“Animal” Attraction: Cats and the Quilting Life

As anyone with a feline in the family can tell you, there is a magical connection between cats, quilts, and quilters.

You may remember my buddy, Scooter, who made the scene in an earlier (group) post, keeping a careful watch over some of my piecing essentials.

That super sewing room cat, Scooter, asks “What’s all this stuff?”

An outtake from our 2011 photo shoot: “That’s it. I’m done.”

Scooter has been my faithful companion in the sewing room since I brought him home–as a frisky, inquisitive 8-week old–from the Watauga (NC) County Animal Shelter almost 16 years ago. At first, he made himself at home on my sewing table.

Well, hello there!

Before long, he discovered . . . fabric! It didn’t matter how small the piece, or how tight the space, if there was a scrap to be found, he was on it.

Scooter as a “teenager”–“Not too comfortable here, Mom. Could you spread this out a little?”

“Ahhhhh! That’s better!”

It wasn’t just the sewing operation that kept him busy. He has always cast a careful eye on the business of quilting as well. Over the years, he has been my muse as I’ve planned a variety of workshops, produced countless class handouts, written masses of magazine pieces, edited dozens upon dozens of quilt books, and even authored and co-authored a book or two myself.

Scooter: Director of Quality Control, a lifetime position. (Check out that antique on my desk!)

The only part of the quilt life he never did cotton to was the travel. Here he registers his sentiments on an upcoming teaching gig.

“Heading to Houston? Not without me, you’re not!”

He did, however, make one BIG journey with me.

January 1, 2002: Heading to the airport in Charlotte (NC) and then west to a new life in California!

During the recent holiday season, Scooter began to show signs of a considerable slow down. Earlier this month, we visited the vet, and the news was not good. He’s home with us now, under careful observation, on a tempting new soft-food diet–the recipient of gentle nursing and tons of TLC. I know our time together is winding down.

Am I sad? Of course. But I’m also very grateful for 16 years of furry friendship and thousands of hours of companionship as I’ve continued along my quilting journey. Here’s to you, Scoots!

Scooter at the Window, 3″ x 5″, made by Darra Williamson

[Note: Since this post published this morning (1/21), our wonderful readers have been sharing comments with lovely stories of their own feline “accomplices” and heartfelt words of encouragement and support. Though I’m not able to respond individually at the moment,  I thank you all for your kind thoughts. You’re the best!]

‘Til next time, happy stitching.

#cats #catsandquilts