, and the threads they sent me to use in this quilt. Here are all the threads I used in this quilt:

Aurifil threads used for the In Memory of Jessica thread painting.

Aurifil very generously sent me 1 large and 24 small spools of thread (the large spools in the upper right of the photo are from my own stash). I tried to pick colors as accurately as possible, but still ended up with 8 unopened small spools (the ones at the bottom of the photo). I did use 27 different threads on this quilt though!

Here are the colors I used on the face and neck:

Aurifil threads used for the face and neck.

The only place I used the Dove (2600) was the nose ring, and the only place I used black was the eyelashes. I used Dark Brown (5024) and Chocolate (2360) for the eyebrows. Butter (2123) was used for the brightest highlights on the chest, cheek, nose and forehead. For the lips I used Light Salmon (2220) mixed with Peach (2215). Peach is also used for most of the middle skin tones. Raisin (2345) was used for the lip creases. Fleshy Pink (2420) was used for the brighter skin tones. I used Cafe Au Lait (2340) for the medium shadows and Dark Antique Gold (2372) for the dark shadows.

Approximate areas the threads were used on the face.

I used 15 colors for the hair--though I wish I hadn't used Dark Antique Gold in the shadows because it really has too much of a green caste for the hair. I used a lot of the other threads to help blend it in though.

Aurifil threads used for the hair.

I arranged them in the above photo from highlights to shadows, here is a list of all of them (from left to right): 2123, 2106, 4658, 2134, 2320 (large spool), 2214, 2210, 2930, 2335, 2155, 2372, 2355, 4012, 2360, and 5024.

Aurifil threads used for the hair.

I meant to keep the background really simple, but I ended up grabbing 3 extra greens from my stash to create the shadows and highlights in the background swirls:

Aurifil threads used on the background.

I used Light Toast (2320) on the back, which used up about 9.5 very full bobbins:

Aurifil thread on the back of the quilt.

I love how the back looks, using all the same color really gives it a different feel than the front of the quilt!

Back of the thread painting. I love how the thread gives it a feel of shining and glowing.

It is kind of amazing to me that only 27 colors of thread (and only one of them is a varigated) was able to create this convincing portrait:

In Memory of Jessica thread painting using Aurifil threads.

While working on this quilt I came across this quote on Jessica's facebook page, "Do not give from the depths of your own well, give only from its overflow." I feel like the extra Aurifil I have is my overflow from this project, so I am giving away a set of 4 Aurifil threads to 2 lucky winners!

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED**

Set A: Terracotta (2385), Very Light Brass (2915), Creme Brule (4150), and Yellow Orange (2145).

Set B: Cinnamon Toast (2390), Toast (6010), Light Caramel (6001) and Golden Glow (3920)

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED**

Giveaway Rules:

1. PLEASE make sure you are not a no-reply blogger (if you're not sure, google it)--if you are, you need to leave your email address! If you do not, I will not have a way to contact you and will pick a different winner!

2. International entries welcome.

3. Giveaway open until November 29th at 6pm, MST.

4. Winner notified by email, if they do no respond within 48 hours I will choose a new winner.

5. Winners chosen at random.

6. Limit of two comments/entries per person.

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED**

To Enter: leave a comment below telling me which set of thread (A or B) you'd prefer. Followers get a second entry--just leave a separate comment telling me how you follow me (IG, email, blog reader, etc).