Embroidery - Then and Now

With it's beautiful stitches and intricate designs, embroidery has been around for ages and served many purposes. The wonders of embroidery can be dated back as far as the Cro-Magnon days of 30,000 BC where it was used to make decorative stitching on boots and hats. In China, the artform was picked up around 3500 BC, adorning clothing with precious stones and pearls using silk thread. This style of embellishment grew to include religious objects and household items as a sign of wealth and status in many cultures including Persia, Siberia, India, Japan, Byzantium, and Medieval & Baroque Europe. The Renaissance Period brought embroidery use to decorate tapestries, curtains, and lavish linens while the Age of Enlightenment brought elaborately embroidered fabrics of silk and velvet to be used to adorn both men's waistcoats and women's dresses.

In the 1820's, the first hand embroidery machine was created by Josue Heilmann. Although it could do the work of up to 4 hand embroiderers, it required a great deal of coordination and skill. Next came Schiffli shuttle machines which required punching designs on paper tape that then ran through an embroidery machine. One error could ruin an entire design, forcing the creator to start over. Thankfully times have changed. Much of modern embroidery is stitched with a computerized embroidery machine using patterns digitized with embroidery software, adding different stitches and textures to the designs with ease.

While wool, linen, and silk have been used as thread for thousands of years, today cotton, rayon, and polyester have become more common. High quality threads breathe life into these pieces with beautiful color and shine. You can experience this shine and over 450 color options in our line of Robison-Anton embroidery thread available in both Polyester and Rayon. Thank goodness for the modern technology that has brought us high tech machinery and premium quality threads!

Posted August 1, 2019

Sewing Project Helps Patients in Uganda

Moorestown Rotary Lunch Club's Kawempe Sewing Project is a 10 week sewing class located in Uganda that teaches tailoring and sewing skills. The skills they learn in the workshop will help patients of Kawempe Home Care (most of whom suffer from HIV/AIDS) provide food, clothing and school fees for their families. The items they produce, such as diaper bags, book bags and lap top bags, will be sold in local, regional and international markets. The tailors will be paid a fixed price for each item they create - this money will them help to fund the needs of their loved ones.

Partnering with Mt. Laurel, Barnegat, Garden State, Camden and Moorestown Breakfast rotaries, the Moorestown Rotary Lunch Club raised funds for 10 semi-industrial sewing machines, tables, chairs, startup materials and a teacher.

In the photo to the right you can see a student trying out their skills with Gütermann thread!

Posted July 4, 2019

How Comfortable Bras Led to the Apollo 11 Spacesuit

Read the full article here..

Posted June 11, 2019
Writing and Video Credit: Timeline.com

The History and Meaning Behind Quilt Patterns

Through the years, quilts have become documents of history. They are the products of their society, influenced by the culture, and the environment of the people who made them. The history of America can be seen in the history of quilts. Stitched into these quilts is the rich heritage of thrifty self-sufficient women who helped homestead the land, the history of families sewn into quilts one patch or one stitch at a time, and the legacy of the art of quilting, passed on from generation to generation.

Thousands of quilt blocks and patterns have been created and sewn throughout the decades. The quilt patterns or "blocks" that are displayed on the Quilt Trail were in the quilts used by pioneer women as they traveled West and homesteaded the prairie. They also depict other popular patterns used in 1862, when the Homestead Act was signed by President Lincoln, up until the Act was repealed in 1986.

Follow the trail to learn more about quilt making and the history of quilts and how they truly are documents of history, reflecting who we were as a nation and a people. Read on to learn the meaning behind different quilt designs. Click to read more.

Posted May 13, 2019

Blanketeers to the Rescue

Project Linus is a National charity with the goal of providing love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets lovingly created by volunteers. These volunteers, also called "blanketeers," create these cozy gifts and distribute them to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child is in need.

Created in 1995 when Karen Loucks decided to provide homemade security blankets to Denver's Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center after reading a newspaper article about a young child with cancer that found relief with her special "blankie." With chapters in all 50 states, Project Linus continues to grow in order to fulfill these same needs of these suffering children.

