The Artistry of Sheena Norquay: The Cats Collection

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If you’ve ever stopped by the Aurifil stand at Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England, chances are you’ve met Sheena Norquay… or at the very least, admired a piece of her work on display. She’s the star of our stand every single year, and one of the kindest humans we know, which somehow makes her extraordinary talent even easier to love. Sheena has been one of our all-time thread heroes for years now, and every new piece she creates leaves us a little bit in awe all over again.

What we love most is how Sheena approaches her work — endlessly curious, always trying something new, yet completely meticulous in how she experiments with needle and thread. Each time she finishes a piece, she sends along her notes: what she tried, why she made the choices she did, which threads she reached for, and how the process felt along the way. Over the years, her experiments have taken her through nearly every thread in the Aurifil lineup — 50wt, 28wt, 80wt, and Aurifiloss included. Reading her process notes has become one of our favorite parts of putting these features together, and we suspect you’ll feel the same.

This time, Sheena’s inspiration has fur, whiskers, and a mind of its own. It’s been a little while since we’ve had a new collection from her — her last was 2024’s Hydrangea — so we’re especially delighted to welcome her back with something completely different in subject, though unmistakably her in execution: a collection built entirely around the cats who’ve wandered through her life and captured her attention along the way.

Featuring 10 Small Spools of our Cotton 28wt, this collection offers all of the hues needed to thread sketch your favorite furry companion. We appreciate the variety in the projects that Sheena created this time around and can’t help but love each friend represented.

In case this is your first time meeting Sheena, we’d encourage you to check out her original 2017 interview HERE and scroll through some of our previous posts to really experience the range of her work.

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CATS COLLECTION GALLERY

Notes: While Sheena’s feature works are focused around the Cotton 28wt in her collection, she is known for her use of multiple thread weights in her projects. She details her notes below.

• The thread colours in Wool 12wt are: 8965, 8024, 8081, 8082, 8692, 8348, 8330, 8142, 8332, 8425. (Sample 1)
• The same colours in Cotton Floss are 2886 light avocado, 2024 white, 2615 aluminium, 5004 grey smoke, 2692 black, 1285 medium bark, 2155 cinnamon, 2210 caramel, 2315 pale flesh, 2437 light peony. (Samples 2 – 5)
• The colours in Cotton 28wt are the same as the floss except I changed the white 2024 to 2021. (Samples 6 –20)
• Two additional pieces pieces were stitched using 50 wt threads in these colours as well as other colours.

The colours were inspired by various cats I have had, my sister’s cats and visiting cats.

Sheena Norquay

Cats Collection | Sample 1, Stitch Sample

Finished Size: 12 x 8.5 inches (30 x 21.5cm)
Sheena J Norquay, copyright 28.7.2024 – 19.8.2024   
Total Time: 8 hours 40 minutes

Ten colours of Aurifil wool acrylic threads were used to hand embroider the different stitches on to calico backed with 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding. Stitches used were fly feather, herringbone, cross, Turkey track, chain, detached chain, Cretan, satin, basketweave and seeding. Backing was added and then chain stitched to separate the different stitches. 

Cats Collection | Sample 2, TWO CATS AND THIRTY BALLS  

Finished Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 9.8.2024 – 23.8.2024  
Total Time: 20 hours 15 minutes

Hand embroidered using 2 strands of Aurifil cotton floss. Top row and right column of top 5 balls were stitched using 10 single colours in detached chain.

Row 2 – 2 strands, 2 colours
Row 3 – 3 strands, 3 colours
Row 4 – 4 strands, 4 colours
Row 5 – 5 strands, 5 colours
Row 6 – 2 strands – each circle has 1 colour subtracted and 1 colour added.

The two cats were stitched in satin stitch using 2 strands. Background above grey and black cat has green cross stitches. Rest of background was free motion quilted using Aurifil Cotton 50wt threads.

Cats Collection | Sample 3, CATS ON A WALL  

Finished Size: 11.5 X 8.75 inches (29.5 X 22.5cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 7.8.2024 – 11.9.2024  
Total Time: 27 hours 15 minutes

Hand embroidered using Aurifil Cotton Floss with 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding as stabiliser. Left hand section has 2 strands of 10 single colours stitched in herringbone stitch. The centre has the 10 colours stitched horizontally and vertically. The right hand side was stitched with 2 colours– 1 strand of each colour in the sequence, ab, bc, cd, de, ef, fg, gh, hi, ij, ja. 

The cats and kittens were hand embroidered in straight stitch. Bush on left– detached chain, one on right– stem, straight and French knots. Hobbs wool wadding and backing fabric were added, tacked and free motion quilted using Aurifil 50 wt threads to create a stone path, grass and contour lines around the cats.

