She never planned to make quilting her profession. What began as a hobby of making small gifts for her friends and family turned into something more. About five years ago, NC State alumna Kelly Kye began to consider pursuing her hobby as a business.
Kye has been making quilts under her company, Kye + Hardy, since its opening trunk show in March. Kye learned how to quilt about 12 years ago. Growing up with three generations of quilters, she said quilting has been a part of her childhood for as long as she can remember.
“It was mostly for utility for them — to keep things up around the house, that sort of thing — and for gifts,” Kye said. “I still have a quilt that my mom, grandmother and great-grandmother all stitched together and gave to me when I was 12.”
At Kye + Hardy, Kye does the designing and piecework, and her mother does the hand-stitching for the quilts. Kye said she loves to come up with new, modern designs and has high hopes for the future of Kye + Hardy. She said she is always developing, changing and gathering ideas.
“I’m kind of in a limbo place right now trying to figure out whether I want to keep [quilting] a small craft or to do more manufacturing,” Kye said.
Kye said she is looking to make kits and patterns to make it easier for others who want to quilt.
Kye’s studio, The Pink Building, is located downtown on the corner of East and Davie streets. Shared with other artists, the building is a place for her to quilt and has open studio hours on first Fridays. Ramble Supply Company, a home goods store nearby, sells some of Kye + Hardy’s quilts, pillows and smaller items such as napkins.
Kye’s hand-stitched, hand-dyed quilts and an idea for her company began as a desire to pay homage to her mother, her grandmother and great-grandmother, who taught her the skill that she can now make a living from.
As a recent graduate from NC State’s College of Design, Kye was able to incorporate her studies with her business.
“It was a great experience to start everything [for my company] at State,” Kye said. “I used any projects I was given and tried to incorporate the work I did for my business; I worked on branding, etc.”
You can find Kye’s work along with quilts for sale on the company’s site, kyeandhardy.com.