Multiple times a year, the organization holds "Make a Blanket Days" at various chapters throughout the U.S. At these events, each chapter hosts activities in their area to promote Project Linus and to increase the inventory of cuddly blankets. With such a strong national network of caring people, they average 75,000 to 100,000 blankets from each National Make a Blanket Day - now that's a lot of smiles brought to the faces of needy children! Follow this link (www.projectlinus.org) to see how you can help with their mission!

Posted April 8, 2019

The History Behind Pattern Making

For hundreds of years, fit was not considered particularly important when it came to clothing. Clothing was largely utilitarian and the most important feature of any garment was that it covered your body. As the concept of fashion advanced, fit began to emerge as a way to create desired body shapes or to make clothing more comfortable or functional. But, initially, fit was considered a luxury - something only the wealthy had the disposable income to worry with.

The first known clothing patterns appeared in Spain in 1589. During these years, Spanish fashions dominated European dress - and these books gave specifics on making garments for men, women, clergy, and knights, but these were complex how-to books written for tailors. It wasn't until the 1800s, that less technical books were written with full-size patterns for practical items of clothing. Around this same time, women's magazines were gaining in popularity and many of them printed patterns, increasing the average woman's access to stylish garments. At first, these were printed on small magazine pages and were difficult to use. In the 1850s this progressed to full-sized paper patterns printed in one size, with no scale measurements for enlarging. Eventually this developed into foldout patterns, printed in full scale in various magazines. During the Civil War era, tailor Ebenezer Butterick developed the mass-produced, tissue paper pattern, sized according to a proportional grading system. Butterick and his family cut and folded each pattern and began mass-producing ladies dress patterns from their New York headquarters. A few years later, James McCall began developing his own line of women's clothing patterns - which gave the American woman some options for her clothing. Next came Joseph Shapiro who established the Simplicity Pattern Company, creating patterns that were more affordable for the average household and sold for about 15 cents.

The availability of paper patterns increased as the home sewing machine became more affordable and the number of fashion magazines rose. Women in rural areas were able to dress in current fashions without having to shop at a major department store. This provided women with a degree of freedom and encouraged fashion trends to emerge. Today's resurgence of at home sewing and garment making seems to be encouraging a similar freedom in the form of expression of one's style and creativity.

Posted March 15, 2019
Information obtained from Alabama Chanin Journal

Quilts That Heal

If you know someone with Alzheimer's or dementia, you know how challenging it can be to comfort them when they are anxious or agitated. This is where Fidget Quilts come in "handy". Fidget Quilts are lap-sized quilts covered in tactile fabrics and objects to provide patients with a way to busy themselves and their hands through sensory and tactile stimulation. These quilts have also been effective at soothing those with forms of dementia, ADD, or autism spectrum disabilities.

Often, as dementia progresses, people become restless or agitated and at a loss of what to do with their hands. They may rub their hands together repeatedly or pull on their bedding. Having a Fidget Quilt with sensory items on it can be soothing and provide an outlet for this anxiety. These can be personalized to include items related to an individual's specific hobbies and preferences and can even incorporate pleasant memories to remind them of their loved ones.

Including zippers, ties, ribbon, strings, buttons, snaps, closures, and various textures can help to relieve their anxiousness. It is truly amazing that something so easily created can help to comfort those that are suffering. Want to make one for someone in your life or to donate to a senior living facility? You can find instructions on how to make a Fidget Quilt here. Don't have time to make a quilt? Make a Fidget Apron! Just pick up an apron at a thrift store and add a variety of "fidgets" to it. It doesn't get much easier than that and you've provided a gift that will make a difference in someone's life.

Posted February 8, 2019

A Guild That Does So Much

More than a non-profit association involved in the world of quilting, Quilter's Crossing in Palm Harbor, Florida is a guild that fosters friendships, philanthropic endeavors toward the community, and a pleasant atmosphere where members exchange technique, design, and ideas among those who love quilting. Through various activities, the group has raised funds and donations for numerous causes such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Neonatal Intensive Care Blanket donations, creating Quilts of Valor for veterans, and raising funds for the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

The Club holds biennial shows that alternate between quilt shows in the odd years and quilt challenges in the even years. The 2018 quilt challenge, based upon the theme "Telling Tales" encouraged members to step outside their comfort zone and let their creative juices flow. The quilts were exhibited in February at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center in Dunedin, Florida.

