Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Got Cats?

As a matter of fact I do. >.<
Anyone who reads my blog knows my feline helpers - especially my quilting assistant Lucy.  But these are cats of a different kind.... much to the relief of Lucy - who is still not happy that her adopted sisters showed up five years ago. :-)
These are the non-kibble eating, non-litter box using, non-shedding variety. :-) I wanted to make a gift for a co-worker, Maya, who got a new job (same company) and will be relocating to Michigan.  She is a cat person, so what's better than a cat pillow for her new house or apartment?
I found this pattern online at the Janome website.  You can find it by clicking here if you would like all the cutting dimensions and complete instructions.  Soon I had all my cat faces pieced.  Love these bright colors.
Next it was time to make the ear section for each cat.  This was done with the 'stitch and flip' piecing technique.
Draw a diagonal line across each square and stitch right along that line, or slightly to the right. Trim leaving a 1/4" seam allowance, flip the triangle to the right and press.
Soon I had a whole bunch of kitty ears!
Same techinique was used for the bottom of the cat faces.   
There.. a complete set ready to be sewn together....






One cat done... 9 more to go!  What fun!!

With a full litter (LOL) ready to assemble, I just needed to decide on my color placement.  I think this one was best. 
Easy-peasey and I was done with my pillow top and ready for some FMQ.
I've decided on this gray patterned fabric from Joel Dewberry for the back of the pillow.  I wanted something young and modern for my kitties.  I will be sewing this together today and just need to pick up a pillow form, and I will be done!
Maya recently gave me this adorable kitten mug.  I think it will be perfect in my studio and makes me smile every time I look at it.  So cute!  .... and I might just have to make some more cat blocks to go with it. :-)  What do you think?

Happy Stitching,

Deb

Linking up at Lily Pad Quilting's Pets on Quilts Show 2015.  I am entering this post in the Animal Themed Quilts category.  Check out the Show!!!

34 comments:

  1. Your cat blocks are just so sweet and will make a lovely pillow for your friend. Love the off set placement you decided on. And your litter comment really made me smile!

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  2. This is an amazing gift. I'm sure your friend will love it. I should use this pattern for some of my scrap fabric.

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  3. What fun fabrics! And I love them on the grey background.

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  4. Your cats are adorable! And the fabric is so bright and good-mood-inspiring. It's a great gift, hope your friend will cherish it for quite a while.

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  5. Love the fabrics you used - I want them all! I like how you mixed them up! Are the cats going to have eyes?

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  6. Your friend's certainly going to love her new kitty quilt!

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  7. I love it! And more kitty blocks for the studio sound like fun :D

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  8. This is the second cat face block I've seen in two days! I made one, yes one, just for a "makes-me-smile" little wallhanging in my sewing room many years ago. Now I want more....Yours are so bright and happy. What a great idea to make a pillow for your friend.

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  9. So cute! This is a really cute, modern interpretation of a cat theme!

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  10. very cute and i Iove those fabrics with the grey!

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  11. I am not a cat person but I love your choice of fabrics!

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  12. Love that pattern! Your fabric choices are excellent, too. The one orange block even looks like it has whiskers at the nose portion. I'm sure your co-worker will LOVE it.

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  13. I bet your friend LOVED her kitty pillow Debra! A fun design, made more so my your choices of fabrics!

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  14. This is such a sweet quilt. thanks for sharing!!!

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  15. That pillow is really cute and the perfect gift for a cat lover. I had to laugh when you said Lucy is still not happy about her sisters who showed up five years ago, poor girl, LOL

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  16. Great cats. Thanks for the how to. Your friend will just love the pillow. It's terrific.

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  17. What a great gift for your friend - she will love it. The cat block is so lovely - you used such bright, happy fabrics.

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  18. This is so beautiful! I'm sure Lucy chose the pattern and picked the perfect fabrics! x Teje

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  19. This is a fun block to play with and you made a very sweet quilt. Thank you for sharing.

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  20. Oh, its lovely.....your friend can't help but be thrilled by your thoughtful gift! I have the fox pattern similar to this and I found a puppy one yesterday which is soooooo cute! Wonder if my furbabies would like those kind of puppies to join us at home.....hope you get to read my entry too (#26 - Callie)

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  21. So cute and such fun fabrics!

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  22. I love all those scrappy kitties. Such a lovely gift for a special friend.

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  23. Fabulous kitty project! Thank you so much for participating in our party!
    Snoodles
    quiltnsrepatyahoodotcom

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  24. Such cute kitties! A sweet and thoughtful gift for your friend.

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  25. What a beautiful kitty project! I love the colors you put together in the fabrics for each cat!
    Sew purrfect!
    Susie

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  26. Adorable! Cats and pillow. Thanks for the link to the pattern.

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  27. This pillow is really purrty. I think it's a quick project that I could do. Thanks for putting the pattern link on here.

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  28. I love your quilt, that pattern is on my bucket list.

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  29. I love this pattern and will have to make something using it for my quilting buddy as she looooves cats too!!! Those bright colours and patterns on the fabric you used are gorgeous!!

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  30. Do you have a certain pillow form that you like to use? I was at Jo-Ann's today but theirs is so flat. I want a pillow that's not heavy and is fluffy and the stuffing won't break down into clumps. Karen

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  31. What a great pillow and a lucky co-worker! Your colors are wonderful and really show off those kitties.

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