 |
| The Cat Quilt |
The latest quilt is done! It started out being a scrappy, "stash buster" quilt. I didn't start out with a particular quilt design in mind, but let it evolve as I sewed it. I've shared the process here on the blog in previous posts.
 |
| "Stash Buster" Quilt |
Midway through piecing the top, I knew I had to incorporate the eight cat blocks I had made earlier. Seven of the blocks featured a cat that was sort of plopped down and one had a cat that was sitting more upright. That last block didn't look right on the top of the quilt (and I had made a mistake with the proportions when I made it) but, I knew I will include it, somewhere in the quilt!
 |
| The Eighth Cat Block |
Once I attached the cat blocks, I knew what this quilt was going to be called and I had the perfect (or should that be "purr-fect"?) piece of fabric in my stash to use as the backing!
 |
| The "Purr-fect" Backing! And the 8th Cat Block! |
I had bought the cat fabric more than 10 years ago! I had wanted to make a quilt with it for my daughter, but, she thought the colors were dull and I couldn't bring myself to cut it up for tote bags, etc. So it sat in my stash until now!
I tied the quilt along the inner borders and did a line of machine quilting along the outside borders (which caused the borders to pucker!) I did a line of hand quilting outlining the cats in the cat blocks and a heart.
 |
| Outline Quilting on the Cat Blocks |
I quilted the date on the bottom of the quilt:
 |
| Quilted Date (and a portion of the line of machine quilting along the border) |
A big thank you to Dancer for his assistance with this quilt!
 |
| The Best Quilter's Assistant! |
I had forgotten about the cat blocks. I'm amazed how quickly you made this fun quilt. How much is left of your scrap stash now?
ReplyDeleteI had to get the cat blocks in there; otherwise, they'd sit in the scrap basket and languish! I had been "playing with fabric" for a bit before I started on the quilt, but, I started in earnest sometime in August, I believe, cutting the fabric squares for the nine-patch blocks, some of which were made into the disappearing nine patch blocks.
DeleteThis quilt used up a lot of the tiny "crumb" pieces I had, but, I still have quite a bit of scrap fabric left in the stash! Which is good because my daughter mentioned that the "triangles" quilt she took up to Berkeley with her (initially pieced back in 1981 using fabric from some old clothes as well as leftovers from sewing clothes) was now in shreds! The quilt is worn and soft and is her favorite, and I repaired it once in 2015 (wrote about it here:
https://bless2cents.blogspot.com/2015/04/quilt-repairs.html But, it will probably be easier to piece a new top for it rather than try to repair it, now!
Your quilt is lovely. The cat block on the back along with the kitty patterned fabric is purr- fect! Dancer clearly was a huge help!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie; I couldn't have done it without Dancer's help! :D
DeleteOh Bless, it is fabulous! I love the way you have incorporated the cat blocks. I must get stitching on my quilt project soon. But it is an encouragement to me to realise that other people have fabric waiting around for years til The Right Moment!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. Yes, that piece of fabric was waiting until the time was right! Hope you are able to make a start on your quilt, soon. :)
DeleteWell done to you and Dancer, your quilt is lovely! I've enjoyed seeing your work in progress and now it's all done.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. It's going to be a nice warm quilt to sleep under this winter! :)
DeleteWOW! Your quilt is gorgeous - both sides. The Universe knew saving this piece of fabric was the right choice. You are most fortunate to not only have such a dedicated quality control officer on hand, but one that is very handsome, & good company :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. Yes, that piece of fabric was waiting until the right quilt came along! I probably wouldn't have been able to find a better backing fabric for this quilt, even if I had gone shopping for it!
DeleteYes, I have the best quilting assistant, don't I? :D
Love it. Nothing like kitties on a quilt! Great job. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana. :)
DeleteCharming cats of every kind in this post. Nicely done on the quilting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanne. :)
DeleteOh, your cat quilt is beautiful. Well done on finishing it so quickly, although I realise the credit for that should really go to Dancer for all the times he helped you. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; it was a joint effort! :D
DeleteThat quilt looks amazing. You must be so proud. I love the cat blocks, and the backing fabric is perfect.
