Purrrrfectly cute cat quilts

As animal lovers, we're always thrilled to find quilts that showcase some of our favorite creatures, including cats.  We came across some great quilts featuring fun felines in recent shows.  We hope these brighten your day! (Note to cat lovers:  also see our 2010 series on The Best of Cat Quilts, and our Cat Quilts Board at Pinterest.)

Flower Queen Kitty, 47 x 59, exhibited by Mary Fish

Mary notes, "This quilt was my 'thank you' gift for serving as a 2009 River City Quilters Guild Quilt Show co-chair. Thank  you to [all who worked on my quilt] including , ShirLee Belisle, Nancy Causey, Nancy Gangler, Nancy MacDonald, Kathy Mitchell, Phyllis McCalla, and Annette Blandin. I will treasure it always. "

Close-up of Flower Queen Kitty

We love the whimsical face and fanciful long whiskers of this giant purple kitty.  The striped inner border in extra-bright colors provides this quilt with a glowing, surrealistic, Alice-In-Wonderland look.

Let Sleeping Cats Lie by Jane Chiles

At the 2012  Arizona Quilters Guild Show, Jane noted,  "I started this at Quilt Camp in 2006 and finished it this past year. I am a new quilter, and this has been my biggest challenge!"

Close-up of Let Sleeping Cats Lie

The center spiral of these blocks is formed by the cats' tails all cozily curled up together. The center of this pattern is based on the traditional "Snails Trail" quilt pattern. The pattern, by Helene Knott, can be seen at Alderwood Quilts.

Holiday Party Kitty,  47 x59, exhibited by Paulette Trafecanty

Paulette exhibited this adorable black, white, and red cat quilt at the 2012 River City Quilters Guild Show in Sacramento, California. She explains,  "I was one of four ladies that put on the River City Quilters Guild Quilt Show. I never expected to get a quilt. But lo and behold, Phyllis McCalla and her great group of ladies made one for each of us. I absolutely adore it!  It is now hanging on my living room wall."

Close-up of Holiday Party Kitty

So much personality is imbued to this crazy cat by its heart-shaped nose, striped bow-tie collar, and red bell around its neck. The echo quilting or outline quilting around this center panel really gives a wild, zany energy to this delightful work.

Sleeping Cat, 27 x29,  by Dorothy Findley

At the 2013 Flying Needles Quilt Guild Quilt Show in Woodland, California, Dorothy writes, "This quilt was made just because I love cats. I designed the whole quilt. The flying geese were made for another project that didn't work out. So, I put them on this quilt. "  We are impressed by the contrast shown between the bright, energetic border, and the graceful, serene pose of the dozing kitty.  Can you see the little gray mouse at his feet?
 
2009 Co-Quilt Show Chair Quilt, 47 x 59,  exhibited by Diana Muenzler

Diana exhibited this whimsical cat quilt at the 2012 River City Quilters Guild Show in Sacramento, California. She says,  "I was absolutely thrilled to receive this quilt. Thank you so much to Phyllis McCalla, ShirLee Belisle, Nancy Causey, Nancy Gangler, Kathy Mitchell, and Nancy MacDonald." 

Close-up of 2009 Co-Quilt Show Chair Quilt

This kitty is done in neutral, calm earth tones that would blend well with the décor in any room of the house. But, that's about the only thing 'restful' about him. The way his fur is styled to fly out wildly in all directions leads us to believe he's really a wild partier ready to dance the night away.

Sleeping Yellow Kitty, 15 x 26, by Monica Kaseman

At the 2013  Guild of Quilters of Contra Costa County Quilt Show, Monica explained, "This quilt hangs over our bed, inspiring sweet dreams!  The cat was paper pieced. The pattern for the cat is by Maureen Sparrow on the Paper Panache website and is called Sleeping Cat."

We really like the "album quilt" effect of the traditional Amish  patterns in matching colors which surround this kitty, who apparently snoozes without a care in the world. 

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.  We have not yet identified the patterns for the Holiday Party and Co-Chair quilts; if anyone knows the source, please let us know.

Free pattern day! Sun & Moon quilts

Happy solstice! Here are some fantastic FREE patterns for Sun and Moon quilts.  NOTE: This post has been UPDATED.  For the latest patterns please visit our Free Pattern Day for Sun & Moon Quilts (CLICK HERE!) 

