I am making the borders for a tesselating cat quilt.
I thought I would make blocks of cat paw prints to run up both side borders.
Anyway, I've made a practice block of 3 paw prints.
I can't decide if I like it, although I don't know why.
What do you think? Continue with it or try something else?
I also thought maybe make the paw prints out of the same print fabrics that the cats are made out of? Would that be better?
Or should I just File 13 the whole idea completely?
Thanks--
Oops.... I just realized I should have posted this in Pictures. Sorry Patrice.

I think that the main paw section needs to be more rounded and the block smaller, that might be throwing the prints off and making it look odd to you. I like the idea though. just play around with it.

I like the paw prints!!
It is going to be beautiful!!!

I like them, too!

I tried making them smaller because obviously these prints are too large for cats....lol.
But I don't do well with very small pieces so I finally drafted the pattern as small as I can handle.
But I like the idea of making the bottom half of the print rounder.
I may try that.
Thanks.

I really like the squarish paw prints (goes with the cats)...I think it looks great, but if you are not happy, maybe play around with the colour.

That's true too. I might have to leave them "squarish" since I'm not sure I can piece them to be rounder, as someone mentioned. I don't want to do applique and I'm terrible at pp-ing.

What a cute idea!!

I like it. And while it looks like it needs to be smaller with just the three since that "block" is bigger than the cat blocks, once you add some more and it's a strip rather than a block I think it will be just fine.

I see your cat pattern. I love your cat pattern. I don't think this is a testellation pattern. The alternate design should also produce a cat pattern. Am I just not seeing the total design? But that is not your question. I see way too much green in your paw border. Can you put a sub-border of an inch or so around the cats to stop them from intruding into the border? Then size the paw border down so that they are only two paws wide? I.E. like a two legged cat and not a three legged mongrel? I have a whole bunch of these kittys sewed up myself, and I didn't know how to finish them off. Looking at what you have created has inspired me to go back to the drawing board myself. :-) Had to copy this from Nadine: The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, looks at you from the mirror every morning.

It's perfect the way it is ... and oh so appropriate when the quilt is all about cats! (and agree with TonnieLoree on the addition of an extra border before the cat tracks!)

However, I really do think you should show us the whole quilt top to better advise!!! :)
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?
and Thanks!!!


BTW ... you really should have a mouse somewhere in that quilt!! :)

I like the border...and your cats! Love to see it when completed! It looks great!

Why should we wait til it's completed? Previews are always nice!! :)

i like the paw prints

Love the quilt, love the block. If it were mine, I would probably put a narrow border in the dark and then the border blocks, using the prints in the quilt.

I like the paw prints the way they are and with them going up the sides it will be really cute! An inner border might be good. It's a very clever idea.

I like the paw prints the way they are and with them going up the sides it will be really cute! An inner border might be good. It's a very clever idea.

I like your idea, but I think you need a different background fabric for the paw prints, something with a higher contrast or a fun fabric with fishes or mice or feathers on it!

I like the design, had to visualize the effect of multiple blocks,and to me that would equate to lots of kitty paws walking around your quilt I LIKE IT!!!LOL

Another thought! Try using yoyos for the toes! Easy to make and will definitely add fun to your quilt!

a

Seems like a lot of work for paw prints. I would suggest applique the paw prints of a cat...or maybe a mouse in the 4 corners with a plain border. If you wanted to stick with paper piecing, how about a paper pieced mice and cheese border?

I like it very cute for border.

I love this idea. How creative. Don't forget to post pics when you are done.

I really like your paw prints! Adding a small border between the prints and the cats might be a good idea. What a great quilt this is going to be!

I like the paw print border. I think it will look great.

Too much green, eh? Maybe that's what my eye doesn't like. I couldn't put my finger on it. And the idea of an inner border is a good idea too. Thanks :thumbup:

That's a cute idea...lol.

Making the paw tracks with the print fabrics instead of the brown occurred to me too but I thought it would make the border too busy?