In early 2019, Quilters Crossing of Palm Harbor presented their 16th biennial quilt show, "Quilting Under The Palms 2019". The event took place in Clearwater, Florida and included demonstrations, classes, raffle baskets, and Gütermann thread (a favorite among some of the members as seen in the photo). All proceeds from the raffle benefited Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, an organization that helps young men and women develop abilities to face the future with a sense of direction and hope. A big thank you to the members of Quilter's Crossing for all that they do!

Posted January 24, 2019

The Ergonomics of Sewing

Have you ever enjoyed a rewarding day of sewing only to be met with pain in your neck, back or hands? The most common complaint amongst sewers and quilters is back and/or neck pain. Do you experience any of these problems? You may also experience tingling in your hands or arms. These aches can be debilitating, but they don't have to be. The answer may be simple...ergonomics!

When we hold our bodies in weird or unnatural positions it can put a strain on our joints and muscles, thus resulting in those dreadful aches and pains. First of all, your hips should sit at the very back of your chair and your feet should be flat on the ground. Your legs, elbows, and waist should all be bent at 90 degree angles. Follow this diagram of proper sewing posture so that the next time you are sewing a beautiful creation it will be pain free!

Posted December 11, 2018

Cindy Walter Shares Her Knowledge of Hand Quilting

Cindy Walter, Author, TV Host, and Quilting Instructor, is a big fan of Gütermann thread and is not afraid to spread the word! At the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Cindy taught 2 hand quilting classes of 25 students each. Gütermann hand quilting thread was her thread of choice for use in these classes because it allowed her to focus on the teaching and techniques without worrying about thread issues.

Cindy was kind enough to share her top 5 tips on hand quilting:

Prewash fabric beforehand so it is as soft as possible.

Use the thinnest batting possible, avoid dense battings.

Use a high quality needle, size 10.

Use a concave top needle that fits all the way on your middle finger of your writing hand.

Use Gütermann thread; it is easy to thread, do not have to coat it with bees wax, and it won't tangle.

Posted November 12, 2018

Lucy's Stitched Hugs Will Warm Your Heart

Lucy Crouse isn't your typical ten year old. She's a girl with a big heart and a big need to help others. Being autistic, Lucy has experienced what it's like to not feel welcome. Because of this she has made it her goal to welcome and help others through gifting and sewing. Starting when she was only 9 years old, Lucy began an organization called Lucy's Stitched Hugs in order to provide stitched items for those in need. With her love of sewing and a ton of compassion, she sews quilts and blankets for the homeless, stuffed animals for refugee children, and pocket pillows to those who have fallen on hard times. Creating these "Stitched Hugs", Lucy assists the Second Step Housing organization by providing these items to help welcome families into transitional housing programs.

While most kids are begging for toys for Christmas, Lucy is asking for fabric and selling her own toys in order to fund these projects. A&E Gütermann was more than happy to send her Gütermann Sew-all thread in a variety of colors to use in her stitched items. This lovely young lady with a big heart continues to spread love and warmth to those who need it most.

Posted October 22, 2018

Hartville Cloth Shed - Keeping Women and Children Dry

Haley Martinez Aranda started Hartville Cloth Shed in June of 2018. Being a 24 year old stay at home mother of 2 and a challenging childhood gave Haley a great compassion for others and the desire to help them. Hartville Cloth Shed is her way of doing just that.

"Diaper need and period poverty is real even here in America. Diapers and period products cannot be purchased with food stamps...This is a hidden poverty in the United States. It is not talked about in the media. 5.2 million children aged 3 and under are living in low income families," states Haley. With Hartville Cloth Shed, Haley creates cloth diapers and menstrual pads for people who cannot afford such necessities. She sends these kits along with cloth wipes, wet bags and cloth nursing pads to those in need all over the United States. Hartville Cloth Shed's recent partnership with Jake's Diapers charity assists in the worldwide donations of diapers - helping Haley and her organization to continue making positive changes in people's lives on a bigger scale.

