Moda + Aurifil: Interviews + Pro Tips

Thank you so much for joining us for our two weeks of Moda love! Welcome to week two:). Today, we’re turning to Moda’s very own Lissa Alexander (also of Moda Lissa) to learn a little more about Moda AND we’ll hear from a handful of our treasured Moda designers for some excellent tips & tricks to keep you inspired!

A lineup of Moda All-Stars helmed by Lissa Alexander on the left! — via Martingale

Can you tell us a bit of background about Moda?
United Notions was established in 1975 when Mark Dunn came to Dallas, Texas to start a notion distributorship. Mark previously worked for his father in Atlanta, GA in the notions industry and had decided to go out on his own. Dallas was the perfect place being centrally located and several of the major notions brands were also located there. Mark Dunn along with Vice President of Design, Cheryl Freydberg created Moda Fabrics in 1990. First creating in house lines and now working with over 50 of the top creatives in the quilting and graphic industry, Moda has always prided itself on top quality, beautiful designs, while selling to the independent quilt and specialty retailers. United Notions/Moda is very much a family business as some of the 3rd and 4th generation family members have joined the company.

Cheryl Freydburg, Mark Dunn, Lissa Alexander, and Holly Hickman — via Moda

What do you love most about working in this industry?
Having a job that centers around my hobby is the best gig there is.  Working with creative people in every step from product development to seeing the final fabrics and quilts on the store shelves is incredible. I love exploring trends, playing with color and studying the history of patchwork gives me goosebumps, but overall building relationships with like minded people that I am able to call my friends has got to the most rewarding part of working in the industry.

What other industry gives of their time and talent like quilters. The most recent example is the storms that have affected the Texas and Florida areas. Where there is a need, quilters are the first to respond using their skills to make, share and comfort those in need. That is greatness!!

Fat Quarter Shop took Lissa with them to visit Moda Designers at Spring Market 2016 — via Fat Quarter Shop, Jolly Jabber

When did Aurifil and Moda first connect and how has the relationship developed over the years? 
United Notions was distributing Aurifil threads, so we already had a business relationship with the brand. Aurifil was still fairly new to the quilting industry. You had to be living under a rock to not notice the social media vibe that was happening thanks to Alex Veronelli, CBDO of Aurifil. I was intrigued mainly because Alex reminds me a lot of the president of Moda. They both thrive on listening and watching and then responding to the needs and wants of their customers. They both are very quick to be able to answer these needs not in product but also in their flexibility to react. The moda designers have loved working with Aurifil to combine thread sets that match their fabric lines. Whether picking fabric or threads, color is always the hardest thing to decide on. The thread sets have taken the thinking out of the equation.

Mark and Cheryl with Moda Designers — via Moda

Why do you love working with Aurifil? 
I had used Aurifil threads fairly regularly, but it was not until I took my machine in to be serviced that I realized how special this thread was. The machine tech had noticed the Aurifil spool on my machine and told me he could really tell the difference with the thread I was using when he was cleaning my machine. When I took my machine home I began to pay closer attention to what the tech said, I had little to no lint as I was sewing or in my bobbin case. The stitches laid into the fabric nicely eliminating even the slightest bulk that certain threads can cause.  I do ALOT of sewing on all different colors so I like the naturals but also use some of the colors as a neutral color 2000, 2310, 2312. The medium colors such as pink color 2437, grey color 2615, country blue color 2612 work wonderfully when using a big range of fabrics, they are not too dark, not too light, just perfect.

Aurifil Spools from ‘It Always Comes Back to Weight’ — via Moda

I asked around the office and polled some of my quilting friends and here is what they had to say about Aurifil.

• Variety and options!
• I like the different weights and the different looks you can get from them – from the 80wt on machine quilting to the 12wt for big-stitch quilting.
• Threads colors consistent across the sizes so that I can mix machine quilting with hand quilting.
• I use their variegated threads for quilting because the change of colors is very subtle which adds texture without glaring color differences.
• Spool sizes. Small spools so I can lots of colors to the big cones for machine piecing.
• Easy identifiable colored spools to distinguish thread weights.
• Bobbins hold lots of thread.

And believe it or not I even got one comment  –  it doesn’t hurt that Alex smells good.