Friday 8 August 2014

Pixelated Cat Quilt (plus a free pattern)

After I made my pixelated heart quilt top (based, of course, on Jolene's gorgeous original), I was struck with an idea.  What about a pixelated cat quilt?!  Well, I just had to get on and make one.

  Cat quilt (small ears) 

I came up with a design, but I couldn't quite decide on the ears.  Little ears for a funny looking cat a la Lizzy House's catnap cats?  Or bigger ears for a more cat-like cat?  It was really hard to decide.  In the end I went with the bigger ears, but then I was disappointed.  Sooo, I made another quilt, obviously.  This mustard and grey version is actually take 2 of this quilt.

Cat quilt (small ears) 

I loved getting into my stash of mustard fabrics.  They can be tricky to use with other colours, but played so nicely together and with my greyed out low volume background.

Cat quilt (small ears) 

I even managed to get in some of those Lizzy House cats that inspired me on the binding.  That deep purple and hot pink just spark perfectly off the mustard.  I've already re-stocked that print because I just want to use it in everything.

Cat quilt (big ears) 

So this is the first pixelated cat quilt I made.  I know some people will prefer this version, and I'm not saying I don't like it, it's just that the little ears version is more true to my original vision for this quilt.

Cat quilt (big ears) 

I'm really happy with the mix of fabrics I used for the cat face.  They are mostly by Anna Maria Horner, with some Julianna Horner and Kaffe Fassett thrown in for good measure.

Cat quilt (big ears) 

Of course, I had to put cats on the back as well.  These guys are from Spotlight and are just too cute.  They're knitting, obviously.

Cat quilt (big ears)

It's safe to say that this is a cat quilt in more ways than one.  I finished it a couple of months ago and it has been in pretty constant use by Ivy and Ralph since then.  Both of my quilts used 2.5" cut squares, so they finish at 30" square and 30" by 32" respectively.  They were both super quick to make and each was done and dusted in the space of a weekend.

So, in case you'd like to make your own cat quilt, I've put together a free pattern - just click here to download it.  It's pitched at someone who has made a quilt before, so the instructions aren't overly detailed.  However, it's super simple, so if you've made even one quilt before, I think you'll find it a breeze!  If you make your own version of this quilt, I'd love if you'd share in the On the Windy Side flickr group - I'd really love to see any different versions that get made.

You know I love to link up a finish, so I'll be linking up to finish it up friday at crazy mom quilts.

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11 comments:

Anne said...

Eeee SO CUTE!! Add me to the "I prefer the purple one" camp, but they're both fantastic. ^_^ What a clever idea!

Ella said...

I think I like the purple best. My cat has a tiny face, and it's more her shape. I'm putting this on my list for scrap busting...and because Kraken wants a new quilt.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Purrfect! Love the photo with the cats, too. I love the mustard one because it reminds me of my cat I picked out when I was 5 and who was my childhood buddy. Definitely going to bookmark and make one of these. So many fun ideas floating through my mind!

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

Oh these are so cute! I love the mustard prints!

Karyn said...

I love the final photo!

lindseykelly said...

fun! you should totally make whiskers out of the quilting next time! (like the thread.. not sure if that's clear lol)

Kirsten said...

Really love your cute cat quilts and thank you so much for the pattern!

Gemini Jen NZ said...

Very cool quilts!! Love the cats fabric!

Anonymous said...

Love the purple cat -vibrant and exciting. I have found a great company who will pixelate any picture into a quilt pattern with fabric requirements etc. the trouble is that this has given me too much choice and I can't commit to one image. I keep jumping from idea to idea for my sister-in-law's 60th birthday quilt. Too much choice is sometimes a bad thing.

Marie Turner said...

I love both of them! SO cute!

Lana said...

Well, isn't that just adorable!!! I love it!