Cats Collection | Sample 4, CAT AMONG THE SNOWDROPS  

Finished Size: 16.5 x 13.25 inches (42 x 34cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 4.2.2024 – 24.2.2025  
Total Time: 22 hours 10 minutes

The background was printed several years ago by brushing fabric paint between two pieces of glass, moving them around, separating the two pieces and laying fabric on top. When looking at the piece of fabric, it looked like an imaginary landscape in the moonlight. I decided to hand embroider a cat sitting on a rock looking at various flowers and trees. The fabric was backed with Vliseline S13. Aurifil Cotton Floss was used for the hand embroidery. 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding and backing were added before free motion quilting using Aurifil Cotton 50wt threads in colours 4129, 2309, 2975, 2784, 5008, 1158 and 2745. The navy border was quilted in a continuous spiral pattern. 

Cats Collection | Sample 5, CATNAP IN A BASKET  

Finished Size: 14 x 9 inches (36 x 23cm)
Sheena J Norquay  copyright 6.2.2025 – 30.3.2025   
Total Time: 21 hours 10 minutes

Inspired by Cuddles, a cat I used to have, who loved fabrics. The basket was backed with polyester wadding and hand embroidered in a basketweave pattern on a basket shape using 2 strands of Aurifil cotton floss in single and blended colours from light to dark, from left to right. The cat was free machine embroidered on cotton organdie using Aurifil Cotton 28wt and 50wt threads, then hand appliquéd to the basket and background along with a felt blanket. 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding and backing fabric were added before free motion quilting C curves to create a grid on the pink section. Horizontal S curves were quilted on the grey fabric plus 2 rows of swinging S curves between the horizontal lines.

Cats Collection | Sample 6, CAT KALEIDOSCOPE   

Finished Size: 32.5 x 31 inches (83 x 79cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 3.12.2025 – 26.12.2025  
Total Time: 34 hours 10 minutes

Inspired by cat shapes drawn within 60 degree segments and the desire to experiment with 10 colours of Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads for a possible Cats collection.

I began with the centre which has 6 small cat shapes sitting upright holding on to tails. The second round was wider so I drew sleeping cats with tails connected to the border outline of C curves. The third and fourth rounds required two cat shapes within each segment. In round three, two cats are facing each other with tails connected to the other pairs. In round four, pairs of cats are standing back to back with tails touching and facing each other looking at empty bowls.

The four circular borders have C curve designs. The inner border has 6 C Curves with curves facing out. The second border has two interlocking C Curves, one facing out, one facing in. The third border has two sets of repeating C Curves with convex sides facing out and the outer border has continuous C curves joined like handwriting.

The background quilting designs behind the cats were quilted using four lighter colours contrasting with the four darker colours outlining the cats. The pairs of radiating lines from the edge of the circle were free motion quilted using continuous C’s like handwriting and C curves pointing towards them. Spaces between these pairs of lines were free motion quilted with swinging C Curves.

Cats Collection | Sample 7, GREY CAT AND SPIDER   

Finished Size: 12.5 x 18.25 inches (32 x 46.5cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 12.12.2025 – 28.12.2025  
Total Time: 16 hours 30 minutes

The cat was machine stitched on to grey fabric backed with polyester wadding then backed with Hobbs wool wadding before tacking the top fabric to Dawson’s wool wadding and backing fabric. Facial details and the outline of the cat were hand stitched after machine quilting the background patterns.

The fabrics on the left were machine pieced, then nine similar colours of Cotton 28wt from the Cats Collection were used to create various C Curve patterns which extended across the piece on to the grey fabric. Horizontal lines were satin stitched in eight colours to outline the nine patterns.

Cats Collection | Sample 8, CAT NINE PATCH

Finished Size: 19.75 x 19.75 inches (50 x 50cm)
Sheena J Norquay  copyright 1.12.2025 -1.1.2026  
Total Time: 15 hours 5 minutes

Nine squares of nine colours were machine pieced then a white border was added. Contrasting colours of Aurifil Cotton 28wt from the Cats Collection were used to free motion outline quilt CAT letters and background patterns using the letters c, a and t. I used 2 layers of wadding – polyester and 80/20 cotton/polyester.

The seven cats in varying positions in the white border were free motion quilted with facial details being hand stitched. The background was quilted with continuous pink spirals and two balls of wool were free motion couched.

Cats Collection | Samples 9 and 10, SPOT AND STRIPE   

Finished Size: 14.5 x 8 inches each (37 x 20.5cm)  
Sheena J Norquay copyright  
Spot – 4.12.2025 – 3.1.2026, Total Time: 11 hours 5 minutes   
Stripe – 4.12.2025 – 5.1.2026, Total Time: 21 hours

Inspired by photos I had taken of my sister’s two cats when they were kittens. They were abandoned by their mother when they were kittens and then “adopted” a male cat called Badger for their role model! Sadly Badger died suddenly a few years ago followed by Spot a few years later. Stripe is still alive but I am sure he still misses his companions.