A lover of Gütermann thread, Haley reached out to us for assistance. A&E was happy to provide her with a variety of thread to keep her doing what she loves - spreading love and compassion. Thank you for all you do.

Posted October 8, 2018

A Six Year Old With a Heart of Gold

In September, Hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas causing much destruction and pain to its residents. When most people were wandering what could be done to help, six year old Mason Kiliany decided to take action. He quickly brought his idea of sewing "Hurricane Pillows" to his Mother. Armed with sewing notions, fabric, and a lot of love, Mason began his work. Mason's big heart spread quickly through the area and he has currently sold over 100 pillows with the proceeds donated to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Florence assistance.

To help reduce the cost for Mason, A&E Gütermann donated Intressa Polyester thread so he can continue making his pillows to help others. The sewing community has gained a delightful young man!

Posted September 21, 2018

Finding a Cure for ALS - One Quilt at a Time

Quilters Dream Batting was created by Kathy Thompson when her son was diagnosed with ALS (Lous Gehrig's Disease) at the age of 32. Devestated by the diagnosis, Kathy decided to create this organization to help patients and raise awareness.

Now an annual event, Quilters Dream Batting is holding their 9th Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS. In this challenge, hundreds of handmade quilts are donated to be given to ALS patients or used to raise money by being displayed, auctioned or raffled. In addition to contributing to a wonderful cause, all donated quilts are eligible to win exciting prizes with seven lucky winners chosen via drawings.

The purpose of this challenge is to help raise awareness about ALS, bring warmth and hope to the lives of ALS patients, and also help raise funds for research for a treatment and a cure of this debilitating disease. This is yet another way the quilting community shows their love and generosity towards others in need. A&E Gütermann happily donated spools of Signature cotton quilting thread to assist in the cost of making these purposeful quilts.

Posted September 3, 2018

More Than Just A Long Acronym

IFACSTA (the Illinois Family and Consumer Science Teacher Association) is more than just a long acryonym. It is an important organization that accomplishes so much in their community. The main purpose of this association is to encourage and promote Family and Consumer Science education. These family and career oriented programs are integral in providing students with leadership and career opportunities.

IFACSTA is associated with the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), National Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFACS), and the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education (IACTE). With the help of these institutions, IFACSTA continues to promote leadership in the state of Illinois while fostering relationships with legislators in order to keep members of Congress informed of the needs and accomplishments of such programs.

IFACSTA provides the resources needed to work with industry partners to help encourage these students to explore these fields of study. The main way they do this is by providing instruction for professional growth of the teachers of Family and Consumer Science courses. Their recent conference this Summer included over 100 teachers being educated on how to better inform and direct these students. Since the teachers were already fans of our products, we donated gift bags filled with measuring tapes, Gütermann thread samples, and helpful thread literature to assist them in their lectures. We also provided a Maxi-Lock serging thread pack and a Signature Cotton thread pack as raffle prizes for the organization to raise scholarship funds. A&E Gütermann understands the importance of educating students in the fields of Family and Consumer Sciences. We strive to always encourage the sharing of this knowledge and the promotion of its field.

Posted August 21, 2018

A&E and Education

In 1992, the Education Foundation was created to enhance educational opportunities in the Gaston County Public School system. Their mission is to Fund extraordinary programs and initiatives, which are not funded by the regular budget and to serve as a non profit organization to channel creative funding to these schools.

The funding for these grants are developed through several fundraising initiatives, including the annual Are You Smarter than a Gaston County Fifth Grader event, the Community Foundation Run (featured right) and private donations. 2018 marks the 26th year of the Foundation which has provided grants of over $50, 000 in this year alone. This money will benefit teachers and professional learning communities at 30 Gaston public schools. American & Efird continues to be a proud sponsor for this organization to show how important our community's education and children are to our neighborhoods.

Posted August 7, 2018

Asheville Welcomes the North Carolina Quilt Symposium

The North Carolina Quilt Symposium (NCQSI) is a non-profit organization formed in 1979 in the town of Raleigh, NC. The purpose of the organization is to promote and preserve quilting in North Carolina, ensuring this historical artform gets passed down amongst generations.