ReplyDelete(Dancer would of course explain that it is only as good as it is because of his supervision, but I think it's amazing despite his efforts - please pass on scritches)
Thank you, Lyssa. The quilt was a joint effort! LOL. I am very happy with how it turned out. I really enjoyed making this quilt. :)
DeleteIt's come out so well! Time well invested, say I. You will deserve a good rest underneath it now. :o) I still don't really understand about knotting vs. sewing. I tried asking L who's a bit of a quilting expert, and she said she had never heard of knotting but then gave a very long explanation of what it is. Do I assume you have some sort of batting/filling between the top and the backing? Great touch to add the date too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. I slept under it, yesterday, and liked it very much!
DeleteYes, there is a layer of polyester batting between the top and the backing. It is a quilt because it has three layers - the top, the batting (for warmth), and the backing. Without that middle layer, it would be considered a coverlet (although, some people would call it a summer quilt).
"Quilting" refers to the stitches that are sewn, mainly to hold the three layers together. They were especially important when the batting in the middle consisted of loose fibers; the closely sewn stitches would hold the fibers in place without shifting about, especially after being washed. The special quilts would have rather intricate designs quilted (sewn) on them. Quilting was also time consuming (unless a group of people gathered together to help).
"Tying" or knotting is much quicker - you take one stitch per knot with a piece of yarn (or several strands of thicker thread) leaving enough of the yarn or threads out on either side of the stitch with which to tie a knot, then, cut off the yarn. Then, you tie the yarn ends in a knot, usually a double knot so it stays tied, holding the three layers of the quilt together. Generally, the knots are tied every inch or so apart.
Since I am using a bonded polyester fiberfill batting, which more or less stays in one piece, I don't have to tie as closely as I'd have to if I was using non-bonded cotton or wool fibers. I also tied bows with my yarn ends (Dancer will probably undo them over time), but, older tied quilts usually had short ends. I prefer tying to quilting because it is faster and my hands don't cramp as much as they do when I quilt by hand (I haven't learned how to quilt on a regular sewing machine without getting everything all puckered up!)
I love your finished cat quilt. It looks like a comfy quilt that is just asking to be used, whereas the incredible artwork quilts that enter competitions sometimes make me feel that they are too special to actually sleep under! That was a good idea to "hide" the 8th cat block underneath with the backing, and great that you included the date.
ReplyDeleteI'm in decluttering mode and today I returned a large number of bottles and aluminum cans for refund, including 2 doz. wine bottles that we used to use when making wine at a local brew-it-yourself store. Now I need to get some donations in order and deliver them but not until the rain stops.
Thank you, Bushlady. Mine is a quilt for everyday use and I slept under it, last night! Art quilts are just that - for display as art work!
DeleteThe 8th cat came in handy because I didn't have quite enough of the cat fabric for the backing and I needed to "piece" it out! I added borders to the 8th cat block to make it big enough for that space, rather than add a different piece of fabric. Even so, there are two other patches, with a different piece of leftover cat fabric in two corners of the backing, as well, that are not visible in the photo.
Well done on the decluttering! Hope the rain stops, soon. We are having sunshine and warmer temperatures, today. :)
The quilt is beautiful! What a great way to use up more of your fabric stash. X
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. I enjoyed making this quilt! :)
DeleteLove your backing and how clever you are to use the "odd" cat block on the back. It's so cute with that touch.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you've used your cat blocks. Along with using the cat fabric and your scraps - it must feel good to use some things you've had for so long.
You and your assistant did a very nice job :)
Thank you, Debra. I had seen a saying (I embroidered it on one of my totes), "One Cat Short of Crazy" - I was thinking of that saying when I added the last cat block to the back of the quilt! :D It's the missing cat! LOL
DeleteI'm very happy that I was able to use some of the fabric in my stash! I still have enough fabric for another quilt or two, but, that's OK, too, isn't it?