Every Cat Has a Story: Finishing the “Kitty Cats” Quilt Top

Some quilt projects are planned from the very beginning, and some seem to come together one little scrap at a time. This “Kitty Cats” quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew definitely became the second kind for me — and honestly, those are often the quilts that end up holding the most heart.

This pattern comes with three different size options, but I chose to make the medium-sized version, which finishes at 59" x 66", just like the cover quilt that first caught my eye. The moment I saw all those playful little cats lined up together, I knew it would be a fun way to dig into my scraps and let creativity take over.

And creativity definitely took over.

Each of the sixteen cats has its own personality thanks to the fabrics I chose. I used one fabric color for each cat’s body, then mixed in a different coordinating palette for the tails and ears. No two are alike, which makes this quilt feel extra cheerful and full of character. Scrappy quilts always have a way of telling stories through fabric, and this one feels like sixteen tiny stories stitched together.

For the background, I used Coriander Seeds White on White Sprigs, which gave the quilt a soft, clean backdrop while still adding just enough texture and movement to keep things interesting. I love how it lets the colorful cats take center stage without competing for attention.

This quilt was actually requested by my sister-in-law, who absolutely loves cats and has quite a few of them herself. So while I was sewing, I kept imagining her seeing all these colorful little cats lined up together. Quilting for someone you love always makes the process feel a little more meaningful.

Right now, the quilt top is complete, but it still needs to be quilted — and this one feels a little bittersweet for me.

Since selling Miss Moxie earlier this year, I no longer have my longarm machine here at home. That means I now have to either rent time on a machine or trust someone else to quilt my tops for me. And if you know me, you know that’s hard. I’ve always loved being involved in every step of the process and having control over the final outcome of my quilts.

Letting go of that part has been an adjustment.

But maybe that’s part of this season of life too — learning to adapt, learning to trust the process a little differently, and finding new ways to keep creating even when things change.

One thing I do know for certain: these colorful little cats made me smile the entire time I worked on them, and that’s always a good sign.

I can’t wait to see this one fully quilted and finished soon.

Until next time,
Anna
Sew Serenity Cottage
Where every stitch tells a story.