Fat Quarterly Aurifil Challenge

A couple of weeks ago on the Fat Quarterly Blog there was a post about the Aurifil Challenge - you can read about it HERE.


Well I threw my 'hat' into the group and was picked to try out the threads.  I've received a sample pack of threads - various colours, various grades, 4 cotton and one wool. 

So over the last few day's I've been considering what I could do to try the threads out and as I'm partaking in a Quilt Bee group next year I thought it would be helpful to explore an improv quilt block and use it to make a panel or cushion.


To that end I've searched for improv blocks and quilts in blogs, Flickr, Pintrest and through Google Search - there has been lots of inspiration and an amazing amount of stunning work to view, but, I do however get distracted by quilts with lots of solids, they just seem to draw me in more.  Which doesn't help me in some ways as the blocks we are to make each other in the bee are to make use of our scraps, and well you know scraps, they are every pattern, colour, shape and size.


Though this challenge block design won't be created with scraps I feel that it could easily transfer into using scraps for the central shapes.  I want to use this block as a potential piece for an exhibition next year so this first one, using the Aurifil threads will be made using hand dyed fabrics but I think it could be recreated using scrap fabrics (another tester block may be required).  So what block have I sketched out - well it's based on Wooly Fabulous' Contemporary Embroidery work - you can see her photostream here and here it is

now to select the fabrics and decide on how to use the threads