Tag Archives: Carol Doak

Another Mystery BOM Completed!

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Happy Veteran’s Day, everyone! For those who have served or who have loved ones currently serving, a big thank you from my family to yours!

I wanted to show you a quilt that my mom recently completed – the 2012/2013 Carol Doak Mystery BOM! I made this quilt also using a blue/tan colorway. You can read about my finished quilt here.

My mom went with a different colorway using white, gray, black, and burgundy. The white print features cute little butterflies. I just love her completed quilt! In fact, I like her colorway much more than the one I used! Too bad it’s already hanging up in her house or I’d be tempted to borrow it!

Here’s a look at the completed quilt:

Carol Doak Completed Mystery BOM

Carol Doak Completed Mystery BOM

The patterns for this BOM are still available for a limited time on Carol’s Yahoo Group site (see the link in my right side bar). Carol has also started a new mystery BOM in September called the Scrap Scramble so come join us!

If you are new to paper piecing, Carol has some wonderful instructional books, videos, and a great Craftsy class called Carol Doak’s Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing to help you learn her easy techniques. I learned paper piecing from Carol in a class and have been piecing madly since!!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Tiger, a Fabric Portrait of the Quilted Cat

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The name of my blog, the Quilted Cat, comes from my love of quilting and from my chief fabric and quilt inspector, Tiger. He is my orange and white cat buddy who always gives the final paws up or paws down on projects. I thought it was time that I made a fabric portrait of Tiger by using one of my pictures of him and making my own appliqued pattern from it.

I started with a close-up photo of Tiger that really captures his focus and intensity during the quilt inspection process. I then created the appliqued portion of the quilt using Sue Olsen’s technique called “design to free-motion line.” This is a fun technique where you build your fabric image on a muslin foundation and then free-motion quilt using your regular domestic sewing machine.

Once I completed the applique portion, I decided to add an inner border of black to frame the design. Then, I added the batik dark blue as the outside border. To punch up the border and to draw the eye in towards the cat figure, I paper-pieced some corners using the same fabrics that I used in the cat. I used the 3-inch fan block from Carol Doak’s book, 50 Little Paper-Pieced Blocks.

Here is a look at the completed quilt:

Tiger, the Quilted Cat

Tiger, the Quilted Cat

Here are some close-ups of the free-motion quilting and the paper-pieced corner blocks:

Tiger, quilting close-up
Fan block

Here’s my favorite picture of this quilt with Tiger inspecting it. I think he approves!

Tiger inspects his quilt

Tiger inspects his quilt

I’m really happy with how this project turned out. The technique allows you to be very creative with fabric choices and stitching so give it a try!

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Using Shot Cottons with Paper Piecing

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I still have a few more pictures to upload from the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, but wanted to show you how I’ve incorporated some beautiful shot cotton fabric into a paper piecing project.

I picked up some fat quarter bundles of Kaffe Fassett shot cotton a while ago, but didn’t have a specific project in mind. When I participated in the Central Oregon shop hop earlier this year, I picked up a very colorful batik at the Stitchin’ Post in Sisters.

Inspiration hit me! What if I used the shot cottons to pull out the colors in the batik? I could do a paper piecing project since the paper would act as a stabilizer for the more delicate shot cotton fabric. I also used Kona cotton in snow and artichoke to help add structure.

Here’s a look at the shot cottons and batik:

Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons and a Batik

Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons and a Batik

On Carol Doak’s Yahoo Group, we recently celebrated the 7th anniversary of that group with a new block called Oh Happy Days! This block has a ton of different pointy pieces that worked perfectly with the shot cottons. Carol also provided a suggested quilt layout with the block that I used.

Here’s a look at the completed quilt top:

Oh Happy Days Quilt Top

Oh Happy Days Quilt Top

I’m pretty happy with how colorful this quilt top turned out, and really enjoyed being able to incorporate the delicate shot cottons into a project. I hope to quilt it soon!

Have you used shot cottons in a quilt? Please share your projects!

Happy paper piecing,
~Jennifer

A Little Cat Mini!

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While I impatiently wait for the Sisters Quilt Show this upcoming Saturday, I decided to take on a miniature quilt challenge. This is my first mini quilt, although I have made some mini blocks before (just never found the time to piece them together!).

This mini quilt and block is called the Royal Miniature Star and is designed by Carol Doak. I have this wonderful black and white cat border print by Michael Miller in my stash that I’ve been wanting to use but didn’t have the right project. I decided to use this print as the outer border and “catify” my Royal Star! My sister gave me some wonderful black-on-black and white-on-white cat fabric that I used as well. If you look closely at the images, you can see little cat silhouettes in the black and white fabric pieces.

Here’s a look at the mini quilt top:

Royal Mini "Cat" Star Quilt

Royal Mini “Cat” Star Quilt

I plan to quilt it, bind it, and then display it on a mini wire rack soon.

Here’s a look at the quilt top in comparison to my Cow cat:

Cow and the Mini Quilt

Cow and the Mini Quilt

Isn’t it such a cute little quilt? The center block is a 2-inches finished while the little cornerstone blocks are 1.5-inches finished. I think this quilt top would also make a fabulous pillow cover or tote panel as well as a fun wall-hanging to make as a gift.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Another Red, White, and Blue Swap Block

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I’ve finished another red, white, and blue block for a quilt block exchange that I’m hosting on the Carol Doak Yahoo group.