Both cats were free machine embroidered using Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads from the Cats Collection (with 50wt in the bobbin) on to cotton organdie then hand appliquéd to machine pieced cotton fabrics. The flowers behind Stripe were also free machine embroidered on to organdie but machine appliqued to the background fabric. Stems and leaves were hand embroidered as were the whiskers. Both  pieces were backed by VS13, 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding and cotton backing before free motion quilting.

Cats Collection | Sample 11, C IS FOR CAT  

Finished Size: 9.75 x 9.75 inches (24.5 X 24.5cm)  
Sheena J Norquay  copyright 31.12.2025 – 10.1.2026  
Total Time: 11 hours 45 minutes

The letter C was hand embroidered with Hobbs wool wadding behind the green fabric. Two threads of two colours of Aurifil 28 weight threads from the Cats Collection were used to embroider detached chain stitches in random directions within ten sections of the C. Each section had a different combination of two colours – ab, bc, cd, de, ef, fg, gh, hi ij, ja.

The cat was hand embroidered using three colours. After completion the wadding was trimmed then Dawson’s wool wadding and a calico backing were added. The C was outlined with two squares of whipped running stitches in black and dark brown. Seeding stitch in pale green adds texture to the background.

The outside border has eight colours of running stitch at right angles to the outside edges. The corners were quilted with black Turkey Track stitch which created a contrasting texture and pattern to the running stitches.

Cats Collection | Sample 12, TWO CATS NAPPING 

Finished Size: 11 x 16.5inches (27.5 x 41.5cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 11.1.2026 – 17.1.2026  
Total Time: 17 hours 20 minutes

Strips of 10 colours of fabric were machine pieced. VS13 was tacked behind the left hand section before polyester wadding was tacked behind the whole surface. Ten colours of Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads from the Cats Collection were used to hand embroider herringbone stitch on the right hand section in the opposite direction to the pieced strips so I could see how each colour of thread looked on each colour of fabric. 

Backing cotton fabric was added then the left hand section was straight stitched in the opposite direction to the strips. Every second line was satin stitched. I should have used the walking foot for the straight stitching as the quilting distorted the strips. Spaces between the hand embroidered herringbone were hand quilted with running stitches in the same ten colours. 

The cats were hand appliqued, the faces were machine and hand embroidered. Pillow and tails were stuffed and stitched in place. I had made a small wall hanging using this idea in the 1980’s and I remember it won 2nd prize at a quilt show. All the cats were black and sleeping in different positions under strip patchwork in blues and greens which were left over from a log cabin quilt I had made. When my aunt’s black cat died in his teens I gifted the wall hanging to her.

Cats Collection | Sample 13, CAT IN THE HUFF  

Finished Size: 8.5 x 13.5 inches (20.5 x 34cm)
Sheena J Norquay 16.1.2026 – 22.1.2026   
Total Time: 8 hours

Another piece inspired by “Catnaps” which I made in the 1980’s and which I gave to my aunt. This small sample was machine pieced using vertical and horizontal strips to match the colours of Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads in the Cats Collection. The cat was hand appliquéd and free motion quilted with polyester wadding behind the fabric. The wadding was trimmed and then 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding and backing was tacked behind the top. 

The bottom section has wood grain patterns. The top section has various patterns constructed with C shapes. I used the thread spools to draw around as well as free hand marking some of the curves with pencil. I used Cotton 28wt in matching colours to free motion quilt the strips.

Cats Collection | Sample 14, CAT ON A QUILT  

Finished Size: 16.5 x 16.5inches (42 x 42cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 27.1.2026 – 2.2.2026  
Total Time: 23 hours 45 minutes

The cat and quilt were hand stitched using 2 threads of Aurifil Cotton 28wt in the needle with Hobbs wool wadding behind the fabric. When stitching the cat, I either had 2 threads of the same colour or 1 thread of each of 2 colours. I used all the colours from the Cats Collection. The surrounding border was hand embroidered using one thread in the needle – detached chain stitches.

The strips were machine pieced to the central block then 2 layers of wadding – polyester and 80/20 cotton/polyester were tacked and machine quilted with the walking foot using thread colours matching the strips. The lines were extended on to the black border, creating grids in the corners. I added hand embroidered and quilted flower motifs on the white fabric behind the cat.

There were technical issues with the central block distorting after the hand stitching and I found that the extra layer of polyester wadding made the piece rather stiff. Because of this, it did not hang as straight as I would have liked.

