I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about a coat!! The weather here has been so horrible recently that I decided I needed a new raincoat, especially if I’m going to venture outside for any length of time. Normal raincoats are boring so of course I had to make one with cats on it :D I’m over the moon with how this has turned out. It took most of yesterday afternoon. I will be putting buttons on it but I haven’t been able to find the perfect ones locally so I’m waiting for some to arrive that I bought online. I couldn’t wait to share pictures of the coat though!
You will need: Felt (two colours), paper, thread, a hair band and some glue.
Create a cat head template with paper and then use it to cut out two pieces of felt. Cut two triangles out of the other colour felt for the tabby markings.
Stitch the triangles on to one of the cat head shapes and then add a nose and mouth.
Take the other cat head shape and glue it onto the underside of the hair band. I used a hot glue gun but I’m sure other glues would work.
Using blanket stitch, sew the piece with the face on, onto the felt with the hairband in between.
Even boring household stuff isn’t safe from my cat obsession. We’re always losing clothes pegs so I made a bag to put them in when they’re not in use.
For this you’ll need some fabric and a coat hanger. I used a kids plastic one from Ikea. I cut the coat hanger so that it was as wide as I wanted the bag to be.
This pouch is so simple to make and looks really great. You can make it in whatever size you like, even adding straps to turn it into a bag :)
What you’ll need
Fabric, lining fabric, facing and a magnet clasp.
Decided how big you want the pouch to be a cut a piece of the main fabric, adding half an inch all round for the seams. Then cut another piece the same width but about 50% longer as pictured. Round off the corners (only the two lower ones on the smaller piece). Cut the same pieces from lining fabric and facing.
I’ve got lots of different cat fabrics but only small pieces as they can be pretty pricey. To save spending lots I like to use the cat fabric as a feature on a larger plain item. I came up with this shopping bag idea a few days ago and have made a few now as they’ll be really useful. I hate plastic bags and always try to use my own bags, however I wanted something different to the canvas bags you see everywhere.
You will need some webbing, I’ve used cotton webbing which is usually available in the ribbons and bindings section of fabric shops. Also, you’ll need fabric for the main bag, lining fabric (I used a pillow case) and some pretty cat fabric for the pocket. Pins are essential in making this too.
Cut your bag fabric to the size you want your bag plus a seam allowance of half an inch all the way around, you will need two. Then cut two of the lining fabric the same width but an inch shorter than the outer fabric.
I am always forgetting to take my business cards out with me. If I get comments on the necklace or badge I’m wearing I feel stupid when I can’t give them a card so I’ve made a case for them. Now they’re in my bag, protected in a nice case so they don’t get tatty, I’ve no excuses!
You’ll need fabric, a hair elastic and a button. Make sure to have some cards to hand so you get the sizing right.
Lay the cards on the fabric you’ve chosen for the outside of the case. You need to leave a gap between them for the fold. Cut the fabric, leaving a gap of 1/2 an inch around the cards, cut two. Cut two pieces of the pocket fabric the same height but an inch or so shorter, as pictured.
Fold the pocket pieces in half and iron. You can also stitch along the fold for a nice neat look. Place an outer piece right side up, then place the pocket pieces on each end with a gap between them in the middle. Place the hair elastic on one side and then lastly place the last piece of outer fabric right side down on top.
Sew around the edges, leaving a gap to turn it the right way out. Trim edges and cut off corners.
Turn right side out. Poke something like a knitting needle into the corners to make them pointy. Iron.
Stitch around the edges and along the middle. Make sure you leave enough space for the cards to fit in the pockets when you’re going around the edge!
Most cat owners slaves will know by now that the chances are the more you spend on a toy, the less the cats will like it. That’s so true for ours! I buy them lots of toys, especially cute ones with catnip in but none of them are ever as popular as a scrappy bit of fabric filled with home-grown catnip!
I grow catnip in the garden, it’s super easy and you can grow lots with little effort. See previous blog post about my plant. Once it’s dry I put some into toys. In the past I’ve made cute little mice etc but they get ripped to shreds or drooled all over and it’s really not worth it. The most simple thing to do is make fabric pouches to sew catnip into.
I used some plain thickish cotton fabric. It needs to be strong enough to put up with being chewed but not so thick that the aroma can’t seep through.
I use zigzag stitch so that the fabric doesn’t fray. Sew around three edges so you have a pouch.
Then fill with catnip. Stuff loads in, it will break down over time. I put everything but the stalks in.
Once it’s filled up, go round all the edges a few times with zigzag stitch and you’re done. It doesn’t look pretty but after they’ve been chewing on it and soaking it with kitty drool you’ll be glad you didn’t go to a lot of effort to make it look nice!
Thanks to Pixie for being so helpful in all the photos!
Here’s Arty being product tester. I tried to get it off him to show you how soggy and chewed it gets but he wouldn’t let me! We have some pouches that have lasted over a year and are still regularly played with. I usually end up throwing them out when they look so horrible I can’t bare to have them cluttering up the house and I make them new ones.
This week I’ve been on the look out for cool craft cat projects. I love to sew and crochet but during the summer I’d rather be outside. The weather is wet and gloomy today and it made me think about autumn. It’s always when the weather starts to get worse and days get shorter that I find myself digging out the crochet hooks and fabrics.
Here are some of my favourite patterns I found on Etsy, there are more in the Treasury I created.
I know it’s July and I should be thinking about summery clothes but it’s hardly been hot recently. The last few stalls I’ve done I’ve been so cold so I thought I’d make something warm. It’s made from fleece fabric with a fur trim. There are fluffy ends to the scarf part too.
