How to Use the Lori Holt Bee Keeper Binder: Organize Patterns, Shapes, and Sew-Alongs
Loose pattern pages, printed sew-along instructions, and template shapes have a way of spreading across the sewing room — one stack on the cutting table, another by the machine, and a third tucked into a project bag. The Lori Holt Bee Keeper Binder gives all of that paper a single, secure home, so you can find what you need when you sit down to sew instead of searching for it.
What Is the Bee Keeper Binder?
The Bee Keeper Binder is by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet. It is a three-ring binder designed for storing and organizing Sew Simple Shapes, patterns, sew along instructions, and more. The three-ring closures keep pages secure inside, and the binder measures 11-1/2in x 12-3/8in x 3in. It comes in a multi color design.
One important detail to know before you start: this listing is for the binder without inserts. Binder pocket inserts (ST-17850) are NOT included with the binder, so if you want those pockets for holding shapes and smaller pieces, plan to add them separately.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
Many Lori Holt projects build step by step over weeks, especially sew-alongs, and the instructions and shapes for a single project can add up quickly. Keeping everything for one project together makes it far easier to pause a project and pick it back up later without reprinting pages or hunting for a missing shape. A dedicated binder also protects paper patterns from spills, folds, and the wear of a busy cutting table.
How to Use It, Step by Step
- Start with one project or category. Gather the patterns, sew along instructions, or Sew Simple Shapes you want to store together. Grouping by project is usually the easiest system to maintain.
- Put pages in order. Arrange instruction pages in the order you will sew them, with the pattern overview or supply information at the front, so you can flip straight to the step you are on.
- Load the three rings carefully. Open the three-ring closures, slide your pages or inserts onto the rings, and close the rings fully. The closures are what keep pages secure while the binder is carried or stored upright.
- Add pocket inserts if you have them. If you have purchased the binder pocket inserts (ST-17850) separately, add them on the rings to hold Sew Simple Shapes and other pieces that do not have holes for the rings themselves.
- Label and shelve it. Note the project name where you will see it at a glance, then store the binder upright with your other project binders so the collection stays in order.
Practical Tips
When a new sew-along installment is released, add the new pages right away while you know exactly where they belong. If you work on several projects at once, a simple contents page at the front saves a lot of flipping. Before you carry the binder to a class or retreat, check that the rings are fully closed so nothing slips out in transit.
Care and Storage
Store the binder upright on a shelf, out of direct sunlight and away from damp areas, so paper contents stay flat and dry. Keep it closed when not in use, and avoid overfilling it so pages turn easily and the rings are not strained.
Project Ideas
Use the Bee Keeper Binder as your home base for an ongoing Lori Holt sew-along, with each week's instructions added in order. It is equally handy for keeping a set of Sew Simple Shapes together with the patterns that use them, for building a reference binder of favorite patterns you sew again and again, and for keeping class handouts and retreat project instructions organized in one place.
Shop the Lori Holt Bee Keeper Binder Without Inserts at Linda's Electric Quilters.