Every year selected guilds and a Board of Directors host a grand Symposium attended by over 350 participants. Usually a 3 day event with a focus on quilting, the Symposium involves an assortment of classes on quilting techniques, an array of vendors, fun, food, and various activities ranging from dancing to ice cream buffet bars! Another fun aspect of the event is the Door Prizes. With prizes including scholarship discounts on the next year's Symposium, our very own Signature gift packs, and goodie bags for all attendees - everyone is destined to have a ball!

This year's Symposium took place in Asheville, NC and it did not disappoint! One of the favorite events was the In-house Quilt Show. This magnificent display included prized quilts created by talented artists from all over. The attendants loved walking through the show and marveling over the talent while selecting their favorites.

All in all, this yearly gathering not only serves to educate and maintain the craft, it also provides a place where everyone can enjoy the festivities and company of other like-minded individuals. Next year's Symposium will be in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of N.C. and the theme will focus on the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. A&E Gütermann looks forward to hearing about all of the adventures and fun to come and will be proud to contribute towards the event again. Happy quilting!

Posted July 23, 2018

Gütermann and Robison-Anton - Quiet on the Set!

At the end of this month, NBC will be releasing it's six episode, competition-based reality show. Hosted by the hilarious duo - Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, this delightful and uniquely lighthearted competition celebrates the creativity and craftiness in all of us. Each episode will revolve around a central theme that draws inspiration from popular, nationwide trends in crafting and DIY projects. In every show, the "makers" will demonstrate their specialized skills and talent to impress the hosts and judges to be the final winner.

What will these contestants be using to make these crafts? Thread, of course! A gorgeous Gütermann Sew-all thread tower and a variety of Robison-Anton Embroidery threads were donated to assist in the creation of these crafty pieces of art. Check out the show and try to spot the cameo appearances of our thread - be sure to let us know on social media if you see our thread and name the contestant you're rooting for. Find us on Facebook @GutermannofAmerica and @RobisonAntonEmbroideryThread. The show premieres July 31 at 10/9c.

Posted July 9, 2018

A Guild's That Gives

Nestled in Northern California's Central Valley, the Yuba-Sutter Valley Quilt Guild enjoys providing for their community as much as they love quilting. Starting in 1981, the guild has grown to almost 200 members that enjoy developing quilting techniques, textiles, and patterns while sharing in the history and knowledge of quilting. The organization promotes the appreciation of fine quilts and encourages the growth of this knowledge with the attendance of guests speakers and teachers to assist in education.

The guild puts on an amazing quilt show every year which raises funds to support local community service programs. This Spring, the guild held their 35th annual quilt show. The theme was "Rhapsody in Red" and as you can tell by the photos, there was an abundance of beautiful quilts in tones of rich red and crisp white. Such a stunning display of craftsmanship! To help the organization continue their charitable work and quilting development, A&E Gütermann donated variety packs of Signature Cotton quilting thread in corresponding shades of red and white. We realize just how important guilds such as this are to aid the community and keep the history of quilting alive and we are grateful to help.

Posted June 18, 2018

Sewing Skillathon

Every year, the Highland County's 4-H program in Ohio has a Sewing Skillathon Contest to aid in the continuation of teaching the skill of sewing to children and young adults. In the Skillathon, contestants are tested on their knowledge of pattern envelope reading, construction techniques, pattern symbols identification, fabric identification, pattern alterations, sewing equipment identification, sewing machine parts identification, and the 7 clues of fashion that 4-H evaluates its projects on. Members are divided into 3 age divisions (Junior, Intermediate, and Senior) with three placings in each division. Each participant received a spool of Gütermann thread after completing the contest. A&E Gütermann was proud to assist this organization in furthering the skill of sewing to young people and promote the growth of this beautiful art form. Just look at those young, future sewers!

