Projects

Cat Block Pillow

Created By:

Elizabeth Hartman

Skill Level: Intermediate

Use your favorite scraps to create an array of charming patchwork cats. Make an assortment of 6” x 6” cat blocks, or combine 10 cats to make a large block perfect for a 20” x 20” pillow cover. The cat lover brain behind this project is Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Frannson!

 

Janome Supplies Required
  • Janome Sewing Machine - Elizabeth uses a 1600P-QC
  • 1/4 piecing foot or narrow foot with cloth guide
     
Fabric and Notions Required

Notions Required:

  • Rotary cutting tools
  • Water-soluble fabric marker or chalk liner

Unless otherwise noted, all seams are sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance and pressed open.

Fabric:

  • Refer to the diagram below to rotary cut the fabric pieces for each block. Don’t hesitate to mix and match fabrics for a scrappy look!
  • The cat’s face (piece A) can be made from a single piece of fabric, or by sewing together smaller scraps at random and then cutting the finished patchwork to size, as shown in my example above.


     

 

Instructions

Instructions for a 6" Square: These directions will make a 6” x 6” finished quilt block. The block will measure 6½” x 6½” with seam allowance and 6” x 6” after it is sewn into your project.


Fabric: for Face and Ears

  • A – 1 piece 4” tall x 4½” wide (pieced, if desired)
  • B – 2 pieces 2” x 2” each

Background

  • C – 1 piece 2” x 4½”
  • D – 2 pieces 1½” x 1½” each
  • E – 2 pieces 1½” x 5½” each
  • F – 2 pieces 1” x 6½” each

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Ears

  • With right sides together, place each ear piece B on top of background piece C, aligning the pieces along the outside edges of piece C.
  • Use a fabric marker to draw a diagonal line from the upper left to the bottom right corner of the piece B on the left (left ear). Draw a diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right corner of the piece B on the right (right ear).
  • Sew along the marked lines to create diagonal seams. Trim away the excess fabric to leave 1/4" seam allowances and press the seams open to finish the ear unit.

Step 2: Make the Cat Face

  • With right sides together, place each background piece D on top of face piece A, aligning the pieces in the lower left and lower right corners of piece A.
  • Use a fabric marker to draw a diagonal line from the upper left to the bottom right corner of the piece D on the left. Draw a diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right corner of the piece D on the right.
  • Sew along the marked lines to create diagonal seams. Trim away the excess fabric to leave 1/4" seam allowances and press the seams open to finish the face unit.


Step 3: Finish the Block

  • Sew the ear unit to the top of the face unit.
  • Sew 1 background piece E to the left and 1 piece E to the right side of the block.
  • Sew 1 background piece F to the top and 1 piece F to the bottom of the block.


 


Instructions to me a 20" Block : These directions will make a block that measures 21” x 21” unfinished (including seam allowances). If you use the block to make a quilted pillow cover, as I did, use a 1/2" seam allowance to sew together the front and back, leaving a 20” x 20” finished pillow cover.

 

If you decide to use the large block in a quilt, you may wish to trim the block to 20½” x 20½” before sewing it into your project using a 1/4" seam allowance. Doing so will result in a 20” x 20” finished quilt block.

 

 

Fabric for Faces and Ears
For each of the 10 cats, you will need:

  • 1 face piece A, 4” tall x 4½” wide (pieced, if desired)
  • 2 ear piece B, 2” x 2” each

Fabric for Background
1/2 yard of neutral solid fabric at least 43” wide, cut as follows:

Cut 1 strip 5½” x width of fabric. Subcut into:

  • 4 piece H, 3¾ ” x 5½” each
  • 7 piece G, 1½” x 5½” each
  • 2 piece I, 1¼” x 5½” each

Cut 1 strip 4½” x width of fabric. Subcut into:

  • 10 piece C, 2” x 4½” each
  • 20 piece D, 1½” x 1½” each

Cut 1 strip 2¼” x width of fabric. Subcut into:

  • 2 piece K, 2¼” x 21” each

Cut 1 strip 1½” x width of fabric. Subcut into:

  • 2 piece J, 1½” x 21” each

Making the Block

Step 1: Make the Cats

  • Refer to the directions for making the 6” block to make 10 pieced cats, omitting the background pieces E and F described in Step 3.

Step 2: Finish the Block

  • Refer to the diagram above to arrange the cats in 3 rows, with 3 cats in Rows 1 and 2, and 4 cats in Row 2. Sew together the cats in each row, sewing a background piece G between each cat, as shown in the diagram.
  • Sew 1 background piece H to the left side and 1 piece H to the right side of Rows 1 and 3. Sew 1 background piece I to the left side and 1 piece I to the right side of Row 2.
  • Sew together the 3 rows, sewing a background piece J between each row, as shown in the diagram. Sew 1 background piece K to the top and 1 piece K to the bottom to finish the block.

Using the Block to Make a Pillow Cover

This block can be used to make a cover for a 20” x 20” pillow form using your preferred quilting and finishing techniques and sewing the front and back of the pillow cover together using a 1/2" seam allowance.
 

Everyone is Talking about Cat Block Pillow
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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