Seven days in Bologna, a generous helping of Italian sunshine, and a fabric collection that suddenly feels even closer to home. Also: a completely reasonable number of cappuccinos. Probably.
I'm back from Italy! Seven lovely days in Bologna, filled with sunshine, beautiful architecture, excellent food, and — let’s be honest — more cappuccinos than strictly necessary. Is there such a thing as too many? I’m not prepared to answer that just yet.
And apparently, Italy isn’t quite finished with me.
As I wandered beneath Bologna’s endless porticoes and admired the weathered façades and warm, sun-softened colors, my thoughts kept drifting to Rome.
Last year, that same fascination with Italian architecture, texture, and color inspired my new fabric collection for FreeSpirit Fabrics: Dolce Roma.
Now, almost a year later, I’ve found myself surrounded by terracotta walls, faded plaster, beautiful stonework, and that effortless Italian style that makes you want to linger just a little longer. Or perhaps order another coffee. Again: no comment.
Some inspirations have a way of staying with you.
A Little Piece of Italy, in Fabric
If you read my earlier post about the story behind Dolce Roma, you already know where this collection began.
Today, I’d love to take you a little further into its world and invite you to explore the official Dolce Roma Lookbook.
Inside, you’ll find the complete collection, the quilts we’ve made with it, and plenty of ideas for seeing how the fabrics play together. And tucked among those lovely pages is a little of the design thinking behind the collection, too.
Because choosing fabrics is one thing. Knowing why they work together? That’s where the fun begins.
Why These Fabrics Work Together
When I design a collection, I want every fabric to have a reason for being there.
Not every print needs to be the star. Imagine everyone at the party trying to tell the best story at once. Lovely people, perhaps — but a very loud evening.
In Dolce Roma, Facciata is the visual anchor: an architectural collage with a confident, graphic presence. The other prints bring their own contributions — rhythm, texture, movement, or a little breathing room.
That balance is what makes a collection so enjoyable to sew with. Each fabric has its own personality, but they still feel like they belong in the same conversation. No one has to shout to be noticed.
The same thinking goes into the color.
Dolce Roma has two distinct color stories: Terracotta Warm, full of sun-washed warmth, and Travertine Cool, with quieter shades of stone, sage, and grey.
Each palette can stand beautifully on its own. Put them together, though, and you’ll find another layer of possibility — a little contrast, a little surprise, and plenty of room to make the combination your own.
That’s one of my favorite parts of designing fabric: giving you enough harmony to make choosing easier, without taking away the freedom to do your own thing. I do love a good plan — but I’m not here to boss your quilt around.
From Fabrics to Quilts
A fabric collection really comes to life when it becomes something you can wrap yourself in — or admire from the sofa while pretending you’re just “checking the quilting.”
The lookbook features several quilt designs, including Fly With Me, Linked, and Roma Labyrinth. Each one interprets Dolce Roma in its own way, showing just how differently the same fabrics can shine.
You’ll also meet Whisp, my new textured blender collection, and Travertino, the 108-inch-wide backing fabric inspired by layers of weathered Roman posters.
Together, they give you so many ways to play with color, pattern, and texture — without making your fabric choices feel like a very complicated Italian menu.
Come Take a Look!
The complete Dolce Roma Lookbook is now available on the FreeSpirit Fabrics website, and I’d love for you to have a look.
Explore the Dolce Roma Lookbook
Dolce Roma, Whisp, and Travertino are coming to quilt shops in May 2027. If this little piece of Italy has caught your eye, now’s a lovely time to let your favorite quilt shop know. Consider it a friendly nudge — no dramatic hand gestures required.
As for me? I’m back at my desk, but a little part of me is still wandering through those Italian streets :-)
And I suspect it’ll be there for quite a while. Possibly looking for another cappuccino.
Ciao for now,
Brigitte