Colour Point Cats

With the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2020 underway, I decided to make fairly simple blocks for two charity (donation) quilts, and then, although I really should know better, to work on something for me.  This third pattern involves both curved piecing and foundation piecing – would it all prove too much, I wondered? Firstly, I had to take the pattern down to Warehouse Stationery to get multiple copies made.  The shop was really busy, it was just before the schools opened after the long summer break, and was full of harried looking parents and school kids getting their stationery requirements for the new year.  I remember buying books, pencils, stationery for my own two children many years ago.

It took me a while to come to grips with the foundation piecing, it all seems rather back to front to me, which it is, of course.  But then I was soon into the rhythm of cut a piece of fabric, pin it in place, make sure it will cover the next sewing line and adjust if necessary, stitch along the line, fold back and trim, then press in place – and do this all over again.  Slow but steady, I eventually got there.  And as orange had already been announced as February’s colour, I stitched two blocks at once.

Stitching arcs

I cut all the pieces out for the cats, one green and one orange, and did have a moment when I wondered how I would get the curved pieces fitted together.  Just as well I checked the instructions, I had to match the dots, and it all went together fairly smoothly, using lots of pins to hold the pieces in place.  And look, I now have two completed colour point cats!

My two cats

They will need faces of course, and I’m really pleased with how they turned out.  I’m calling them Birmans, like our Gemma.  I know this breed comes in all sorts of colour points with cream, orange, blue, lilac, chocolate, or seal point like our Gemma – although I’m not too sure about green cats. 

My very first taste of foundation piecing was quite some years ago, and I didn't date it, sadly.  This was done at a night class, and stitched over pre printed cotton strip.  I remember the teacher calling them Marvelous Minis at the time, and she had brought the strips back from one of the big quilt shows in USA.  Robin had a large silver grey cat called Mistie when we met, so once we married, I became her new Mum.  This little mini was done in honour of Mistie.

Pink and Grey Cats, this hangs in our bedroom