Sunbonnet Mew! A friendship block quilt for 2017

Well, we didn't hold it up very straight...but here is my finished quilt, "Sunbonnet Mew"!

These are friendship blocks from one of my favorite quilting groups - Quilters by the River in Sedro-Woolley Washington.

Blocks were made from my directions and spec by each participating member.  I did the machine applique of the kitties, assembled the top, and quilted it on my Elna (domestic machine).  It really is square...

It is about 70" x 70".

The pattern is from the VERY popular book, "The Cat's Meow" by Janet Kime (Martingale Publishing).  This book was reprinted for its 10th anniversary so there are a lot of copies out there.  I have made more quilts from this book than any other I own!   The name of the pattern in the book is "Puss in Bonnets" but I couldn't resist calling mine "Sunbonnet Mew". 

Thread used for the machine applique was Invisafil 100 weight poly, DecoBob 80 weight poly, and YLI 100 weight black silk.  Bonnet detail was added with various 12-weight threads (yes, by machine). 

Quilted with Konfetti by Wonderfil, a 50 weight cotton in white.

I love this so much.  It will remind me of the happy days spent with my quilting friends.  If you have an opportunity to participate in a friendship block exchange with your guild or group, do it!  Be very specific about what you want in your blocks and create a special keepsake of your very own!

Quick binding tip!

When doing the "machine step" to apply binding, I almost never use a walking foot.  Even though there are lots of layers!

To make the quilt slip easier under my quarter inch foot, I bump up the stitch length.  For example, my machine's default stitch length, and the one I use for most piecing, is 2.5.  When applying binding, I go up to 3.0.  What a difference!  So much easier to do.  And I have bound HUNDREDS of quilts like this. 

So try it!  3.0 is a comfortable stitch length for your machine and still keeps the binding nice and secure.  

Photo shows machine step for applying

binding with a half-inch finish!

Look for this tip and others in my book, "Binding Your Best" - Easymade Publications.  See sidebar.

Cat toys - recycle/upcycle!!

I love to recycle...

I love socks, especially cat socks...

When I wear my socks down to the threadbare point, I make cat toys out of them! 

Here's a quick overview:

Get out your old ratty socks and some scraps of quilt batting!  If the sock has a hole, just stitch it closed on your machine.  No fancy darning needed!  Use a couple of layers of batting, but what you see here is literally trimmings from a quilt that was longarmed. 

Make your stack a little narrower than your sock is long. 

 

Then the catnip!  Sprinkle it liberally over the batting. 

As you do for any dried herb, crush it between your fingers a little

to release more scent. 

 

 

Roll it up tightly.

 

 

Shove it in the sock!  If you have a pair where one sock is truly threadbare, use that one as your first sock and put the one in better condition over it.  Here, I'm just using one.

 

 

Almost done! 

 

 

I sew them shut in the cuff but I leave a little of the cuff dangling out for more kitty fun!

 

 

Be sure to trim any loose threads so that the cat doesn't ingest them. 

Thread swallowing is VERY BAD and involves a trip to the emergency vet.

 

 

All done!  Time for play!

 

 

Here's a demonstration from an earlier project.  These sock toys are very popular among cats who enjoy catnip (I believe the figure is about 75% who do).  If the scent fades over time, either discard the toy and make a new one or freshen it up with catnip spray!  

Yes, there is such a thing and it comes in a spritz bottle. 

 

 

Make some for all your kitty buddies!