Posted June 4, 2018

Keeping Sewing Alive - Make It With Wool 2018

Every year the American Sheep Industry holds a Make It With Wool competition at their annual convention. This competition began in 1947 with only 12 states; the competition has now grown to include 37 statues with four age divisions. The goal of this event is to celebrate the art of creating apparel with woolf fibers and yarns. Participants enter to win district, regional, and state contests with finalists going on to compete for national titles. Challenged to create an original garment using at least 60% wool, these contestants make an ensemble or garment to be judged. Each entry is evaluated on handwork, needlework, embroidery, construction, and design with winners receiving prizes of cash, wool fabrics, sewing resource books, tools, thread, and sewing notions. A&E Gütermann provided a lovely Intressa® spinner filled with Intressa sewing thread to be awarded to a lucky contestant.

This year, the Make It With Wool national competition marked its 70th anniversary at its annual gathering in San Antonio, Texas. The theme was "70 Years of Making Wool the Star" and yielded such a variety of truly incredible garments. Although all were impressive, only the best could be chosen. Let us all congratulate the hard working winners and hope they continue to create more beautiful pieces:
Fashion/Apparel Design division - Jason Gagnon of Central Michigan University
Adult division (ages over 25) - Rachel Siegel of Pennslvania
Senior division (ages 17-24) - Claire Lee of Indiana
Junior division (ages 13-16) - Holley Schwartz of Wisconsin

Posted May 21, 2018

A&E and the Environment

American &Efird has a long history of leading the thread industry in the area of environmental sustainability and in the manufacturing of premium thread. While making all of your favorite threads (Intressa®, Maxi-Lock®, PermaCore®, Robison-Anton®, and Signature®) A&E continues to maintain a strong commitment to keeping our environment healthy.

To bring our sustainability philosophy to life, we invest in our global workplace because that's what good neighbors do. Since trees are a critical environmental element that contributes to clean air, the Vardham A&E in Ludhiana, India initiated a re-forestation initiative in which it planted 435 trees during June and July of 2012.

Furthering this initiative, A&E is in the process of launching a re-forestation campaign in Costa Rica. A tree nursery is being developed in the rear grounds of our plant site. Five varieties of trees, environmentally compatible with the area, were carefully selected. The 266 donated saplings will be grown to planting size, an 18 month process. They then will be planted during the rainy season in the mountainous terrain, along a natural spring.

A&E then combined our environmental and socially responsible commitments with Costa Rica's free zone regulations to create a program sustainable on multiple levels. Waste thread is donated to a local artist who makes hammocks and to a company which alters and repairs personal clothing. Understanding the world's future is in the hands of today's children, we donated the equivalent value of the waste thread to finance projects at 4 educational institutions. These projects are based on our health & wellness and environmentally-friendly Corporate Social Responsibility platforms. Click here to learn more about how A&E excels in the areas of environmental sustainability.

Posted May 7, 2018

A Love of Quilts and Travel

Hanover Holidays is a group of 52 Canadian quilters with a love for quilting and traveling. In the Fall of 2017, this group of women went on an extensive trip to celebrate the 150th birthday of their beloved Canada. They toured exciting, quilting related landmarks such as The Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana, The Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, Missouri, and a Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. The group also enjoyed some time with the Mississippi Quilt and Fibre group. Ending their trip was a stop at the Quilt Gardens of Shipshewana, Indiana where they took in the sites, attended a musical, and squeezed in a bit of fabric shopping.

To keep this lovely group of hand quilters and long arm quilters sewing on their trip, they enjoyed donations of Gütermann hand quilting thread and cones of Signature® cotton quilting thread. This kept them traveling and stitching their way across the South East and Mid West.

Plans for a 2018 trip are in the works and we can't wait to hear of their voyage - happy trails and happy quilting, ladies!

Posted April 27, 2018

A&E Gütermann Consumer Division Welcomes VDTA

Preceding the 2018 SDTA/VDTA trade show in Charlotte, NC, A&E Gütermann Consumer Division organized a How Thread is Made Facility Tour on our Mt Holly, NC campus. Over 47 visitors turned out for the event including store owners and designers.

The tour consisted of two main sessions - a tour of our dyeing and finishing plant and a journey through our consumer building. The plant tour provided everyone with a glimpse into what goes into making Intressa®, Maxi-Lock®, PermaCore®, Signature® and Robison-Anton® thread. Dyeing procedures and finishing processes were demonstrated in our state of the art facility and guests were shown the extensive steps taken to perform this work while leaving little to no mark on our environment.

