10/24/20

How to Build a Cat

You'll need a cat for this:

Cats make excellent color consultants.

The first step is to create the face. The nose is three-dimensional.

Every well-dressed cat sports a bow tie, and so you'll want to add that next:


When that is finished, you can proceed with the chest, a paw, and the tip of the tail.

Optional accessories might include the blue bird of happiness:

Finally, you'll want to add the business-end of the cat. It will give the bird a place to perch.

This part of the cat will take an entire day of fiddling. When you have it that far, you'll be adding a narrow black border, and then the scrappy red sashings. Eventually, you will have all the cats you need, and you can sew your cats into a finished quilt.

Before that, however, behold the pattern cover and realize that you've made your first two cats with their associated birds facing in the wrong direction.


Here's the first one I made a while ago:

These are a little tricky to put together because of all the flippy triangles. Sometimes I have to study the instructions to make sure I'm sewing them to the correct corner, and in the correct direction. Frustratingly, the directions are the same for both right and left-facing cats. The quilter is helpfully told that the cat can be made facing in either direction, but the directions are set up to create the left-facing cat. This matters not at all, but in both cases, I wanted to make the right-facing cat. I didn't realize until I was well along that the cat was facing in the opposite direction. 

And, just let me tell you, I tried turning the bird to face left for yesterday's block, and this reverse in direction is much easier said than done. I found myself looking at the diagram in the instructions, and then turning my unsewn piece this way and that, trying to envision how it would look if it were flipped over to face the other way. So, I got 'er done, but I'm still needing to face the cat the other way for the final two sitting cats. Now, I've written myself a note directly on the instructions to make the cats face the other way. This matters not at all beyond my effort to convince myself I am not old and senile, and that I'm still able to follow directions.

Today I'll add in details to the cat's face, and then piece together the sashing from red scraps. Since this will all come together in the end, I sometimes need more sashing pieces, sometimes less. I believe this one will be of the lesser variety, but I'll still have to cut all those little squares individually if I want a good mix.

And, no, I did not get out for a walk yesterday. Frankly, I wish you hadn't brought it up. The weather was chilly and cloudy and lazy. That was me...the lazy part...but I'll blame the weather. Honestly, I'm having a hard time blasting myself out of the house. It's very comfortable inside. We're expecting nice weather all next week. Maybe that will get me going. Or maybe not. It's anybody's guess. Feel free to create a betting pool if you'd like. There could be big money to be made. For now, I'll just get back to my slow-stitching. I'm coming down the home stretch.

13 comments:

Barbara said...

I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul. ~ Jean Cocteau

Denise :) said...

These are too cute!! That one rather does look like Smitty ... must be because he was the color supervisor?! Love the little red birdy on the first block (second pictured). Our weather is definitely not walking weather, so I thoroughly approve your no-walk decision. Heh. :)

gpc said...

The thing is, as you know better than I, cats will do what cats will do. So don't stress about their positions, it has no bearing on senility, it's a cat thing.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I don't know if you can flip the pattern over and see it with your light box to follow the opposite settings? Or copy and mirage image? We are windy, cold and wet for the weekend - maybe snow tomorrow. Early voting tomorrow so I can manage Mom on 'the real voting day'.

Lynette said...

Oh, yes! I greatly appreciate it when a pattern included pictures for both right- and left-facing blocks! It's far, FAR too easy to mess up the flip-corners when you have to remember to reverse everything! Your kitties are ADORABLE.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

A thought - from the Oh Great Clueless One....it seems to me there is a way to scan a pattern into your computer and use your software program to 'flip it' so it is reversed. But then again, please refer to the second portion of that sentence...
I'm loving the blocks, whichever way the birds face. Birds can't be told what to do anyway!

Quilting Babcia said...

Who cares which way the cats face, everyone knows how contrary they are! I love your latest cat, and I think Smitty appurroves too.

Julierose said...

Such neat cats!! Birds are flighty and often do face the wrong way on purpose ;000 cats would never dream of doing that...
Anyway, a lovely finish on the block...hugs, Julierose

Sue said...

I am left-handed- I can't tell you how many times I've ended up with things facing the "wrong" direction- I usually, if possible, just go with it. I'm with you on the "lazy" weather- we've had cold, rainy weather for what seems like weeks- I just can't force myself out the door.

piecefulwendy said...

That is such a cute block and a fun quilt. I did get out for a walk yesterday, after helping pack for the move. It was unplanned, and a bit chilly. I'm definitely feeling it today.

SJSM said...

We are in our fall weather. Bright sunshine, high 70’s during the day and cool night, hitting lower 60’s. The perfect weather for just about anything but sunbathing and hot weather plant gardening. Lots of sewing going on. Another face mask to cover my SIL N95 as she only gets one a day at her medical facility and there is Covid present in the facility. The other item complete is the first Christmas tree skirt. Originally it was to go to a family shelter. My daughter loved it so she will have that one and I will make another fot the shelter.

MissPat said...

You just need to get Smitty to pose facing the opposite direction - oh, wait a minute, he's a cat isn't he. I'm very thankful that Sally of Objects of Design, always provides directions for both side facings in her critters tutorials. I couldn't have made her sheep, if she hadn't.
Anyway, I don't think anyone will ever notice which way the cats or birds are facing.
Pat

Debby McRae said...

You crack me up! When I read about your after lunch walk I thought 'perfect, what a good idea!' because I too have been having to force myself to go outside even though I live in a rural area and there are lots of beautiful places to walk. I too have been blaming the weather and I too am waiting for nicer weather this coming week! Nice to have company in the 'must move my body more'land!