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Block o’ Cats

21 Sep

I’m in a quilting bee with a delightful group of gals where we make either an entire 12″ x 60″ row or a large 24″ x 24″ block every two months.  Adrianne asked for cat blocks for her month and I found this image on Pinterest that I wanted to try to recreate:

Cat Quilt Block by Better Off Thread

Pinterest is great for inspiration, but this photo didn’t have a source.  It looks like someone took a photo of maybe an older quilt book (If anyone knows where this quilt is from, I would love to know).

I went back and forth about how best to construct the block and I came up with this sample:

Cat Quilt Block by Better Off Thread

Don’t look to close, though.  I was in such a hurry that the seams aren’t perfect!

There are partial seams, but it actually goes together pretty easily.  The hardest part is figuring out what fabric to place where.

I then pulled a selection of fabrics in Adrianne’s color scheme and here is the block.

Cat Quilt Block by Better Off Thread

It measures about 24″ x 24″ and I decided to remove the bodiless legs from around the perimeter of the block.  I think I need to shorten the cats legs about a 1/2″ the next time I make this block.  It would be the perfect size for a floor pillow and I’s like to make Emmeline one using cat fabric (in all my free time).

If enough people are interested, I’ll post a free tutorial!

Have a great Monday!

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Comments:
49 Comments
Categories:
quilting

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Comments

  1. Judy Miller says

    September 21, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    Please post a tutorial for the little cat pattern. I would love it.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      June 30, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Hi Juy! Did you get this pattern? I’ve been looking hard for it….
      Thank you!
      Claudia

      Reply
  2. Suzanne says

    September 21, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    Please post a tutorial! This is adorable.

    Reply
  3. Vicki says

    September 21, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    OMG…this is so very cute! Yes, I’d love a tut on this block. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  4. Jodie says

    September 21, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    I’d like the pattern – my daughter is a crazy cat lady and would LOVE this.

    Reply
  5. Kimberly Baird says

    September 21, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    That is absolutely adorable. I’d love a tutorial!

    Reply
  6. Ronda says

    September 21, 2014 at 8:03 pm

    Yes please! A tutorial would be great!

    Reply
  7. Beth T. says

    September 21, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    Oh, yes please! A tutorial would be very nice.

    Reply
  8. Teje says

    September 21, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    Hi! I love your kittens! Beautiful block and tyour fbrics make it modern! Tutorial would be great. x Teje

    Reply
  9. gerry says

    September 21, 2014 at 9:37 pm

    I would love the tutorial too!!

    Reply
  10. Terrie Gamino says

    September 21, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    Great idea…darling for a child’s quilt. I think removing the bodiless legs is a great idea…perhaps in the space left over…could embroider “cat” or “kitty” in various languages

    I’d appreciate you going to the trouble to make a tutorial for the blocks! 😉

    Reply
  11. Karen says

    September 21, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    Please post the tutorial. I’d love to make for my granddaughter!

    Reply
  12. Jeifner says

    September 22, 2014 at 1:21 am

    That is a fun new cat block!

    Reply
  13. Rita says

    September 22, 2014 at 3:40 am

    Love this! My daughter is a cat nut and this would be such a cute gift. If you create a tutorial that would be great! Thank you!!

    Reply
  14. Heather says

    September 22, 2014 at 4:35 am

    hi! yes, thanks so much for sharing! a tutorial would be excellent! have a lovely day! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Paula K. says

    September 22, 2014 at 5:07 am

    Would love the tutorial. So nice of you to do this for your friend. Sincerely, Paula K.

    Reply
  16. Jessica says

    September 22, 2014 at 6:31 am

    This is really cute! I love the colors you used. A tutorial would be wonderful!

    Reply
  17. Annette Cazilhac says

    September 22, 2014 at 7:31 am

    I saw this quilt in one of my “French” books. But it is a translation of an English or American) book. I will try to find its references and will give them to you as soon as I find the book in my great library. Best. Annette

    Reply
  18. Lauren says

    September 22, 2014 at 8:13 am

    This is so cute! My little girl would love this!!! A tutorial would be awesome ! Thank you!!

    Reply
  19. Kristi says

    September 22, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    I love anything cat related! I would love a tutorial for your block. Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Michelle says

    September 22, 2014 at 8:54 pm

    I’d love the tutorial if you post it, my DGD loves kitties. I love yours and would be interested in how to shorten the legs a bit.

    Reply
  21. Jane in FL says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:42 am

    I would love the kitty pattern as well and thank you in advance!

    Reply
  22. Linda says

    September 23, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    I don’t even like cats, and I think this is adorable!

    Reply
  23. kate says

    September 24, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    Please please post a tutorial!

