Rainbow Trout made with fabric scraps from Free Spirit Fabrics and quilted with Aurifil 50wt thread. The quilted fish is made into a zipper pillow. Made by Tamara Darragh for Remi Vail Studio.

Creating a Rainbow Trout Quilt Pillow: Aurifil Scrap Challenge with Free Spirit Fabrics

Hello, lovely quilter!

I’m beyond excited to share my latest quilting adventure with you—participating in the Aurifil Scrap Challenge for July as a 2024 Aurifil Artisan! 🌟 Aurifil, known for their fantastic threads, recently teamed up with Free Spirit Fabrics for this challenge. They sent us beautifully curated fabric scraps and five spools of coordinating 50wt threads, sparking endless creativity. My project? A vibrant, shimmering rainbow trout! 

Why a Rainbow Trout?

You might be wondering why I chose a rainbow trout for this challenge. While I didn’t grow up in Minnesota, I've lived here for many years and have developed a love for fly fishing. When I opened my Aurifil Scrap Challenge box, one fabric instantly reminded me of the beautiful patterns seen on trout. It felt like the perfect blend of creativity and nostalgia to bring to life through fabric.

The Creative Process

Aurifil’s box of surprises included fabric scraps that were off-cuts from Free Spirit Fabrics. These scraps would have normally been discarded, but Aurifil sorted them, paired them with coordinating thread, and sent them to us, the Aurifil Artisans.

I cut out the fabric scraps and appliqued them to the backing fabric using a Pellon 807 Wonder Web fusible web. This technique allowed me to arrange and layer the scraps to achieve the look I wanted. I then quilted the edges of the fish with Clear Aurifil Nylon Monofilament Thread to secure everything in place.

To give the trout depth and texture, I free-motion quilted it using the five coordinating Aurifil 50 wt threads (colors #s: 1154, 5017, 4020, 2540, 2691). These threads matched the fabric perfectly, adding that extra touch of detail and dimension. For the background, I used a neutral Aurifil 50 wt thread (color #2311) to free-motion quilt a watery effect, making it look like the fish was swimming.

The final touch was transforming this 16 x 26 inch piece into a quilted throw pillow with a hidden zipper, making it a functional piece of art!

I'll be adding a zipper pillow tutorial soon so keep a lookout for that!

Challenges and Triumphs

Like any creative project, this one had its challenges. Balancing the colors and ensuring the transitions looked natural required a lot of trial and error. There were moments when I questioned my color choices or struggled with tiny fabric pieces, but persistence paid off.

One of the most rewarding aspects was seeing the trout take shape. Each stitch brought it closer to reality, and watching it evolve was incredibly satisfying. The final piece exceeded my expectations. I'm hoping it captured the beauty and essence of a rainbow trout.

Sharing the Love

Participating in the Aurifil Scrap Challenge has been an amazing experience. It pushed me to think outside the box and use these curated scraps in a creative and meaningful way. I’m so excited to share my rainbow trout with you all and hope it inspires you to dive into your own scrap stash and create something special.

If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding challenge, I highly recommend giving the Aurifil Scrap Challenge a try. It’s a fantastic way to use up those beloved fabric scraps and push your creative boundaries. Aurifil will also be selling a few of these scrap boxes with matching thread, so keep an eye out!

For more information on the Aurifil and Free Spirit collaboration, check out the Aurifil blog post.

Thank you for joining me on this journey! I’d love to hear about your own experiences with scrap projects or see what you create. Feel free to share your thoughts and creations in the comments below.

Happy quilting!

xo,
Tamara

4 comments

Your fish is beautiful

Linda Arata

Love how your trout turned out—beautiful!!

Barb

I’m eager for your pillow tutorial.

Michele

This is absolutely gorgeous. Great job.

Fonda Boyd

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