December Featured Maker and Pattern: Homecoming by Brittany Lloyd of Lo & Behold Stitchery
With Thanksgiving just a few days ago, we can’t help but be grateful for all of you who’ve joined us on this journey, whether it’s been through purchasing patterns, making quilts, or donating to one of the veterans’ organizations we’ve highlighted. Thank you for being a part of MSQ! Now, we can’t wait to reveal our designer and pattern for December, Brittany Lloyd of Lo & Behold Stitchery!
Brittany’s featured quilt pattern, our December pattern of the month, is Homecoming. For the month of December, Brittany will be donating 100% of the proceeds from the pattern to Disabled American Veterans (DAV). For this month’s interview, we chatted with Brittany about her collaboration with Modern Service Quilts. Read on!
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your quilting journey?
I started Lo & Behold Stitchery in 2017 as a way to connect with my late grandmother, Lois (Granny), who instilled a love of creating in me from an early age. I vividly remember spending summers at my grandparents’ house crafting at the kitchen table, creating Christmas ornaments, watercolor paintings, pottery, and more. While I never had the chance to learn to sew or quilt with Granny, she created many quilts on her own, which were later passed down to me, and after she passed away in 2013, I inherited her vintage sewing machine and quilting supplies. It was then that I decided to learn to quilt in her memory. I created my first quilt — a memory quilt — using various pieces of Granny’s clothing, and the rest is history.
Why did you want to collaborate with Modern Service Quilts?
I am always amazed by what we can accomplish as a quilting community. Yes, we love to make things with our hands, but what goes beyond the pretty fabrics and fun skills is the level of good that we can do with our craft. Coming together to give back to important causes like this gives us a common thread that not only strengthens our connections to each other but truly makes a difference in the world. It makes our “hobby” about so much more than making pretty quilts … it’s now about giving back to those who have given so much.
Do you have your own personal connection to the military, service members, or the tradition of making honor quilts?
My grandfather served in the Army during the Korean War. My uncle served in the Air Force, and my cousin served in the Marines. I have a HUGE level of admiration and respect for each of them.
This month, we’re highlighting your Homecoming quilt pattern. Why do you think this particular design lends itself well to becoming a modern honor quilt?
Originally, when I designed this quilt, it was a “homecoming” gift to myself after being displaced from our home for several months following a house flood. Since the pattern release, it has been so humbling and inspiring to see the ways that others have interpreted the word “homecoming.” I’ve seen Homecoming quilts for students coming home from college, housewarming gifts, and especially meaningful — as gifts for service members coming home after a time of duty. I intended for the pattern to evoke a sense of welcome and comfort, and my hope is that it does just that.
Do you have any other patterns you think could work well as honor quilts?
I really think any quilt could work with the right fabrics. I used some red, white, and blue elements in the cover quilt of my Snow Cabin pattern. I really love First Gift, and I think that could be seen as representing a strong bond or season of service. Nightingale is named after Florence Nightingale, so if you are looking to honor anyone who served in the medical field of the military, that would be a great option too.
Do you have any tips for making a quilt pattern appropriate for an honor quilt?
Just go for it! Using various shades of red, white, and blue can be fun, but I don’t think patriotic quilts have to ONLY stick to those three colors. Again, with my Snow Cabin quilt, there is red, white, and blue in the cover quilt, but there’s also some light peach and pecan. I definitely see the desire for a strict red, white, and blue quilt, but I would also consider maybe adding some extra colors to complement and support the theme.
You’ve chosen to support Disabled American Veterans (DAV) with your Homecoming pattern sales this month. What led you to choose that particular charity?
As a nurse, I have a special place in my heart for helping meet the physical needs of others. I also know that our current systems, while designed to help people, are sometimes extremely difficult to navigate on your own. There are gaps in care, especially among women and other minority veteran populations, including racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity groups. DAV has a long history of helping to bridge those gaps so that all veterans can get back on their feet and fight for the resources that they have earned. DAV also advocates to Congress for improved mental-health services and suicide-prevention training for health-care settings.
All around, I believe these areas are crucial to help ensure that we meet the basic needs of our veteran population. I fully support the work they are doing, and the thought of contributing to such a cause is a really exciting and humbling opportunity.
Brittany, we’re so glad to have you on board, and thank you for sharing this wonderful pattern with our makers! Head to Brittany’s shop to purchase your own copy of the Homecoming pattern this month (available in print and digital pdf versions). And don’t forget to share your work by tagging Modern Service Quilts (@modernservicequilts, #modernservicequilts) and Brittany on social media (@loandbeholdstitchery, #loandbeholdpatterns, and #homecomingquilt). We can’t wait to see the stunning quilts you all make.
If you need information on donating your finished quilt to a veteran, check out this page.
We’ll be back mid-month with more information on the sample quilt we made using Brittany’s pattern and some fun mockups of the quilt in different color schemes. Until then, be sure to follow us on Instagram for lots more photos and information and sign up for our email newsletter below.
