friendly, handmade baskets and quilts
The Mountain Thread Company is a studio, shop, and creative space in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. More than a storefront, though, the shop represents the amazing convergence of passion, craft, and home for the owner Katherine Lile and her family.
Katherine has been a maker all her life, beginning with preschool sewing lessons with Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandmother. Her mom taught her the valuable lessons of traditional quilting, which Katherine soon discovered were just suggestions rather than rules. That launched her on a journey towards exploring modern techniques and styles, while paying homage to the traditions. When baskets came along, they fit so perfectly in the niche Katherine had found in quilting that pairing the two came naturally.
In October of 2015, Katherine and her family had the opportunity to move back home to northwest North Carolina to expand her online shop into a storefront in downtown Blowing Rock. This was an often hoped for, yet somewhat unexpected, homecoming. The Mountain Thread Company was born of a deep desire to reconnect with mountain culture, a commitment to actively contribute to the local economy, and a passionate drive to produce high quality home decor.
All Mountain Thread Company baskets are made with 100% cotton rope, custom braided for her by a local rope manufacturer. And, as much as possible, other items in the shop are chosen based on the maker's commitment to mountain culture and economy.
Handcraft always tells a story. Thank you for being a part of ours.