Also check out our E-Bay shop for designer jewelry, patterns, and collectible items !
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Image credits: This post was updated on June 20, 2025. All images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links.  Some of these are tutorials while others have downloadable (.pdf) patterns; we have tried to note which is which in the title above each photo.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at Quilt Inspiration {at} gmail {dot} com. 

Two-million-view milestone: Part 3

~ Stay tuned for our Free Pattern Day this Friday, June 21 ! ~
Quilt Inspiration recently hit a major milestone, with over 2 million page views.  We're taking the time to say THANKS to the many talented artists who inspire us all.  We initially planned a 2-part retrospective, but we couldn't resist sharing some of our favorite applique designs and some never-before-seen photos from our archive.  So, here is Part 3 of our retrospective.

Flower Basket Medallion by Renee Caswell, design by Kim McLean

We first featured Kim McLean's glorious Flower Basket Medallion in a July 2010 post, Basket Quilts Part 2. We were excited to see this design in person, in a beautiful quilt by Renee Caswell, which won 2nd place in the Applique-Large division at the Arizona Quilters Guild 2013 show. Here is the basket detail:

... and the complete quilt:

Renee's quilt was done with machine applique, using "happy Kaffe Fassett fabrics", as you can see below.

The Flower Basket Medallion pattern and fabrics, and other glorious Kim McLean designs, are available at Glorious Color.

Snake Charmer by Pamela Allen 2008 Road to California quilt show

Pamela Allen is an award-winning artist, quilter and teacher based in Ontario, Canada.  The fantastic quilt shown above, "Snake Charmer", was exhibited at the 2008 Road to California quilt show.  On her website, Pamelart, she explains: "I hate vacuuming. The machine is loud and heavy and anyway the house needs cleaning again in a weeks time! I want to conjure up a magical Hoover that does my bidding. If only I could turn a mindnumbing task into an exotic past time!"

In the closeup of the Snake Charmer face you can see the detail of the raw edge applique, hand embroidery, and exotic ephemera; her hair is adorned with colorful safety pins, and she is wearing a necklace of clothspins with bright beads.  As shown below, aluminum hair rollers decorate the side of the skirt. 

We first featured Pamela Allen's work in an April 2011 post, Humorous Quilts: Three Women at the Hilton. "Three Women at the Hilton" won Most Humorous Quilt at the Road to California, 2010.

Illuminated Alphabet by Zena Thorpe, 2008 Road to California show

Zena Thorpe is an award-winning artist whose achievements include membership in the Master Quilters Guild established by the National Quilting Association. At the 2008 Road to California show, where this quilt won 1st prize in its category (traditional large applique). In her artist's statement, Zena says: "I have long been fascinated by the ancient illuminated manuscripts which usually began with a large embellished capital letter."

We first featured "Illuminated Manuscript" in a September 2010 post called The ABCs of Quilting:  Alphabet Quilts. The patterns are detailed in Zena Thorpe's book, Beautiful Alphabet Applique, a 64-page book which contains the full-color illustrations and elaborate appliques for all 26 letters of the English alphabet.  Each letter is a work of art!

Lily Rosenberry by Sue Garman, quilted by Denise Green

Sue Garman is a preeminent U.S. (Texas) designer of applique quilts with traditional motifs. The name of this quilt, "Lily Rosenberry", is no secret: the quilt is full of lilies, roses, and over 1000 berries! This beautiful quilt is based on a traditional block, but it is set with an unusal swag border.  We first featured this quilt in a November 2010 post called Inspired by Red and Green. For more information see Sue Garman's blog; the pattern is available at Quakertown Quilts.

Friends of Baltimore by Susan Garman and colleagues

"Friends of Baltimore" by Sue Garman was the first place winner for Group Quilting at the 2011 Houston International Quilt Festival. Sue Garman notes, "Although inspired by many old Baltimore Album quilts, I designed this quilt to suit my own desire for a uniquely elegant quilt." We featured this beauty in a November 2011 post, Houston International Quilt Festival - Part 3.  The pattern and BOM kit are available at Quakertown Quilts.

