Aurifil Artisan July Challenge: Scrap Fabric Seahorse Quilt with FreeSpirit Fabrics

This month’s Aurifil Artisan Challenge was all about embracing the beauty of scrap fabric with the theme “Let’s Get Scrappy!” The brief? Turn fabric scraps into something spectacular. We could use scraps from our own stash or dive into the gorgeous bundle included in the welcome pack - a collaboration between Aurifil and FreeSpirit Fabrics.

And wow, what a fabulous mix of colours, prints, and textures that was! As soon as I opened the bundle, my mind was buzzing with ideas. There were lots of beautiful Kaffe Fassett and FreeSpirit Fabrics scraps - full of vibrant patterns and bold colour combinations. I loved the variety of fabrics, the pops of colour, and even those decorative pinked edges that added so much character. I knew I wanted to showcase all of those details in my project, rather than cutting everything into neat, uniform shapes.

My Inspiration

For this challenge, I wanted to create something a little different - a central quilt panel that would really let the fabrics shine, while also incorporating an appliqué element. FreeSpirit Fabrics scraps tell a story of creativity and resourcefulness, and I wanted that story to remain visible in the final piece.

Building the Background

To start, I grabbed a piece of Vlieseline iron-on interfacing and placed it wrong side up on my worktable. Then came the fun part: arranging the scraps! I positioned the strips horizontally, slightly overlapping each one to cover the entire area. Once I was happy with the layout, I fused them in place using a hot, dry iron. This created a wonderfully textured background, but I had another vision in mind. My theme was a seahorse quilt panel, and I wanted it to feel ethereal and underwater - dreamy and soft, yet with the vibrant colours still peeking through. To achieve that, I layered a sheet of white organza over the FreeSpirit Fabrics scrap background.

Adding Movement & Depth

To enhance the sense of bubbles and water currents, I used Aurifil 3817 Marrakech variegated thread to free-motion stitch circles and swirls across the organza. This not only secured the layer but added texture and movement to the piece - almost like watching sunlight dance through water. The sheer organza catches the light beautifully, creating a soft shimmer that enhances the dreamy, underwater feel I was aiming for.

The Seahorse Appliqué

Next, adding in my seahorse! I wanted it to stand out against the dreamy background, so I chose bold, vibrant fabrics, Kaffe Fassett fabrics are great for fussy cutting, and finished the edges with a satin stitch using threads from Aurifil’s Tula Pink Dragon’s Breath collection in 50wt. The rich tones in this set paired beautifully with the colours peeking through the organza.

Framing the Panel

To help the central panel stand out, I began by adding a crisp white border — a clean frame that gave the piece breathing space and helped define the composition. I then chose a vibrant Kaffe Fassett fabric for the outer borders, selecting a pink and lime green print that beautifully echoed the colours in the FreeSpirit Fabrics scraps used in the background.

Beyond the central panel, I kept the quilting simple. As this is only my second ever quilt, I didn’t want to overwhelm the piece — and with all those free-motion stitched bubbles already bringing in movement and texture, it didn’t need much more.

For the finishing touches, I created a flanged binding to tie everything together. The pop of colour from the flange echoed the backing fabric and added that final extra detail.

This piece not only celebrates the beauty and versatility of FreeSpirit Fabrics scraps, but also the threads that brought it all to life. I used:

• Aurifil Forty3 white thread for both piecing and quilting

• Aurifil 50wt cotton from Tula Pink’s Dragon’s Breath collection

• Aurifil 40wt variegated cotton thread in colour 3817 Marrakech 

• Aurifil clear monofilament to quilt around the seahorse motif after adding the wadding and backing

The result? A unique, mixed-texture quilt panel that brings a whimsical underwater world to life — full of colour, light, and layered creativity.

Final Thoughts

One of the things I loved most about this challenge was discovering just how versatile the Aurifil & FreeSpirit Fabrics scrap bundles can be. At first glance, small, irregular pieces might seem a little limiting — but once you start playing with colour, texture, and layering, the possibilities are endless. From piecing and appliqué to creative quilting techniques, these scraps open the door to so many exciting design opportunities.

This is only my second quilt ever, and while it may be small(ish) at around 27" by 30" and not entirely perfectly formed (cue the thumping heart when my magic marking pen didn’t disappear for days… and the last-minute drama of cutting my quilt binding too short!), I absolutely loved making it. The process was full of learning moments and little victories — and in the end, that’s what handmade creativity is all about.