How to Sew with Double Lush Velvet Panels: A Snuggly Pink Safari Baby Quilt and More
Most quilting fabrics ask you to add the softness later, with batting and backing. Double Lush Velvet from Riley Blake Designs starts soft. This Pink Safari Stargazing colorway is a double-sided plush velvet in a sweet pink, printed with a safari-themed panel design by the RBD Designers. It is 95% polyester and 5% spandex, measures 58"/60" wide, and has a smooth, dreamy hand with a rich velvety sheen and a beautifully draping quality. The fabric is sold as panels: each panel is approximately 29 3/4" x 35 1/2", and one yard includes two panels, so a single yard gives you two ready-made project fronts to work with.
What this fabric is best for
Double Lush Velvet is made for projects that get hugged, dragged around, and lived on. Because the plush texture is on both sides, a panel needs very little added to become a finished piece. It is perfect for snuggly quilts, cuddly baby blankets, and warm winter quilts, and the elegant sheen also suits throw pillows and other cozy home decor. The slight stretch from the spandex content and the soft drape make it a friendly choice for simple apparel and comfort items as well. The pink safari artwork makes this colorway an especially charming pick for a nursery gift, a toddler's favorite blanket, or a reading-nook throw.
Cutting and handling plush velvet
Cutting: One of the friendliest features of Double Lush Velvet is its no-fray edge, so cut pieces stay clean without serging or zigzagging. Lay the panel flat, smooth it without stretching, and cut with a rotary cutter on a large mat or with sharp fabric scissors. Cut one layer at a time so the plush does not shift, and let the panel's printed border be your guide rather than trimming into the artwork.
Pinning and sewing: Plush fabrics like to creep under the presser foot. Use plenty of clips or long pins placed in the seam allowance, lengthen your stitch slightly, and sew slowly, easing the layers through evenly. Because the fabric has a small amount of stretch, avoid pulling it as you sew; let the feed dogs do the work so your finished blanket lies flat instead of waving at the edges. A simple straight stitch is all you need for most panel projects.
Project ideas
- Two-panel baby quilt: Back one panel with the second panel, right sides together, sew around the edges leaving a turning gap, turn, and topstitch closed. You get a double-plush blanket with no batting or binding required.
- Panel-plus-border quilt: Frame a single panel with strips of a coordinating Riley Blake cotton to grow it into a larger crib or lap quilt, then back it with more Double Lush Velvet for maximum snuggle.
- Throw pillows: One panel makes a plush pillow front; pair it with a cotton or velvet back and an envelope closure for a nursery or bedroom accent.
- Stroller or car-seat blanket: The panel size is already close to a small comfort blanket, so a simple hemmed or bound edge finishes it quickly.
- Reading throw: Join panels with cotton sashing for a bigger drape-over-the-lap throw that shows off the safari artwork in a grid.
Color pairing and care
Let the pink lead. Pair Pink Safari Stargazing with soft whites, creams, and pale grays for a gentle nursery palette, with sage or mint for a fresh safari feel, or with a deeper rose or charcoal when you want the panel to sit in a more grown-up room. Solid and low-volume cotton coordinates work best for borders and backs, since they support the artwork without competing with it.
For care, treat it like the plush polyester it is: wash gently in cool water, avoid high heat in the dryer, and skip harsh pressing. A light shake and smooth by hand is usually all the pile needs to look fresh again. Stored folded in a drawer or draped over a crib rail, it keeps its sheen and softness through plenty of washing and loving.
Shop the Pink Double Lush Velvet 58/60" Pink Safari Stargazing at Linda's Electric Quilters.