Teacup, 42 x 42", by Maria Elkins

Maria Elkins designs highly original art quilts that range from the abstract to highly realistic portraiture.  We featured her work in a January 2011 post, Maria Elkins Art Quilts. "Teacup", shown above, was created in 2002, when her quilt guild challenged its members to create a quilt using only blue or white. Maria says that she machine pieced the curves of the cup and saucer, then used a print fabric of blue and white plates to cut out, fuse, and machine applique them.  For more information see her website, Maria Elkins Art Quilts.

Image credits:  Photos of Lily Rosenberry and Teacup are by the artists and are used with permission.  The other photos are by Quilt Inspiration and, with permission, by G. Weake.

Two-million-view milestone: Part 2

Quilt Inspiration recently hit a major milestone, with over 2 million page views.  We're taking the time to say THANKS to the many talented artists who inspire us all.  Here is Part 2 of our retrospective, with some contemporary quilts we've featured.

Reversible patched pojagi table runner by Victoria Gertenbach

Pojagi stitching, as explained by Victoria Gertenbach,  is a Korean art of seam construction which produces beautiful flat reinforced seams that add to the visual appeal of  works, especially with  bulky denims or delicate thin silks or voiles. For more information see our October 2011 post, Modern Quilting at The Silly Boodilly. 

Sparkling Spools by Laura Nownes 
 

We love simple patterns that look spectacular. "Sparkling Spools" is just one of Laura Nownes' Simply Strip Pieced Patterns. For more information see our June 2011 post, Simple Shapes by Diana and Laura.

Walks In the Woods by Frieda Anderson

Frieda Anderson's quilts almost always reflect her fascination with nature, and what she sees on her walks. This quilt celebrates the trees in the woods, with golden sunlight shining through the leaves.  For more information see our 2010 post, Dances with Nature: The Quilts of Frieda Anderson.

Totally Tubular Triangles by Rita Hutchens

We love the contemporary design and colors of this quilt, which is the subject of one of Rita Hutchens' workshops. Her tubular strip-piecing techniques, which are a cross between Seminole and Bargello, are the subject of her book of Totally Tubular Quilts.  For more information see our July 2012 post, Totally Tubular Quilts by Rita Hutchens.

Tiny Town, 17 x 17", by Karen Eckmeier at The Quilted Lizard

Wouldn't it be fun to live in this miniature village with its brilliant hues?  Tiny Town is a collage of small overlapping fabric pieces cut into rectangles, triangles, stair steps, window and door shapes.  For more information see our October 2012 post, The Quilted Lizard: designs by Karen Eckmeier.

Shots and Stripes quilt by Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy

The 2013 book Shots and Stripes: 24 New Projects Made with Shot Cottons and Striped Fabrics by Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy is the newest of the books that showcase Kaffe's fabulous fabrics. One of the intriguing projects is this contemporary take on the traditional "Lady of the Lake" pattern.  For more information see our April 2013 post, Winner of Kaffe Fassett Quilts: Shots and Stripes.

Paisley by Bruce Seeds

Bruce Seeds' quilts are composed of small triangles that are grouped into hexagons, each hexagon resembling the view through a kaleidoscope. In "Paisley", Bruce created the illusion of a third dimension by placing some of the lighter blocks on top of a black inner border and frame. For more information see our February 2011 post, Seeds of Genius.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of the artists.

Two-million-view milestone : Part 1

Quilt Inspiration recently hit a major milestone, with over 2 million page views.  We're very pleased, and we think it's time to say THANKS to the many talented designers who inspire us all.   Join us for a two-part retrospective with a few of the artists we've featured.

Eye of the Storm by Peggy Martin

'Eye of the Storm' by Peggy Martin is an excellent example of a medallion quilt, where there is one large circular or symmetrical object in the center, surrounded by concentric rings or diamonds which draw the eye inward. For more information on this storm-at-sea quilt, see our March 2011 post, Eye of the Storm.

Surprisingly Red by Jacqueline de Jonge

Beautiful roses, soft pastels and warm reds are brought together in perfect harmony in this stunning quilt pattern by Jacqueline de Jonge. The medallion is surrounded by an undulating wave of skinny New York Beauty points.  For more information see our December 2011 post, Christmas around the world: The Netherlands.

Simply Delicious by Rebecca Goldsmith

"Simply Delicious" was the second block-of-the-month pattern at Piece O'Cake Designs and it is still going strong. This classic quilt was inspired by vintage botanical prints from the 1800's.  For more information see our August 2012 post, Simply Delicious.

