Tula Pink is set to launch her Everglow fabric collection along with a limited edition Aurifil Neon & Neutral Thread Collection in April 2023. As one of the Influencers chosen to introduce this new collection, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to preview and experience the fabrics and threads ahead of the official release. It was truly an honour to be part of this launch.

Being able to combine fabrics from the Tula Pink Everglow and True Colours collections with the custom neon Aurifil Threads, resulted in a truly breathtaking final project! The quilting accentuated the vibrant colours and elevated the striking patterns of the fabric and I can’t wait to share all the details in this blog!

Unboxing

Upon receiving the Tula Pink fabric and Aurifil Threads, I was greeted with a stunning box presentation. The items were meticulously arranged in a Tula project bag that perfectly complemented the contents. It was a delightful experience unwrapping the surprise and beginning the project - and was also the first part of our Influencer content to record ourselves unboxing the goodies and sharing the excitement!

The stunning fabrics immediately caught your eye and excited you about using them. The Aurifil 20 small spool threads were presented in a gorgeous box featuring Tula's iconic Giraffe design, and the Lion boxes inside perfectly complemented the overall aesthetic. Unboxing all these beautiful fabrics and threads was a pure delight.

Designing my Project

The challenge now was determining the best way to showcase these fabulous materials through a creative project. To begin designing, I turned to my favourite app for creating quilt patterns - PreQuilt. After uploading the graphics of the Tula Pink Everglow and True Colors fabrics, I began experimenting with different quilt designs that I had previously created. I immediately found the perfect one to use - all I needed to do was decide which fabrics to focus on and incorporate.

In this case, I decided to trust my instincts and embrace the "less is more" approach for my design. While I could have easily incorporated all the fabrics sent to me, I felt that using four main colours and a neutral background would be more cohesive and align with my personal design style.I specifically selected colors that matched the neons featured in the thread kit. I was thrilled with how these colors added a vibrant pop to the overall design.

I created a quilt with curves for the first time, and I'm thrilled with the outcome! The curves generate a gentle touch to the design while offering a distinctive element that catches the eye when viewing the quilt. Are they complicated and intimidating to sew? Not at all! Drawing on my experience making Memory Bears, I found sewing curves to be a manageable task. My top tip is to avoid using pins and proceed slowly. While I plan to create a short YouTube video demonstrating this technique in the future, for now, check out Suzy Quilts’ blog post here.

Quilter’s tools:
Two things I always use when I’m making my quilt blocks are Flatter Spray (and this Wild Mint fragrance is fantastic!) and my new favourite tool, my Modern American Vintage Clapper, which I picked up from Quilt Con earlier this year.

With its block-based design, the Among The Flowers Quilt Pattern was a quick project to assemble. Once completed, the next step was basting and preparing for quilting! Since I was using the most gorgeous and vivid neon threads, I took my time with the quilting process to ensure that every stitch was perfect and made the most of the vibrant thread colours.

When it comes to quilting, I prefer to do it myself with the help of a walking foot and Aurifil Thread. For this project, I began by selecting the neutral thread colors for the background and the neon threads to match the vibrant fabrics. I used the lines of the patchwork design and the needle distance on my walking foot to create a simple yet striking quilting pattern. After a while, I felt that the neons were not getting enough attention, so I began quilting sections of the neutral background with the neon threads, and voila! They popped out beautifully and added another layer of depth to the quilt.

Creating this quilt demanded numerous hours and meticulous attention to detail, but the final outcome is incredibly satisfying. Although changing the stitching direction meant more threads to bury than I typically prefer, I'm delighted with the result and how much detail the quilting alone contributes to the finished quilt.

The ultimate task was to capture a quintessential 'Made Just Sew' image of the completed #quiltsinthewild project! Serendipitously, during a visit to York in the UK, the Quilt Gods smiled upon us with clear blue skies and a stunning setting for the perfect photo shoot. And yes, it was jam-packed - but that has never stopped me!

I am grateful to Tula Pink, Free Spirit Fabric, and Aurifil for selecting me as an influencer to launch their great fabrics and threads. This has been an extraordinary opportunity, and I sincerely hope you have all enjoyed reading about my journey in bringing my Among the Flowers Quilt into full bloom!