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It's helped a lot. After sleeping on it and reading your ideas I've decided on two definite changes.... space the paw prints out more and add an inner border. Possibly change the background fabric too, but I think I'll keep the brown fabric for the tracks as I think I'm beginning to like that part of it. The person I'm making it for loves green and I'm trying to put as much green in it as I can.
Thanks again! When I get it all done I'll post another photo.
I knew you guys would have great ideas!

Love the paw prints but what about a thing border first to break up the green? Just a thought.

Thin border than the cat tracks.

I agree, although I don't think the size of the block is the main problem. There are many corners of cat paws in the block. To my knowledge, cats don't have square paws. My suggestion would be that she applique the cat paws on that block. If she can't draw the design, she should go on line and find a Clip Art cat's paw that she can use.

Applique??? You must be mad...:) I'm trying to avoid that! :) :)
But it probably would be faster than cutting and piecing them like now. Not to mention more realistic. But I wasn't really after realism so much... just the idea of animal tracks. But the piecing of them (for me) is very slow so I think I will play with applique today and see if I can handle it.
Thanks

Hi Nadine, I like the paw prints! Perhaps if you were to strip piece them it would be easier to make them smaller? I don't know how many blocks you are going to make for the border, but if you were to spread the paw prints out you would need to make fewer, it wouldn't get to looking too busy, and if it were mine I would hang some kitty tails into the border. Right now they are missing on the kitties on the edge.
There's an awful lot of green in there... If it were mine I would try a brown narrow inner border to stop the eye and to separate the cats from the paw prints.
Perhaps try a soft (not bold) print with green and brown in the wide border where you piece the pawprints. Or what about finding a preprinted fabric with cat paw prints already on it?
When I need decisions like this I take a friend to my LQS and preview lots of fabrics till the right one stands out! And the ladies that work there are all knowledgeable and helpful too, I value their input a lot.

I think a 1 to 1 1/2 inch border between the cats and the paw prints to break it up some. Someone else mentioned this to.

Really like the quilt. I agree it needs a small (1" ?) border to separate from quilt. Too much dark together.

I'm working on a kitty quilt that just doesn't seem right so I just keep adding and working on it till I do like it. Added a small strip, emb "here kitty kitty" on border, might scallop the edges.

I would like to see more contrast between the border fabric and the paw prints. Other this that, I think it is a great idea and am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

AlwaysQuilting....

I think this is going to be a cute quilt.... what size?
I'd break up the paw prints a little more ... and separate them from the main quilt blocks with a medium border (fish print, watery print? ... )

My eye's problem is seeing the three cat's paws so close together .... I would probably stagger the two prints, then space a full space of solid green, and then stagger two more prints ... This would be the first "cat pacing" -- then I'd stagger two full green spaces spaces and then start two more staggered paw prints and space one green space and then do two more and then space two green spaces. This would be the second "cat pacing" .... does that make sense?

One cat pacing
x (paw print)
x (paw print)
space (solid green)
x (paw print)
x (paw print)
space(solid green)
space(solid green)
x (this starts the second cat pacing)
x
--- green
x
x
---green
---green
x (this starts the third cat pacing)
x
--green
x
x
--green
--green

Wow, this took longer to type than my initial flash of an idea ...you've probably had three pages of responses by now!
If someone else has mentioned this by now, sorry for the duplication...
I can't wait to see the finished quilt .... preview, maybe?

I like the paw prints and I think when you get several blocks finished and lay them end to end, it will be closer to what you originally imagined. Stay with the idea though. It will be great when it's done.

Not sure why you'd be so concerned about the paws being being so realistic .... the cats are squared up, so the paw prints are OKd squared too!!


I think you are on the right track to add the inner border. Nothing wrong with the same dark green background to keep the continuity and flow. As for the paw contrast, yes in some ways it'd be nice, though I don't think you want the tracks to jump at everyone who sees the quilt. do you? First they see the cats, then the tracks are just a nice touch to frame it up ... subtle and connected to the focus. I'd keep with what you already have.

All, JIMHO! :)