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Thursday, October 5, 2023

Lori Holt Patterns and Fabric: A Nostalgic Journey Through Threads and Time

Lori Holt is a well-known fabric designer, author, and quilt Lori Holt has become a cherished name in the quilting community, particularly known for her alluring Lori Holt patterns and vivid Lori Holt fabric designs. Her work, deeply steeped in the nostalgia of pastoral life and agrarian living, has not only become her signature style but has also garnered substantial admiration and popularity among quilters.

Collaborating with Riley Blake Designs, Lori has conceived numerous fabric lines, each encapsulating many patterns and vibrant designs. Among her distinguished fabric collections are:


1. "Farm Girl Vintage"

Farm Girl Vintage
Farm Girl Vintage









2. "Bee In My Bonnet Basics"


3. "Vintage Happy 2"

Vintage Happy 2
Vintage Happy 2









4. "Vintage Christmas"

5. "Flea Market"

Flea Market
Flea Market








6. "Bake Sale 2"

7. "Prim"

8. "Home Town"

HomeTown
Home Town








9. "Calico"

Calico
Calico








10. "Prairie"

11. "Bee Dots"

Bee Dots








12. "Stitch"

stitch
Stitch








In December 2023, quilters and fabric enthusiasts can anticipate the launch of a fresh line named "Mercantile." With this collection, Lori Holt extends a warm, nostalgic homage to her grandmother Mildred (Millie) and the Herriman Mercantile store that was central to their hometown's heartbeat.

Lori’s journey into quilting began under her grandmother's and five great-aunts' gentle guidance. These memories and teachings not only fostered her skills but intertwined with her fabric and Lori Holt quilt patterns, sewing both heartfelt memories and robust tradition into every stitch.

Lori, along with her siblings and friends, would often pedal their bikes to The Mercantile to pay her grandma a visit and then meticulously select a dime's worth of penny candy. During their visits, they would also relish a bottle of soda from the pop machine nestled in the corner.

Every print within the “Mercantile” collection is meticulously named and brimming with cherished memories, effectively intertwining a playful and richly nostalgic atmosphere into every Lori Holt fabric.

Remaining connected with her community, Lori Holt is active across various social media platforms, sharing her Lori Holt patterns, tutorials, and inspirational thoughts through:

1. Facebook: @beeinmybonnetco

2. Instagram: @beelori1

3. Pinterest: @beelori1

4. YouTube: Bee In My Bonnet

5. Blog/Website: beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com

In addition to her fabric designs, Lori Holt has authored several Lori Holt books, such as "Farm Girl Vintage" and "Vintage Christmas." These books offer many patterns, instructions, and innovative ideas for various quilting projects, perpetuating both the craft and community of quilting.

Moreover, with every collection, she curates notions like stationary, zipper pulls, ric rac, and aids for quilters, not to mention her “Sew Simple” mylar templates for her Lori Holt quilts.

One sew-along quilt that captures hearts is "Home Town," vividly demonstrating the wholesome and nostalgic aesthetic characteristic of Lori Holt quilts and Lori Holt quilt patterns.

My Favorite sew along quilt is "Home Town" shown below.





Friday, July 28, 2023

Why Hand Quilting?

Hand quilting is a traditional method of sewing the layers of a quilt together by hand, using a needle and thread. It has many advantages for the quilter and the quilt, such as: 
  • Hand quilting can relieve stress. It is very relaxing and allows you to do other things. 
  • By focusing on your quilting, you can pull together the disparate parts of your life and find a sense of calm. 

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, consider taking up hand quilting to relax and unwind. You can take your stitching anywhere you go, not restricting you to a machine on a table. You can stitch with friends and family or take the quilt with you when you know you will be sitting around time to work on it. 

Your quilt takes on an heirloom quality when stitched by hand. giving your quilt a personal touch and a unique charm. Heirloom quilts are often considered valuable because of their sentimental and historical significance. They are usually passed down from generation to generation and can be a way of preserving family history and memories. 

You can create customized designs for the quilt for areas that you would like to emphasize. You can also use different threads and even thicker threads such as embroidery threads and Perle cottons. This will give your quilt more color and texture. You can also embellish your quilt with buttons, jewels, or other fabrics and textures. 

Develop a sense of confidence in your quilting as you acquire rhythm and consistency in your stitches. 

If you want to try hand quilting, here are some of the basic supplies and tools you might need: 

  • Hand-quilting needles: These are special needles called betweens that are short, sharp, and easy to control. 
  • Hand-quilting thread: This is a heavier weight thread that is coated to glide through the layers and prevent fraying. 
  • Hand-quilting hoop or frame: This will keep your work taut and make stitching easier. A hoop is portable and can be held in your lap or on a stand. The frame is larger and less mobile but offers more quilting space. 
  • Thimble: When it comes to hand quilting, using a thimble is a great way to protect your fingers from the needle and to help you create even stitches. It will also make pushing easier and help create perfect stitches. Thimbles should be worn on your middle finger snugly. This is because when you begin quilting with a thimble, your finger will contract, resulting in the thimble falling off. There are different types of thimbles available on the market, including traditional metal thimbles, open-sided thimbles, leather thimbles, silicone thimbles, and hand-held quilting thimbles. Each type has its own unique features and benefits.