Patchwork Cat Quilt Block with Border

This charming quilt block combines patchwork piecing, appliqué, and a classic border to create a decorative panel that can be turned into a wall hanging, pillow, or part of a larger quilt. The bold cat silhouette stands out beautifully against a soft background, while the striped fabric inside the cat adds depth and personality. Begin by selecting a color palette — in this example, purples, lilacs, and teals are repeated throughout the cat and border to keep the design cohesive. Choose cotton quilting fabrics in a mix of solids, blenders, and small prints. Prewash and press all fabrics so everything stays stable and accurate while sewing.

Start with the cat shape, which is made using appliqué rather than traditional piecing. First, print or draw a simple cat silhouette at the size you want your finished center block to be. The shape should be bold and not too detailed so it’s easy to sew. Next, create a striped fabric panel large enough to cover the cat shape. To do this, sew together vertical strips of coordinating fabrics, right sides together, pressing seams flat as you go. Once the panel is complete and pressed, place your cat template on top and trace the shape onto fusible web. Iron the fusible web to the back of the striped panel, then cut out the cat silhouette carefully.

Prepare the background square by cutting a piece of fabric larger than the finished center size, allowing room for trimming later. Position the appliqué cat in the center of this background and fuse it in place with an iron. To secure the edges, stitch around the entire shape using a zigzag stitch, blanket stitch, or decorative appliqué stitch. Take your time on curves like the tail and ears, pivoting the fabric slowly to keep the edges smooth. Once stitched, press the block from the back to set the seams.

Now it’s time to add the patchwork border that frames the cat. Cut small squares or rectangles from your chosen border fabrics, keeping them all the same size so they join neatly. Sew these pieces together into strips for each side of the block, mixing light and dark fabrics for contrast. Press the seams, then sew one strip to the top and one to the bottom of the center panel. After that, attach the side borders. This order helps keep the corners aligned and prevents stretching. Press everything carefully and trim the block so the borders are even and the quilt top lies flat.

To finish the piece, layer the quilt top with batting and a backing fabric. Quilt as desired — you can stitch in the ditch along the border seams, outline the cat shape, or add gentle background quilting like loops or straight lines. Quilting not only secures the layers but also makes the appliqué stand out more. After quilting, trim the edges and bind the quilt with a coordinating fabric strip, folded and stitched around the perimeter. The result is a striking patchwork cat block full of color and character — perfect as a decorative accent or as part of a themed quilt project.