While at the consumer building, attendants were shown our lovely Gütermann Sewing Studio overflowing with various Gütermann products and our A&E showroom that provides a dramatic presentation of all A&E thread brands and YKK® zippers. Guests were also given a presentation on our website and social media platforms as well as given brief histories on both American & Efird and Gütermann companies as they came together to form the A&E Gütermann Consumer Division. Finishing up the tour, a professional photographer was on site to capture keepsake photos of each guest and a quilt binding demo was performed by designer, Christine Zane.

The response we received from our attendees was overwhelmingly positive. We are grateful that everyone had such a wonderful time while also learning about the hard work we put into making quality thread. Thank you to all who came out and for sharing your experiences and joy.

A big thank you to the following stores for sharing their stories of the event on social media and allowing us to share their photos: Coastal Sewing & Appliance, Corvallis Vacuum & Sewing, DIY Style, Quilts and Lace, Sew-A-Lot, and Sew Suite Studio. Have photos from the tour that you want to share? Email us at consumerhomepage@amefird.com or tag Gütermann of America or Robison-Anton Embroidery on facebook.

Posted April 4, 2018

The Insider on Why YKK®

If you've ever taken a close look at the zippers on your clothes, you've probably noticed the letters "YKK," in all capitals, on a lot of them. They're on everything from jeans, to coats, to sleeping bags.

YKK® has a reputation unrivaled in the fashion industry. It's completely vertically integrated, which means that the company controls every part of the zipper manufacturing process, from smelting the metal to packaging the finished zippers. As Seth Stevenson wrote in Slate, "YKK makes incredibly dependable zippers, ships them on time without fail, offers a wide range of colors, materials, and styles, and never gets badly undercut on price."

Because of its reliability, YKK is popular for manufacturers. We've all felt the pain
of a zipper breaking, ruining an entire garment. It just makes more sense to go with a reliable brand. And that's why YKK zippers are everywhere. Read full article here...

Posted March 19, 2018
Writing Credit: Jacob Shamsian, Insider.

Charity Quilts

The Charity Quilt group of Washington began in 2012 with 5 ladies interested in quilting. They all lived in an older community and shared a love of quilting and giving back to the community. Now 15 strong with ages ranging from 55 to 98, they enjoy meeting weekly and creating beautiful quilts for amazing causes. These remarkable women create 200 to 400 quilts and pillows every year for dialysis and chemotherapy patients, the local Children's Outreach Organization, and for various other people going through difficult times. The Charity Quilt group vows to be there whenever needed and to continue to brighten the days of these grateful people while easing their suffering.

"Your generous donation of Gütermann thread will be in every stitch that goes into our quilts and pillows. Thank you from all of us."
-Joann Brockmann

I think we speak for everyone when we say, it is the ladies of Charity Quilts that deserve the thank you for the meaningful work they do every single day!

Posted March 5, 2018

VDTA Highlights the History of American & Efird

American & Efird LLC, well known as A&E, has a long and rich history. Pioneered in 1891 by Charles Hutchison under the name Nims Manufacturing Company and built over 126 years, A&E is the largest U.S. manufacturer and the world's second largest manufacturer of sewing thread. Well established in the global markets are the Industrial Sewing Thread, Embroidery Thread, Technical Textiles, and A&E Gutermann Consumer Divisions. The A&E Gutermann Consumer Division focuses on producing threads and notions sold to the independent retailers, which enable today's home sewers and quilters to see their projects materialize. Read more...

Posted February 23, 2018

VDTA Spotlight on Gütermann's History

When American & Efird LLC acquired Gütermann Thread Company in 2014, the German-based company was celebrating a rich history of 150 years! Let's explore Gütermann's company timeline and their innovations in the European textile market.

Max Gütermann established the Gütermann company in Vienna in 1864, producing silk threads. By 1873 at the World Exposition in Vienna, Gütermann initiated the selling of thread by the meter rather than by weight for the consumer. In 1884 Max reached a 20 year-long goal to achieve independent production along with handing the company over to his five sons. Read more...

