One of my guilds is having a challenge due at the end of the month to use one of these black and white fabrics, and the other guild is having a challenge due in July to make something black and white and one color. So here is a two-fer. He's cute, although I would make some slightly different fabric choices if I did it again. He will definitely have to have bobbin work whiskers, and maybe button eyes, although I'm not sure of that. I'm still debating the border design. It's sort of a second choice design anyway, because I'm short of fabric. I'm thinking about making opposite corners the same dark or light value, and putting a point at the break to echo the triangular pieces in the cat's tail. There will also be a point in the cornerstone block where the contrasting strips appear to cross. The cat pattern is designed by Janine Holzman and was in a 2006 QNM that I stumbled across while straightening things. I made just one block and am doing my own border design.
Paper piecing is one of the first techniques I used when I started quilting again about 7 years ago, and it's one of my least favorite things. In a great example of synchronicity, we had an excellent program about it at guild right before I came across this pattern, and I decided to give it a shot. This went together very well. One thing I learned, partly from the guild demo and partly from my own adaptation, is to use a Hera marker. I used the flat side to gently press a seam after stitching, and then used the point to lightly score the seam line on the next piece. Then I folded the paper back on the scored line, and used a ruler and rotary cutter to trim the excess fabric to an exact 1/4 inch seam. This makes it easier to place the next piece, and also makes the paper easier to tear away. This probably isn't new to people who do lots of paper piecing, but I felt like it was a real breakthrough. I still won't be a paper piecing convert though; I'd rather handle fabric than paper.
16 comments:
Oo, oo, oo! Green almond shaped eyes, is what I see.
I guess with the back story, I won't be getting one of those kitties anytime soon, huh?
Cut cat! I like it!
How very cute!!!
I like the shape of this cat. Well done!
Oh, this cat definitely has personality! I like the black and white on the green background. (I always like black and white fabrics!)
Cute! The way you have it now, with the left border different from the top/bottom ones, is very eye-catching. All four borders could be different.
Your guild sounds very innovative.
very cool cat Kay! Say that three times fast. Love the colors too.
Excellent cat!
love the kitty but like you do not love PPing. It is a great technique though if you need pointy points.
Cool cat - has a jazzy feel.
oh he is so cute, he made me laugh out loud!
Love that cat! and, I like doing PP, except for pulling off the narrow pieces of paper along the seams, but I found a pair of tweezers that do a good job. I think I'll try that pattern for quilt photos of my babies, with their ring tails, but in Siamese color with blue background to match their eyes.
This is a fascinating piece. I've been peeking for days! Your talent is boundless. I can't believe how neat this is and how you can just come up with this stuff.
Enjoyed your info on paper piecing, too.
Very cute cat!
I used to hate paper piecing as well, but recently after some practice and tips from various workshops I feel pretty comfortable with it now.
I love it. Thanks for showing us. I will visit again soon.
Post a Comment