Way back in the spring, I was playing with some fabric when Joseph came along and claimed it. He was usually super easy going, but refused to move off the fabric I had piled in the floor. I had been playing around with a bundle of random cat themed fabrics and with Joseph’s endorsement, it seemed clear that we needed a full on cat quilt.

I wound up sewing this one up in short order before we found out we were moving. Along the way, my sweet boy lost his battle with cancer. When I sent the quilt off to be quilted, I titled it Joseph’s Quilt, and that’s how I think of it now.

Tera of The Quilting Smith did the long arm quilting on this one and we went an all over hearts pattern – I just couldn’t help it with the sweet and snuggly kitty vibes of this one.

Because I’m nothing if not a stickler for sticking to a theme – I had this wide back cat fabric in stash so it seemed perfect. (2 images above courtesy of Tera)

I finished the binding today – this wide stripe is just everything! It turned out so well. I used a handmade, pre-made binding from Lynny Lou Fabric – let me tell you, pre-made binding is the ultimate luxury! I’m starting to keep a few in basic strips and others on hand, it’s just so nice to be ready to go!

And here it is all done! The bundle was curated by Holly of Maker Valley and the pattern is Fat Quarter Pile Up by Knot + Thread Designs. This is my fourth one of these and I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – this is the easiest, most satisfying quick pattern I know. The lap size only takes 12 fat quarters and comes out to a generous 57″ x 70″ – perfect! I’m still not completely pleased with my ability to distribute lights and darks well – but who cares? It is done and it’s all cats (except for one panel of mice, I thought it was cute to sneak that in) so it’s amazing in my book.

Joseph was a big quilt conesiour – he helped Cosi oversee the creation but was the lead certifier of the finished product.

I miss my buddy, but Cosi and I have many plans to snuggle under his quilt in his honor.

Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with me. Looking forward, this is the first quilt finish in the new craft room! I can’t wait to finish up the rest of the stack…

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Happy making!