Bowtie cats taking a bow

Here's a repeat block from last week I think. It was the pattern that was making me rip my hair out .. I talked about it in scraps n claws entry.

My plan today was to make the buddy for him as i want to have 2 of each of the big cats in my quilt. I printed out the templates again and started to look at them thinking "they weren't this big the last time I printed them (!) Hmmm .. See this pattern called for printing on legal paper, and I don't have any. But I do have Acrobat Professional (Graphic Designer and Web Designer by trade) so I could alter the pages so that they would print in an 8 ¹/₂ x 11" area. Now in Acrobat you can print so that the pages aren't scaled, and I apparently forgot to check that. Sooo these templates all printed out scaled to fit on 8 ¹/₂ x 11" instead of just cropping the pages to print. My block ended up quite a bit smaller than was planned for. Here's another issue that I need to remember to think about. I'm on a Mac and they print larger - they do 100dpi, where PCs do 72dip. Meaning all patterns printed on a mac will print larger unless I scale it down. Good thing that in this case it didn't matter or else I would have had 2 blocks the wrong size.

It's amazing the difference that that one mistake causes .. I mean .. there is a good 3" difference between these blocks .. by my original calculations (no block size wasn't provided - just an overall quilt size), I figured it would end up between 6 & 8" so I wasn't to worried about it being the wrong size"

If I wouldn't have the success yesterday with the - well half success with the Kelvie's Kitties, I might not have had the courage to try this block so soon. With having the templates printed out correctly and more confidence in my setin seams I forged ahead. I was still a little daunted due to the "assembly diagram" There wasn't one .. a template placement, but nothing that denoted setin seams or the best way to assemble them. The placing around the 'chin' was easy, but the bottom of the bowtie was a challenge .. I didn't have to recut the fabric for those area those, and that is saying a LOT. But I did it and I'm pretty pleased with the results .. they are a wee bit off square but nothing that can't be worked into the top assembly or fidged while quilting

Challenge Reward ;)

My treat for tackling the template challenge was a straight cutting and piecing - Kittleson's Cats were the next ones on my roster. These blocks were a SNAP to put together and I probably had them pieced in about 30 minutes total. easy to cut and easy to piece. It was such a nice respite from the template and inset seams battle. You know, the feeling I got of having that one block turn out right is indescribable .. makes the battle worth it ;) Closeups of the two kitties Light Cat & Dark Cat

The really off block from yesterday is being redone .. I could likely square it up with a border, but the colour of the dickey just isn't there for me. It rather blends in. templates are reprinted and waiting for me - I'm sure I can find something to do with the ooboo block .. even if it's a kitty blanket for my cats. Not that they would use it - the would rather use my current projects to sleep on .. well actually not 'they', but Pix.

I have 9 keeper blocks for this quilt. The one bowtie kitty might be redone since I am better with inset seams; i do need to do one more as my design uses them 2 by twos - that and that one pp cat that drove me bug. This quilt has 24 full size blocks .. granted 4 of these were 12x12 and am not using them now, but I will find other's to fill it .. the standard size for these blocks is 8" or a division of such .. i'll use little 4x4 and 4x6 pp cats to fill the spaces along with yarn, fish, mice, milk, spools etc.

1. 2 more cats; pp? rotary? or make buddies for the pp and a template inset seam blocks I've already done??
   

   Update on the bowtie kitty I printed these out wrong the first time; pattern calls for printing on legal, but if you shift content and select print 'crop' it will print correctly on 81/2x11 - well I mustn't of selected crop :S - So I get to do both of these today as well ;)

   
   
2. blocks for red/pink/white swap .. i got a great idea from a friend on a list for another block.. (thanx Joanne)
   
3. scant seam on my 248 and FW ... **wonder if that will have to adjusted for thicker fabric????
   
4. I want to dig up some boards to try sharon's basting method so I can get those quilt tops going .. and before Pix won't let me reclaim them; specially reg's.
   

an accidental quilter??

I swear I manage to put blocks and quilts together totally by accident .. I made a goal to get some kitty blocks done - haven’t touched them in about 2 days as i was working on the scrappy swap. I picked out a pattern that has templates, and I’m not gonna say I like them .. I would be lying .. I usually have some sort of problem doing them .. for whatever reason .. i think in order to find out, I’ll have to sit down with another quilter and they can watch what I do .. my first quilt class called for rotary cutting and I’ve been doing it ever since.

The pattern called Kelvin’s Kitties from the The Cat's Meow is really cute and I want it for my quilt. So this was a block (2 actually) I had set to do. First of all, templates .. **groan** okay, I’ll work through it. I’m happily piecing away, the ear points worked and all of a sudden I come across an inset seam .. **double groan** I ohhhh so carefully get all the seams lined up and flip it over and check out the seams .. OML they work!!! Then I realized, that I had put the wrong head on the cat body .. holybiblebatman are you kidding me!?!?!? Back I go and rip it all out .. I was so proud of myself for getting the seam in right - yeah it took a bit and I was really slow with it, but it was in and it was fine (with the exception of the wrong head :S) .. so out the stitches came .. When I did the head again, it went quicker this time and by the time I did the second cat, it was a snap! Mind you I tripped over 3 more inset seams in this block .. but i was undaunted this time. I even found a way to continue sewing without locking the stitch and restarting .. Basically treat it as a pivot and turn junction - don’t have to worry about the seams lining up again - now to learn the twirling seams trick .. soon as i get my DSL back, I'll search for it.

I did get the blocks done, one will likely have to be done again .. and I am noticing that while I am doing a 1/4“ seam, I really had to fidge the foot unit onto the body .. Almost seems like I’m going to have to find out where I sit for a scant 1/4” seam. I’ve gotten a LOT of great ideas on the lists and the easiest will prolly be finding where it is on my machine .. 1 to 2 threads shy of a 1/4“ .. bah .. not going to be fun ..

I’m proud of my effort for these blocks - I tackled two challenges (for me) in piecing, templates and inset seams .. one block is definitely NOT squared, that one I will likely do again or border both blocks - we’ll have to see how it sits towards the end. Altho, I will likely do that block again .. the dicky just isn’t standing out like I want it to .. I probably should have done a dark purple for the dicky instead of multi coloured background .. It didn’t sit right with me before I even cut it - I think that I need to start listening to my instincts on this .. specially when it comes to colour.