When I first shared my Kitty Cats quilt top a few weeks ago, I mentioned that it was being made for my sister-in-law, who happens to be a devoted cat lover. Today I get to share the rest of the story.
The quilt is finally finished.
Since selling Miss Moxie, I no longer have a longarm in my sewing room, so I had to make the difficult decision to let someone else quilt it. I chose Quilting with David in Missouri, and he did a beautiful job bringing the quilt to completion with the Knit 1, Purl 2 design that adds wonderful texture without taking away from the colorful cats.
The hardest part wasn't mailing the quilt off.
The hardest part was giving up control.
For years I quilted my own projects from start to finish. Sending this one to someone else felt a little like sending one of my children out into the world and hoping everything would turn out just right.
In the end, I was very happy with the finished quilt. But the experience also gave me something unexpected—it reminded me that I was doing a pretty darn good job when I was quilting my own work. Sometimes it takes stepping away from something to realize how much you've learned along the way.
The best part of this quilt, though, had nothing to do with the quilting.
It was giving it to my sister-in-law.
Unfortunately, I didn't think to take pictures of the moment. She had received a chemotherapy treatment just a day or two before and simply wasn't feeling well enough for photos. But I didn't need a camera to remember her reaction.
She was genuinely touched that I had made the quilt specifically for her.
Knowing that something I created with my own hands could bring a little comfort during such a difficult season meant far more than any photograph ever could.
Those are the moments that remind me why I quilt.
Yes, I love choosing fabrics, piecing blocks together, and watching a design come to life. But more than that, I love knowing that something stitched in my sewing room can become a source of warmth, comfort, and love for someone else.
To me, that's what quilting has always been about.
One stitch at a time.
One quilt at a time.
One blessing at a time.
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Kitty Cats
Pattern: Kitty Cats by Cluck Cluck Sew
Finished Size: 59" × 66"
Quilted by: Quilting with David (Missouri)
Made with love for my sister-in-law ❤️
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