Diamond Wedding Ring by Judy Niemeyer

 

In Judy Niemeyer's  clever Diamond Wedding Ring quilt, the pieced arcs are arranged in a triangle shape, with a star in the center.  Judy says that this pattern is great for both the beginner and advanced quilter.  For more information see our February 2013 post, Wedding Ring Quilts Part 2.

Memories of Monet by Joen Wolfrom

"Memories of Monet" is a deceptively simple design by color expert Joen Wolfrom.  Joen combined two historic blocks, Summer Winds and Storm at Sea, in an analogous color scheme. For more information see our December 2012 post, Color Play by Joen Wolfrom.

Magnolia Quilt by Sue Spargo

The gracious old homes and flower gardens of  Magnolia, Ohio, inspired Sue Spargo to create her enchanting "Magnolia" quilt. Sue's folk-art imagery reflects her multi-cultural background and her fascination with folk art from around the world. For more information see our September 2010 post, Our Town Part 2.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of the artists.

A Day of Color Quilt Show

On June 1, 2013, we attended "A Day of Color" quilt show presented by the Flying Needles Quilt Guild in Woodland, California. 

This quilt guild is only three years old, but they are turning out some very pretty and skillful work. Come join us for a "walkabout "!

This Old Barn Quilt , 72 x 72, by Lois Dell

Lois has done a very creative variation on the traditional schoolhouse quilt block by substituting barns in bright, happy colors. She's added in some cute chickens and rooster blocks, set off by prairie points, around the center medallion.  The pattern is by The Quilt Company.

Close-Up, This Old Barn Quilt by Lois Dell

Look at the darling "quilt barn" in the center, surrounded by baby chicks, a butterfly, and a stately rooster! This is a very fun quilt, with lots of visual interest.

Step Into My Garden, 60 x 60, by Olivia Loop

Olivia says,  "I couldn't resist another Kim Diehl pattern. I used up lots of old strips and had fun with applique." You can see that Olivia has used a lot of her vivid scraps, but the motif is still very unified, due to the matching red and white nine patch centers of each block. This cheerful folk art pattern will brighten up any room in your home.


Catch Me If You Can, 45 x 56, by Maggie Mitchell

Maggie says,  "This was a Linda Ballard workshop, where she emphasized precision piecing."  We especially like the flying geese border, which enhances the strong, angular, geometric pattern of her quilt.

First Big Quilt, 68 x 83, by Kathy Goding

Kathy notes, "This is my first big quilt that I quilted myself, using nylon thread for each individual block. Also, I had to calculate the number of  [quilted] curves for the border before chalking the curved lines. So, determining exact dimensions was a new process for me."  We think that Kathy has done an excellent job of showing her collection of  large-scale Asian prints, using the traditional snowball  pattern.

Calendar Block of the Month, 64 x 82, by Betsy van Kessel

Betsy states: "[This is a ] Block of the Month 'Calendar' presented by Betty Kisbey. As always, I enjoyed making one block a month and at the end, being challenged with putting the blocks together." We enjoyed this eye-catching quilt, which displays some favorite, much-beloved quilt patterns, updated in vivid colors.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

More summery quilts

Here are some more cheery quilts which remind us of the great outdoors on a sunny June day !  These are from the Flying Needles Quilt Guild Show on June 1, 2013, in Woodland, California. 

More Orange Please, 47 x54, by Olivia Loop

Olivia writes, "These are not colors I normally use, so I bought this as a kit. It was fun to make and is fun to look at. The pattern is from Quilt Soup." We think the upbeat polka dot fabric really adds "pizazz" to this happy pattern.

Les Tournesols, 22 x 28, by Carole Pirrucello

"Les Tournesols" are the French words for "The Sunflowers."  Carole tells us,  "This wall hanging used fabrics from the 2011 River City Quilters' Guild Fabric Challenge. Techniques include  applique, machine piecing, and free motion quilting with rayon and metallic threads. " Carole did a great job placing the flowers with their split complementary colors against the bright white garden trellis for contrast.  

Floral Delight, 50 x50, by Lana Hanney

Lana notes,  "I saw a quilt like this hanging in a Clovis, California quilt shop and loved it. I came home and made this smaller version of the original. It is hand appliqued and machine quilted. " The strong geometric inner border really helps to focus the eye on the very pretty floral motifs.

