Bella Blvd Studio Blog: Bella Blvd Fabric Style

Today, we are excited to introduce you to Bella's newest Fabric Designer, Kathy Frye! Kathy has created two adorable pillows, using the Sunny Happy Skies fabric collection, from Riley Blake Designs.

{Riley Blake Designs markets our fabrics under Stephanie Hunt as the designer. When purchasing or searching the Riley Blake website, it's actually easier & more efficient to find the Bella Blvd fabrics under "Stephanie Hunt" as the artist.}

Hi everyone! I'm Kathy Frye. I am so blessed to be a quilter! I’ve always been interested in sewing. As a young child, I remember ‘sewing’ doll clothes. In junior high I took a sewing class, and have been sewing ever since. I made my first pieced quilt with my Grandma, when my children were small. We cut each square with a cardboard template and a scissors. So much has changed in the quilting world! I've taken classes from national and local teachers, continually learning new techniques and tricks along the way. I’ve made so many new friends from quilting.

Now as a teacher myself, I'm excited to share my quilting passion with others. I enjoy the whole sewing/quilting process, the fabrics, designing, lots of fussing with details, what fun! My quilts have won numerous awards and ribbons, but the greatest joy is the happiness that I receive when I give a quilt to someone else. We have 6 adorable grandchildren. My quilting style has evolved again, using bright and fun fabrics for kids (there is so much more that civil war and 30’s fabrics out there!) The kids love making forts with all the quilts. Quilts are made to be used, they get softer and more character from being loved, so enjoy them, make memories with them!

I was truly honored when Stephanie from Bella Blvd asked me to help design items with her fabric line!

Dream Pillows, by Kathy Frye.

This cute little pillow features Sunny Happy Skies fabric designed by Bella Blvd for Riley Blake Designs. When this fabric arrived at my house, I was pleased with the way it felt, I could feel the quality! The designs are awesome, each one is great! The colorful floral main fabric has me inspired to make many more projects! The fabrics in this collection work together beautifully, but they are also perfect stand alone fabrics, so the possibilities are endless.

Appliqué letters:

Trace the ‘dream’ letters that are provided HERE. The letters are reversed, so that when they are fused onto the pillow top, they will be correct. Lay the sheet of fusible web product on top of the letters, trace with a pencil, (be sure to leave a small amount (1”) of space in between each letter if you are doing the multi fabric design).

If you are making the multi fabric design, cut in between each traced letter (NOT ON THE LINES), then iron the letter onto the BACK of your fabric. If you are making the letters from just one fabic, trim the fusible to a 1” around the letters as a block, then iron to the back of your fabric. After the letters are ironed onto the back of the fabric, cut each letter out ON THE TRACED LINES.

Appliquéing the letters onto pillow front

Peel the paper off of the backs of the letters. Lay a ruler across the bottom of the pink dot fabric, so that the top of the ruler is 4” from the bottom edge, use this as a guide to place the letters on the pillow front (cover the letters with the appliqué pressing sheet).

Iron the letters onto the pillow front. Place a piece of paper (computer) on the back side of the pillow front, pin or tape it in place (away from letters) This is a stabilizer for appliquéing. Applique the letters with a SATIN STITCH (zig zag stitch that is set close together). Use thread that matches the letter.

Hint, use a needle down position when appliquéing. Pivot when the needle is in the outside of a curve so the thread covers the pivot. On an inside curve, pivot with the needle on the inside. After appliquéing, remove the paper stabilizer from the back. Bring threads to back, trim.

Front Border

Pin the front border fabric, right sides together to the left edge of the pillow front. Sew it with a 1/4” seam allowance. Iron the seam allowance towards the border. Take a skinny piece of fusible web product and center it on the rick rack (use a appliqué pressing sheet under the rick rack). Remove the paper (cover with part of appliqué pressing sheet) and iron in place. Now lay the rick rack over the seam line between the border and the main pillow front. Use a ruler to keep it straight. Iron-fuse it in place.

Quilt the pillow top

Quilt the pillow top as desired. I free motioned around each letter and did some hearts and flowers. I also stitched a wavy line down the center of the rick rack.

Finishing the pillow

Trim up the pillow top centering the ‘dream’, to 13” high by 17” wide. Finish the edges of the pillow back pieces by folding a side edge (directional fabric) under 1 ½”, press, then unfold and fold the edge to that crease Refold, press so that you have a finished edge. Topstitch ¼” from the inside edge. Repeat with the 2^nd back piece, hem the other side (directional fabric, so the hems face each other).

Lay the finished pillow top right side up. Lay one back on top, right sides together, positioning hemmed edge towards center. Lay the second back on top, right sides together, positioning hemmed edge toward center, overlapping the first back piece. Pin pieces in place.

Using a 1/2” seam allowance, stitch around the outside edge. Trim and clip the corners. Turn right side out through middle opening. Use a turning tool to push out corners. Press. Insert the 12 x 16 pillow form.

Dream Pillow Supplies: (to make 1 pillow)

1/2 yard C2734 Pink Sunny Dot – for pillow front
1/2 yard C2730 Sunny Main – for pillow border and back
1/4 yard C2732 Pink Sunny Floral, C2732 Green Sunny Floral, C2732 Yellow Sunny Lace, C2733 Blue Sunny Lace - for appliqué letters

12” x 16” pillow form
1/2 yard of fusible fleece
Thread to match appliqué fabrics
1/2 yard pink Rick Rack, 1” wide
Fusible web product (I use Lite Steam a Seam 2) (Read package directions)
Optional – appliqué pressing sheet

Cutting Directions:

Pink Sunny Dot – (1) 14 1/2” square
Sunny Main - (2) 13” squares and (1) strip 4” x 14 1/2” (this is a directional fabric so be sure to cut the pieces the same direction)
Fusible Fleece – 16 ½” x 12 ½”