TOM is a Cat Mat - A Finished Quilt

Last year (was it only last year??), I made a mat for Elvis. He was our 24 year old cat and he loved to sit in front of the radiator, but he needed some padding for his old bones. Almost as soon as it was completed, one of our other cats, Tom, wanted a mat, too. It took that year, but I finally have a nice mat for him to use. 

For Tom's mat, I used a lot of older fabric from my stash and a lot of vintage fabric. When I was done piecing the "TOM", I decided it needed some extra size and added some fun boarders. As with all my quilts, Tom's mat is completely hand pieced using no pattern. 

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I used one of my go to backing fabric, which was gifted to me by my Brother in Law. I wanted this mat to be extra cushy and soft, so I used two scraps of batting to make it extra lofty. I hand quilted this mat with cream colored cotton thread. 

I'm sure most people do not use regular sewing cotton as quilting thread, but I use it just like sewing, doubled and knotted. The only issues I've ever had with this is that it can bunch, and the doubled thread can get off balance, so that you have a longer loop from one of the doubled threads. But with careful slow stitching, I usually catch this with no problem. Sometimes, pulling the thread taut, I have broken the thread at the eye of the needle. When this happens, I simply rethread both the loose ends and keep going. 

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I bound this mini quilt by folding over the backing. Again, there is no measuring when I do this process so often the boarders vary in width on each edge. This mat had one little edge that was cut off, not square and I just folded the boarder accordingly, so one corner is snipped off. I had not intended this, but that was the way the quilt "wanted" to be, so I went with it! I really like the way it turned out and might try this technique again (on purpose!). I labeled this quilt very simply using another piece of the backing fabric. I liked the way the edges of the label were frayed, so instead of tucking them in, I sewed the label on the back of the quilt in such a way as to show them off. 

The morning I finished Tom's is a Cat Mat, which measures approximately 37" x 26 1/2", Tom himself was sitting by the radiator and I put the mat down ASAP. Of course he didn't go near the radiator again! But Flounder took advantage of the new, soft and warm, mat! Cat mats are for everyone to share!

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Tom likes his mat now and I'm happy to have a finish before the end of the year! This mini quilt is also on my Q4 FAL list so check one off for me! 

Linking up around the web this week. 

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OMG July

Not only did I not finish June's OMG, I didn't touch it! But for July, it's time to get down to business. 

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This WIP is time sensitive, so for OMG July, I need to get the top and bottom completed, the quilt basted and figure out how to quilt it!

It seems a little bit daunting especially bc of my lousy track record so far:
Jan - Quilt Maybe Lyz - Not Finished
Feb - Quilt Tom Mat - Not Finished
Mar - Finish Tom Mat - Not Finished
Apr - Finish Little Baby Quilt Top - Not Finished
May - Finish Little Baby Quilt Top - Finished!!
Jun - Baste and Tie Little Baby Quilt Top - Not Finished

I'm putting my head down and hoping for a OMG finish in July! I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts, Move It Forward Monday, MCM, and more!

Checking in on MCQBOM2016

In 2016 I made my first Mad Cat Quilts BOM. I chose blocks each month that I had never sewn before. I wasn't sure how I was going to lay them all out in the end. I decided to echo the geometric theme of the fabric but creating a simple grid with a dark sashing. 

I actually started sashing the blocks before I even finished the last block in December. But then I let it sit for a while. I added it to my first quarter FAL, but it still sat. 

This week, I gathered all the wrinkly parts and started finishing sashing the blocks. Elvis helped me, but he got a bit bored. He here is caught mid yawn: 

So, now MCQBOM2016 is getting closer to being a quilt top!! The blocks were all a bit different in size so I added some extra of the grey here and there. It's pretty wonky, but I'm really happy with it!

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These are not the best photos, the fabric is wrinkly and not laid out flat, cats are everywhere! But that's how I work so I think it's worth seeing in it's true in progress shape! 

I also added this quilt to my Q2FAL list, so I'm happy to be making some headway on it. Now I'm on a bit of a roll. I'll post more soon! Today I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, BOMs Away at What a Hoot, and more!

March OMG Goal

OK, I'm 0 for 2 this year so far. I'm choosing the same project as last month, partly bc I'm stubborn, but partly it's bc I really want to get this one done. So, instead of only the quilting being added as my OMG, I want to complete the mat. I did work on it a bit during February, but I also flitted about and touched on many projects. 

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This mat is on my FALQ1 so there's another reason to get it done. Here's hoping I get Tom's Mat finished this month! Here's my monthly tally:
Jan - Quilt Maybe Lyz - Not finished
Feb - Quilt Tom Mat - Not finished
Mar - Finish Tom Mat - 

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts and OMG, Slow Sunday Stitching, Move it Forward Monday, and more. 

MadCatQuiltsBOM 2017 + New Block: Pineapple

Last year, I started a BOM of blocks I had never made before. I have decided to continue this tradition so here is the very first post for MCQBOM2017!!

In 2016, I didn't choose any blocks before the month I would create them, but in 2017 I have a much clearer idea of what I want to sew. For MCQBOM2017, I will still be sewing blocks I have never made before, but they will all be picture blocks; Blocks that clearly represent an image. 

I don't use picture blocks in my quilting very much, if ever, but I often like the look of these blocks in finished quilts. I have compiled a list of blocks I want to complete this year, with a vague idea of how the finished quilt will come together. I have more than 12 blocks that I might want to sew, so as usual, there is a lot of room to move around or change in this project. 

With the 2016 MCQBOM, I tried to get out of my comfort zone color and fabric wise. I'm doing that again this year with several projects. For MCQBOM2017, I have decided on an all grey and black fabric pull. I'm not sure why. But I think this might turnout very interesting!

And now, without further ado, the January block for MCQBOM2017 is the Pineapple Block!

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I chose the Pineapple for the first block bc it is a symbol of welcome and prosperity and I thought that was a good way to start off the new year. I found a few tutorials for this block on pinterest, but didn't use one in particular. My husband is joining me this year, but he didn't want his block shown this time. 

We also did a warm up block back in December that came from Molli Sparkles' Honey Pot Bee, an improve tree. 

Feel free to follow along throughout the year, or sew along! Linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching, Making Monday, Move It Along Monday and more link ups!