Posted February 9, 2018

Lake Oconee Quilters Guild Head to Georgia

This past Spring, the Lake Oconee Quilters Guild had their biennial retreat at the Little Oculgee State Park in Georgia. Since 2003, the Guild's purpose has been to promote the art and craft of quilting through encouragement and education, while building fellowship within their community. At these retreats, they bring in talent and expertise from renowned quilt and fiber artists from all over and within their Guild to present classes and workshops for their members. The group uses this as an opportunity to enjoy their shared passion, meet new people, gain more skills, and to be invigorated by the talent and friendships that abound.

Just look at the great fun these members had! Playing games, winning prizes and working on charity quilts, everyone enjoyed themselves. One of the prize winners received a 24 pack of our Signature® cotton thread so she may continue her passion with great thread.

Posted January 29, 2018

The Iron Quilter Challenge - Fall Quilt Market 2017

Fall Quilt Market 2017 marked the reoccurance of the Iron Quilter Challenge in Houston, Texas. Six teams of hardworking ladies raced to the finish line with their creativity, fabric, and thread in hand. With only two hours to work their magic, the challenge was set. Although the time was limited and tensions were high, these ladies managed to put out some amazing designs!

When the final bell rang and the votes all tallied, the winner was announced - Pam Holland and Her Possums!

Not only an exciting event to watch, the contest served a great purpose. The following day, all of the quilt tops created by the contestants for this challenge and the previous Fall Quilt Market IQC are auctioned off to benefit the Texas Quilt Museum. Now that's a double win!

Posted December 1, 2017

The Vendor Walk at Baby Lock Tech 2017

Every year, Baby Lock holds the Baby Lock Tech event where vendors and stores meet to discuss the world of sewing and their products. Always a festive and fun event, this year's event in St Louis, Missouri was no different! A great time was had by all and some amazing vendors came out. If you weren't able to make it, don't fret! Christopher Blakeman from Blakeman Vacuum and Sewing made a terrific Facebook Live video with Nicci Brazzell of Nicci's Embroidery that includes a walkthrough of the entire vendor floor.

View the video here and take note that yours truly, A&E Gutermann, appears at the 30:01 mark!

Posted November 8, 2017

The Iron Quilter Challenge - Spring Quilt Market 2017

Twice a year at the Fall and Spring International Quilt Markets, teams of quilters rise from the ashes to compete in the famed Iron Quilter Challenge. These members cut, stitch, and iron their way into the race to make the best lap size quilt possible in 90 minutes. As shown in the photos below, there is some serious concentration and excitement that takes place as these talented quilters work their way through the competition.

The winner of the Spring 2017 Iron Quilter Challenge was Team Stone Cold Foxes, led by Karen K. Stone. Congrats to all who participated!

Who will win the Fall 2017 Iron Quilter Challenge? We will just have to anxiously wait as these remarkable contestants show us what their made of next week!

Posted October 25, 2017

A Quilter's Retreat

Once a month, quilters from various quilting groups (The Stitching Witches, In Stitches, and Heritage) get together for a day of quilting and comradery. These women have found they enjoy not only quilting, but also the friendships that come from their common interest.

In addition to their monthly get togethers, they also have a grand Quilter's Retreat once a year in Maine that everyone looks forward to. At this event, all have a great time sharing both their love of quilting and enthusiasm for the craft.

Here you see some of the quilters enjoying using our Gütermann cotton quilting thread on their retreat in March.

Just look at all of those smiles!

Posted October 11, 2017

Serging to Win

This past March, A&E Gütermann's Maxi-Lock® sponsored a Serger Contest with PatternReview.com. Contestants were instructed to use only serger thread to sew an item or outfit in its entirety. Out of 26 entries, the final winner was chosen by member vote and that prize goes to Annette Wright!

Anette created a beautifully constructed cardigan and disclosed, "I chose this pattern as I knew I could sew it completely on the serger and use my conver-stitch machine for interesting contrasting thread work...Super cute little jacket/cardigan. When I make it next time I'll be adding pockets!"

Congratulations, Annette! We look forward to seeing your next creation.

View all of the contest entries and comments at Pattern Review Serger Contest.

Posted September 27, 2017