Ocean Waves, 100 x102, by Christine Williams

Christine writes,  "This is a Block of the Month project from Quilter's Garden quilt shop in Colusa, California. "  These serene, lovely blue and lavender hues remind us of spending a restful vacation at our favorite beach or lake. Are you ready for a swim ?

Garden Delight, 72 x74, by Doreen Appert  

We really like  the dancing ribbon border of this quilt, which features both floral applique and patchwork. The smaller pieced purple basket blocks in each corner are examples of Doreen's careful, accurate workmanship.  

Some summery quilts

At the recent 2013 Arizona Quilters' Guild Show we saw some quilts whose beautiful colors of orange and raspberry sherbet, periwinkle blue, lemon yellow, and sage meadow green, reminded us of the joys of nature during the summer season. We hope you like them as much as we do.  And, if you're working on a quilt this season, please let us know in the Comments below !  We love to read about your latest creations.

Grandma’s Stellar Array by Ann L. Petersen

Second place winner for Mixed Techniques -Small Quilts, Ann says, "This was a challenge quilt using an Oriental print. I thought the background looked like Civil War reproductions, so I made a traditional-looking quilt." 

Close up, Grandma’s Stellar Array by Ann L. Petersen

 

Here, you can see Ann's excellent and accurate piecing of the tiny diamonds in the feathered star blocks.

Through Hubble’s Window by Alicia Sterna

Honorable Mention winner for Art/Abstract Quilts, Alicia notes," [This quilt was] originally conceived as an exploding flower inspired by Peggy Martin's Millenium Star. The final design reminded me of images sent back from the Hubble Telescope." We think that the black and deep blue backgrounds really create a dramatic "deep space" effect for this quilt.

OMG- A Million Tiny Pieces by Joan McNamara

Third place winner in the Large Pieced Quilts category, Joan writes, " I love this miniature piecing. Thee are over 15,000 pieces in this quilt and 40 different fabrics- 100% cotton, with wool batting." The design,  "Omigosh", is by Sue Garman.

Close up, OMG- A Million Tiny Pieces by Joan McNamara

Take a look at the pretty nine-patch sashing which separates the larger, traditional Monkey Wrench or Churn Dash squares ! The nine patches that create the chains are 1-1/2" finished, as are the half square triangles. The little four patches on point are 1" finished. With the refreshing white background, this large quilt provides the perfect decor for a summertime bedroom.

From Sunup to Sundown by Barbara Jansen

Honorable Mention winner for Best Use of the 2013 Theme, "Trends and Traditions", Barbara states: "Traditional quilting is honored in the familiar blocks revived over decades of American quilting. Batik colors and patterns reflect the global influence in today's fabric trends."

Close-up,  From Sunup to Sundown by Barbara Jansen

Barbara's very interesting and well-designed center motif of native women carrying their baskets and their children in the traditional style contrasts perfectly with the contemporary New York Beauty blocks on the outside border of the quilt. There's so much to see in this very eye-catching quilt.

Summer Kaleidoscope by Valene Sattler

Summer Kaleidoscope is part of the Red Rock Round Robin Challenge, where one quilter begins a quilt design, then other quilters add to the quilt and eventually complete it.  The split complementary colors of orange, blue, green, and lavender create a lovely effect and remind us of taking an outside stroll in the summer twilight.

In the close-up below, notice how the semi-trapunto butterflies float gaily and almost ethereally in the closely quilted periwinkle sky background.

Close-up- Summer Kaleidoscope by Valene Sattler

Check out the tiny ladybugs, adorned with small beads, which carefully make their way among the tall grasses. The multi-color border of narrow strips creates a cheerful, lively effect and adds to the quilt's personality.

Watermelon Smiles by Sharon L. Angelo

Sharon writes, "Tedious paper piecing done, I beamed with relief and celebrated with some juicy watermelon. Upon finishing the quilt, I broke into an enormous grin."  We can certainly empathize with Sharon, as we've experienced the sense of accomplishment and relaxation that comes with completing a major quilt project.

This distinctive design is known as "Rattlesnake" by Karen Stone; for further information, please see Wanda Hanson's "Exuberant Color" blog.


Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.