Patchwork cats in plaid and gingham pajamas, scattered across a soft lavender background. Each cat is its own colorway -- gray, orange, white, tan -- wearing pajamas pieced from a single fat quarter of printed or woven fabric. The pajama plaid on one cat reappears as contrasting trim on another, which gives the finished quilt a cohesion that's easy to achieve and satisfying to notice. Elizabeth Hartman's Cats in Pajamas is one of her most accessible designs, and the results look considerably more impressive than the effort required to make them.

The construction is entirely conventional patchwork -- fat quarter friendly, no templates, no paper piecing. The pieces in this pattern are notably chunkier than in many of her other designs, which makes for more forgiving piecing and a smoother sewing experience throughout.

What the Pattern Includes

This listing is for the printed paper pattern only. Fabric, batting, backing, and notions are not included.

The pattern booklet includes instructions for three project sizes: a 24" x 24" pillow (1 block), a 55" x 55" small quilt (6 blocks), and a 72" x 72" large quilt (12 blocks). Each cat block measures 15" x 17-1/2". Full-color diagrams and written instructions are included for every construction step.

The pillow is a quilted pillow cover with an envelope closure. For the pillow you'll also need batting (see pattern back for details), 2-1/8 yards of muslin or scrap fabric for pillow lining, and a 24" x 24" pillow insert.

What You'll Need

Pajama fabrics drive this pattern. The large quilt uses 12 pajama fat quarters; the small quilt uses 6. Each fat quarter goes further than expected -- 14" x 18" of actual fabric is used per block, with the remainder becoming contrasting trim on another cat's pajamas. Prints, wovens, plaids, ginghams, and novelty fabrics all work well.

For cat body fabrics, the large quilt uses 4 fat quarters; the small quilt uses 2. Both quilts also need:

• Muzzle fabric: 1/8 yard (small) or 1/4 yard (large)
• Eye and nose fabric: 1/8 yard (both sizes)
• Background fabric: 2-1/4 yards (small) or 3-1/2 yards (large)
• Backing: 3-5/8 yards (small) or 4-1/2 yards (large)
• Binding: 1/2 yard (small) or 5/8 yard (large)
• Batting: 59" x 59" (small) or 76" x 76" (large)

A fabric marking tool is also required. Fabric should be at least 42" wide.

Perfect For

• Quilters building confidence with patchwork who want a rewarding project without overwhelming complexity
• Fat quarter collectors with a stash of plaids, wovens, or novelty prints to put to good use
• A child's room, a cat lover's bedroom, or a whimsical gift quilt
• Anyone new to Elizabeth Hartman's patterns who wants a strong starting point
• Quilters who appreciate a design that looks more complex than it is to make

Why You'll Love This Pattern

At Skill Level 2 of 5 in Elizabeth Hartman's system, Cats in Pajamas is one of her most beginner-friendly designs -- not because it's simplistic, but because the pieces are chunkier and the construction is more forgiving than her higher-rated patterns. The cats go together quickly, the block logic is consistent from one to the next, and the finished quilt looks deliberate and well-designed.

The pajama fabric system is the cleverest part of the pattern. Each fat quarter makes one cat's full set of pajamas and the contrasting trim on another cat's outfit, which creates an unexpected visual rhythm across the quilt -- the same plaid appears in two different places, keeping the eye moving. It's a design decision that rewards a closer look and makes even a simple plaid fabric feel intentional.

The pillow is one of the strongest standalone projects in Elizabeth Hartman's catalog. A single cat block at 15" x 17-1/2" fills the pillow beautifully, and it's a genuinely useful way to sample the pattern before committing to the full quilt.

Product Details

• Brand: Elizabeth Hartman
• Item #: EH074
• Designer: Elizabeth Hartman
• Category: Quilting Pattern
• Skill Level: Skill Level 2 of 5 (Elizabeth Hartman's rating); chunkier pieces than most of her patterns; suitable for a confident beginner with some patchwork experience
• Technique: Standard Machine Sewing, Conventional Patchwork
• Block Size: 15" x 17-1/2"
• Finished Sizes: 72" x 72" Large Quilt (12 blocks) | 55" x 55" Small Quilt (6 blocks) | 24" x 24" Pillow (1 block)
• Format: Printed Paper Pattern
• Made in the United States