    Reply
  24. Nargis says

    September 26, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    l really love these cat blocks , can you please post a tutorial? Thank you . Warm regards.

    Reply
  25. Bridget says

    September 30, 2014 at 11:11 am

    it is a pattern from either quiltmaker or QNM from WAY back! Like the 80s way back 🙂

    Reply
  26. Becky says

    December 20, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    Oh, I hope you will post a tutorial on the cats quilt!! It’s exactly what I’d love to make for a friend who is a fellow cat lover!! And my little granddaughter too~!!

    Reply
  27. marilyn says

    December 30, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    I would like the cat tutorial

    Reply
  28. Marcia says

    January 1, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    Oh! Yes! Please do come back with a tutorial! This is the cutest cat block I have ever seen! Thanks “sew” much!

    Reply
    • Janice@Better Off Thread says

      January 2, 2015 at 10:02 am

      I did a tutorial and you can find it right here! http://betteroffthread.com/2014/09/23/tumbling-cat-mini/

      Reply
      • Claudia Barbosa says

        July 3, 2016 at 6:59 am

        Thank you soooooooooo much! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

        Reply
  29. Letty says

    March 25, 2015 at 5:41 am

    Yes tutorial please! It’s adorable, and I know many cat-lovers who would love a pillow in this block!!!

    Reply
  30. Marcia says

    March 25, 2015 at 7:16 am

    She did do a tutorial, Ladies… look at the response to my comment, #28. There’s a link to the tututorial. 🙂

    Reply
  31. mimi'sdarlins says

    March 25, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    The original pattern for this quilt is from a book titled The Complete Book of Quilting by Gianna Valli Berti, first published in 1998 in Italy and translated to English in 2004. This is about the time I bought it. Looks like it’s not currently in print but can be purchased online through various sources. It’s filled with quaint projects like this one, and some of them look like they date back to the 80’s.

    Reply
    • Marcia says

      March 25, 2015 at 4:41 pm

      Cool! Thanks for the info!

      Reply
      • mimi'sdarlins says

        March 26, 2015 at 4:53 am

        You’re welcome, Marcia! Hope you get the book, it’s one of my favorites 🙂

        Reply
  32. Carol Sabo says

    October 28, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    ohhhh this is sooo great i have been looking everywhere for a cat block…..i saw a puppy one and loved it and then wanted to do cats……my kitty pussems lays next to my machine when i sew and she was not happy with me when i made a dog. I would just love it if you told me how you did this!!
    ——-<@

    Reply
  33. Emily B says

    November 6, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    LOVE THE CAT QUILT….Would love the tutorial too !!!

    Reply
    • Janice@Better Off Thread says

      November 6, 2015 at 8:53 pm

      You can find it at the top under “Free patterns/tutorials”!

      Reply
  34. Lori gust says

    November 8, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    I love it!

    Reply
  35. Sharon says

    March 2, 2016 at 4:49 am

    In the early to mid 70’s, there was a fabric printed with this same cat design. All of the cats were in blue, and the background was off white, like unbleached muslin. I had a dress made out of it. I have no idea who the manufacturer was, but I may have a picture of the dress somewhere.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      March 2, 2016 at 4:53 am

      In the early to mid 70’s, there was a fabric printed with this same cat design. (That would match up with the age of the fabric on the original cat quilt) I think that the cats were in blue, and the background was off white, like unbleached muslin. My mom made me a dress with it. I have no idea who the manufacturer was, but I may have a picture of the dress somewhere.

      Reply
  36. elaine says

    July 16, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    The pattern was printed in Quilters Newsletter Magazine July-August 1991. The article notes it was adapted from an interlocking pattern design on an old piece of fabric – which matches the comments earlier. Pattern is templates. I remember trying to piece this and the block did not fit together, but I kept the article in my cat pattern collection anyway!

    Reply
  37. 'Nettez says

    August 15, 2016 at 8:38 am

    This is so fun!!!! Would love a tutorial for it!

    Reply
  38. LINDA FICKLING says

    January 10, 2017 at 8:47 am

    like the bodiless legs remove but wondered what it would be like if head could go on the backing at those places

    Reply
  39. Kerry Marchese says

    July 20, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    Would love the tutorial!!! 😺

    Reply
    • Sharon Henrichsen says

      July 21, 2017 at 5:13 am

      In the 1970’s, my mom purchased printed fabric that looks just like this. It was in blue (various prints) on an off-white/unbleached muslin background. I may have a photo of it somewhere.

      Reply
      • Judy says

        July 21, 2017 at 11:39 am

        I have this pattern. I’ll be happy to share it.

        Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Free Cat Quilt Patterns says:
    March 14, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    […] This is a big blog of cats.  To me it looks like this block could be a little confusing. […]

    Reply

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