Cats Collection | Sample 15, THREE CELTIC CATS  

Finished Size: 9.5 x 28.5inches (24 x 72cm)
Sheena J Norquay  copyright 27.1.2026 – 31.1 2026 
10 hours (but I may add some hand stitching)

Having drawn several kaleidoscope designs for demonstration purposes for the Glasgow Quilt Show, I decided to use cat motifs within 120 degree wedges and add curved lines with spirals to give a Celtic flavour. 

I enlarged the original 3 cat kaleidoscope designs to fit A4 tracing paper then transferred the designs to fabric using a pencil. They were free motion quilted using Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads from the Cats Collection– 2210, 2155, and 1285 in light, medium, and dark tones. Outlines of the quilted circles were quilted with the walking foot. The background was free motion quilted in continuous spirals using colour 2316.

Cats Collection | Sample 16, THERE WERE TEN IN THE BED  

Finished Size: 15.5 x 9.5 inches (39.5 x 23.5cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 15.2.2026 – 13.2.2026  
Total Time: 12 hours 40 minutes

The song “There were ten in the Bed and the little one said, move over” was the inspiration for this piece but using ten cats in various sleeping positions. The pink, peach and green fabrics were machine pieced. The cat shapes were free machine embroidered, using Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads from the Cats Collection, on to cotton organdie then machine stitched to the green fabric with Stitch and Tear tacked behind the fabric which was inserted in an embroidery ring.

The eyes and outlines of legs were hand stitched. The pieced strips and pink sheet were machined to the pillow and a paw was hand appliqued to the sheet which was folded over after free motion quilting the strips with swinging C curves in opposite directions. Because I had to piece one of the peach strips, I disguised the seam by quilting 2 rows of swinging C curves on a smaller scale. 

The quilt has 80/20 cotton polyester wadding but I tacked a layer of Hobbs wool on top of the 80/20 under the green pillow fabric before outlining the cat shapes with hand quilting. I used a rust colour for the binding to pick up the colours of the ginger cats. I enjoyed making this piece.

Cats Collection | Sample 17, LAP CAT ON A QUAPRON

Finished Size: 23.5 x 22.75 inches (59.5 x 58cm)
Sheena J Norquay  copyright 9.2.2026 – 19.2.2026  
Total Time: 24 hours 15 minutes

This depicts a seated figure stroking a ginger cat who lies contently half asleep on her lap. It was hand appliqued, machine pieced and free motion quilted using colours of Cotton 28wt threads from the Cats Collection. Dawson’s wool wadding gives a nice quilted effect and will be warm to wear. The strips of fabric go all the way around the waist to make tying easy at the front. There’s a hidden pocket on the reverse for a phone, hankie or purse.

Cats Collection | Sample 18, CHASING MY TAIL

Finished Size: 15.75 x 7.5 inches (40.5 x 19cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 9.3.2026 – 16.3.2026    
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Two cat shapes were printed using a spacer for an artist’s canvas and a wine bottle cork. The path, grass and sky were free motion quilted but the black border was hand quilted. All 5 colours were from the Aurifil 28wt Cats Collection.

Cats Collection | Sample 19, CATWALKS  

Finished Size: 30.5 x 15.75 inches (77 x 40cm)
Sheena J Norquay copyright 9.3.026 – 18.3.2026
Total Time: 7 hours 45 minutes

Three widths of calico scraps, an artist’s canvas spacer and a wine bottle cork were used for printing cat shapes walking, running and jumping in two directions. Black borders were machine pieced before free motion quilting using Aurifil Cotton 28wt threads from the Cats Collection. I used 2 greys for pebble paths, pale green for grass, white for backgrounds and black for borders. A fun piece to make!

Cats Collection | Sample 20, MONOPRINTED CAT  

Finished Size: 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35cm) 
Sheena J Norquay copyright 9.3.206 – 21.3.2026  
Total Time: 6 hours 45 minutes

A piece of glass was covered with black fabric paint. Fabric was ironed to freezer paper and a cat was drawn on the paper. This was laid on top of the glass and traced with a biro pen. This transferred the paint on to the fabric. After peeling off the fabric and freezer paper, it was allowed to dry before I ironed the fabric to fix the paint. Black borders were machine pieced and Dawson’s wool wadding was tacked to the reverse before free motion quilting the cat. Wadding was then trimmed around the outline of the cat. Eyes and nose were hand stitched. 80/20 cotton/polyester wadding and calico backing were added before free motion quilting the background and adding the cream braids. I used Aurifil Cotton 28wt thread for the quilting and cotton floss for the hand embroidery.

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HUGE thanks to Sheena for sharing her wild and epic creativity with us once again. We hope you leave this one feeling as inspired as we do!