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Mourning Jack Quilt

Posted on April 10, 2010July 27, 2015 by Martha

Yesterday we had to euthanize our 14 year old cat, Jack, who was diagnosed last year with liver disease. I just finished this little mourning quilt, which is named for him.

The blocks were made with mourning prints and shirtings from this quilt top. The border is new, and the binding is constructed from antique cranberry scraps (I had to make 20 seams). The backing is leftover strips from the edges of a larger quilt back. Because I felt slightly guilty about disassembling the top, I decided to make this quilt in the original pattern.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mourning doll quilt before and it is rather odd, but I’m going to hang it on my wall because it will always remind me of that spunky and fearless little cat.

Jack is survived by his friend, Lucy the dog, who is 13, and Dinah the cat, 19.

Mourning Jack Quilt
Martha Dellasega Gray, 2010
18″ x 21″
Machine Pieced, Hand Quilted

Jack and Emily, 1996 (you can see here that he was a biter even as a kitten)

21 thoughts on “Mourning Jack Quilt”

  1. Evelyn says:
    April 10, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    I’m sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. It’s so hard to lose a pet. But you have to believe that if they could talk, they would thank you for giving them such wonderful care over the years. I love the idea of making a quilt in his memory – it’s beautiful.

    Reply
  2. Bunny says:
    April 10, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear about Jack. This quilt is a beautiful tribute to his memory.

    xo

    Reply
  3. Ann Champion says:
    April 10, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear about Jack. I hope working on the quilt helped work through some of your grief? How fitting that you used mourning prints. You really did a wonderful job of reworking the old fabrics and your beautiful work is a such a nice tribute to your fur baby.

    Reply
  4. Lisa says:
    April 10, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    So sorry about Jack, our pets do become members of the family don’t they? Lovely little quilt you made in his memory, bet he would have loved it. 🙂

    Reply
  5. kathie says:
    April 10, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    what a great way to memorialize Jack…
    its a beautiful quilt
    now I want to make one too
    something about this fabrics just talk to me, love the subtleness and the way they look with the shirtings.
    great idea using the red binding just a little hint of color
    Kathie

    Reply
  6. Sandi says:
    April 10, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    What a wonderful way to memorialize a dear friend.

    Reply
  7. Karen Beigh says:
    April 10, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    I am sorry that Jack had to be put down. The mourning quilt was a good idea and well done.

    Reply
  8. Mindy says:
    April 10, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    What a nice way to memorialize your cat. I don’t know much about mourning fabric other than thinking it’s from an earlier time when it was only proper to wear black while in mourning.

    Reply
  9. Allie says:
    April 10, 2010 at 8:39 pm

    Martha, I’m so sorry to hear about Jack – what a lovely tribute to him you’ve made. My goodness your pets live a long time, and that’s a tribute to the care you give them.

    Reply
  10. Lynn says:
    April 10, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Martha, so sorry for your loss. Jack sounds like he was well loved.
    And you have great memory. When our Buddy pasted I went through all the photo albums and pulled out all of the pics with Buddy. Made a photo album of just him. Now I share that album with the grandkids, who never knew Buddy.

    Reply
  11. Jeanie Weddle says:
    April 11, 2010 at 7:06 am

    I’m so sorry to hear of our loss. I too am a cat lover and have had to deal with the loss of a loved one like this. I look at grief as a way to keep his memory alive. Your quilt is lovely. I think doing mourning quilts is a great way for us to work through grief.

    Reply
  12. mickie says:
    April 11, 2010 at 9:11 am

    Oh Martha, I am so sorry about Jack. Hugs to you. The quilt is a perfect tribute. I hope it brings you some comfort. It’s so difficult to lose our little friends. (((HUGS)))

    Reply
  13. Cathi says:
    April 11, 2010 at 10:10 am

    Oh, I’m so sorry about Jack! It is so hard to lose a kitty. The mourning quilt was an inspired idea!

    Reply
  14. Jan says:
    April 11, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    What a lovely way to remember a kitty! I know that Jack’s passing will leave a gap in your family. Some time ago, my sister asked me if I had been jealous when she got a kitten when she was 8 or so, as a birthday gift. I told her that I truly was not and that I remember thinking, “she is going to outlive that kitty and that will be the saddest thing in the world!” I have had several kitties since then and learned to accept that they will pass before I do (hopefully!), but it is still hard. I love that one of the fabrics has a bit of pink. It sort of made me think of a kitties tongue!

    Reply
  15. Ann says:
    April 11, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    It’s a LOVELY quilt, Martha. I’m sorry to hear about Jack. Losing a friend like that is hard. I hope Dinah and Lucy are doing OK. They must miss him very much also.

    Take care,
    Ann

    Reply
  16. Becky says:
    April 12, 2010 at 7:45 am

    I am truly understanding your feelings, Martha, and sending kind thoughts your way. Our furry friends sure leave holes when they leave.

    It’s a beautiful quilt.

    Reply
  17. pratima says:
    April 12, 2010 at 10:43 am

    Dear Martha, very sorry about Jack. It is never easy to lose a pet that you’ve nourished and cared for and well loved in turn. It’s a beautiful quilt in memory of Jack. My thoughts are with you. Hugs.

    Reply
  18. Holly says:
    April 12, 2010 at 11:44 am

    Martha, I’m very sorry to hear about Jack. We went through a very similar situation with our much loved biter-of-a-cat last summer. It’s tough! That quilt is a lovely tribut to Jack’s memory. Thinking of you (and spunky, fearless Jack!).

    Reply
  19. barbara says:
    April 12, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    That is very sad news, and I think the quilt is a wonderful project to comfort you and remember Jack.

    Reply
  20. American Quilter's Society says:
    April 16, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Martha, we’re so sorry about your cat’s passing, but this is a beautiful way to tribute him. Thank you for sharing your wonderful blog. Check out our blog at: http://www.aqsquiltnews.blogspot.com/

    Keep up the beautiful quilting!

    Reply
  21. Deb Pflager says:
    April 26, 2011 at 6:28 am

    I came across your blog today and was reading a few of your archives. I had to comment about the mourning quilt you made for Jack. I too have made a mourning quilt for a pet. I had a Brittany Spaniel named Freckles who was 17 and had to be put to sleep. It was a traumatic experience for me. She and I had been through much together. I made a “bears paw” design to represent the dog paw and then had a conversation type reproduction print which featured a dog head which was similar to Freckle.s I incorporated it into the block and then I hand quilted it. The process really helped me with the grieving. I cherish that little quilt. Like yours, it is a doll size miniature. You are the first person I have seen who has done the same thing. Do you know of any others? Or are we part of a very small group?

    I am sorry for your loss, Jack looks like he was a fun cat!
    Deb

    Reply

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