This one is the Africa block from Carol’s Mariner’s Compass Stars book. I think this block really gives great movement to the red and blue points. I have enough fabric scraps left over so I could make another one to add to my own red, white, and blue quilt.

Here’s the unfinished block at 12.5 inches:

Africa block

Africa block

My quilting inspector decided to admire from afar while sitting on the fence under a shady tree. With temps in the upper 90s in the Willamette Valley this week, I can’t blame him!

A Shady Spot

A Shady Spot

I’m getting very excited for the upcoming Sisters Quilt Show! We only have a couple more weekends to go. I do plan on dropping off my quilts in person later this week and checking out the Stitchin’ Post before the show to pick up some goodies.

Until next time, happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Red, White, and Blue Swap Block

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Happy Flag Day everyone!

I’m the hostess for a red, white, and blue block swap on Carol Doak’s Yahoo group! This swap is so much fun to host because I love these colors and the 4th of July is my favorite holiday! Each participant makes 4, 8, or 12 blocks to swap with other members.

Here’s a look at the block that I made today:

Red, white, blue swap block

Red, white, blue swap block

This is the Austria block from Carol’s book called Mariner’s Compass Stars. The white fabric in the background is actually a white-on-white print featuring stars but the camera didn’t pick up the white stars very well.

Now I need to decide if I’ll make all my blocks the same or make 4 different ones.

Hope you enjoy this little red, white, and blue post today and stay tuned for more patriotic blocks!

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Quilted Mystery BOM for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

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A few weeks ago, I posted that I had completed piecing together the top of Carol Doak’s year-long mystery block-of-the-month that she created for her Yahoo groupies.

I plan on displaying this quilt as one of three quilts this July at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. I’m calling my completed quilt “Yahoo Stars” in honor of Carol’s Yahoo group and because I used 2 star themed fabrics in the quilt. I will write about the other two quilts in a future blog post.

I finished up the quilting and binding this week and took a few photos of the completed project:

Quilt on a log swing

Quilt on a Swing

Quilt on a Swing

Me holding the quilt front

Quilt Font

Quilt Font

My hubby holding quilt back

Quilt Back

Quilt Back

The quilt back is just a coordinating navy blue/star print with a label attached to the bottom.

I plan on going to the Sisters Quilt Show to photograph my quilt in person. If you see me there, say hi!

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer~

A Quilt Mystery Revealed!

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For those of you who have been following my blog, you may remember that I’ve been participating in Carol Doak’s 2012/2013 mystery block-of-the-month program on her Yahoo group. My last post on the BOM showed my March block. You can still join the group to receive all the instructions and paper pieced patterns for this fun mystery!

In late March, Carol revealed the mystery solution! I’ve been working on assembling my quilt top for several weeks and even found a quick break in the rain today to snap an outdoor pic of the completed top. Once I’ve finished the quilting, I’ll post the finished project.

Here’s a pic of the completed mystery top (excuse the weeds growing in the flower beds!):

Mystery BOM Completed Top - Outside

Mystery BOM Completed Top – Outside

I used just 2 fabrics for the quilt top. The darker fabric is navy blue with large lighter blue stars and small gold stars. The tan fabric continues the star theme with small printed white stars and miniature blue dots. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the blue star fabric, but the tan fabric is #1472722 – American Banner Rose by Minick & Simpson for Moda.

Here’s another look:

Mystery BOM Top - Inside

Mystery BOM Top – Inside

I really love how the quilt top turned out with the dark blue stars and the tan background. It has a patriotic/Americana feel to it and both my husband and son really like it!

This weekend, I hope to get over to my mom’s house to quilt a few of my quilt tops.

Until next time, happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Black and White Swap Blocks Received

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I participated in a group swap where each participant made black & white or black/white & zinger 12-inch quilt blocks and then sent them to the swap hostess. All the blocks were designed by Carol Doak.

Yesterday, I received my blocks in the mail! I am so happy with each block that I received and feel that each one is special since another quilter made them with caring and great attention to detail.

Here are the blocks:

Black and White by Mary D

Black and White by Mary D

Black, White, and Yellow Zinger by Dorothy H

Black, White, and Yellow Zinger by Dorothy H

Black/White/Pink Zinger by Erica W

Black/White/Pink Zinger by Erica W

The top block is from Mary D in Oregon, the middle block is from Dorothy H F in Massachusetts, and the bottom block is from Erica W. Thanks also to our wonderful block hostess – Cathy from Texas!

Here are the blocks lined up together:

Swapped Blocks Together

Swapped Blocks Together

I am going to use these 3 blocks and add in some of my own black/white and black/white/zinger blocks to make a fun wallhanging! I had such a great experience with this swap, and I hope you enjoy looking at the photos.

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

25% Discount on Craftsy Paper Piecing Class!

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Paper piecing is one of my favorite quilt making techniques! I’m happy to share with my blog readers a special 25% off discount to enroll in Carol Doak’s new Craftsy class called Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing. Just use this link.

The class has 8 lessons and covers all your paper piecing questions from the basics to learning how to join intricate blocks.

I’ve taken a class with Carol before and she is a great instructor! I also use her paper piecing techniques and have posted some of her blocks and projects on my blog throughout the past year.

Hope to ‘see’ you in class!
~Jennifer