High as a Cat

This weekend we stopped by the pet store because we had to replace Loki's CatDancer. He pretty much destroyed the old one. I also wanted to find something catnip related since I know the other two will go crazy for it, and it sure is fun to watch! But what they offered in toys just didn't seem worth the money spent on them. Some were hard wooden toys that you stuffed with the catnip, and others were far too flimsy to stand up to my cats. Miss Tea prefers to sleep on her nip toys to get high threw osmosis, Carmina prefers to chew on it until it's sopping wet, and Loki will try to rip it to shreds. So we decided to just pick up some loose catnip, and I'd figure out some cat-proof way to give it to them.

Enter the simple Felted Catnip Bag. It combines the two things my cats love the most: my yarn and catnip. The only thing to make this the coolest thing ever in their little kitty worlds would be my lap, but it's hard to stuff that into this little bag!

Materials:
-- US 8 straight needles
-- small amount of worsted weight 100% pure wool (I used Cascade 220)

Gauge: 5 sts/7 rows per inch

Pattern:
Cast on 30 sts using the long tail cast-on.
Knit in stockinette until piece reaches 5 inches, ending with a WS row.
Loosely bind off.

Finished flat knit piece: 5 inches tall, 6.25 inches wide

Fold piece lengthwise. Seam edge together, and seam bottom together. Weave in ends.


Felt and let dry completely.

Stuff lightly with cotton balls or batting and sprinkle in catnip. Seam top together. Give to cats to enjoy!

See others' Felted Catnip Bags on Ravelry:

Bangle Wristlet Purse

So as I get ready to head off to Germany, I realized I will be there for the 2nd half of Fasching (or Karneval, depending on where you live). With all the crazies welcomed out into the streets, I decided it might not be the best choice to carry my purse around. Since I will need to carry my passport around with me, I need something that will stay close to my body and not be so easy to rip off. Plus, it needs to be cute enough for the clubs. (Go back to Germany and be there for Fasching, and not go to the clubs? I am no hypocrite!!) I think this cute wristlet will do just fine.

Materials
~ Knit Picks Andean Silk [55% superfine Alpaca, 23% silk, 22% Merino wool; 96yd per 50g skein]; color: #23778 Cornflower; 1 skein
~ US 8 straight needles
~ cable needle
~ US G crochet hook
~ 2 bangle bracelets (or 4 depending on quality of bracelets)
~ tapestry needle
~ (optional) fabric for lining

Gauge
5 sts = 1"

Bag Body
With kniting needles, CO 40 sts loosely.
Rows 1, 3, 7, & 9: K3, P4, K8, P4, K2, P4, K8, P4, K3
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, & 10: P3, K4, P8, K4, P2, K4, P8, K4, P3
Row 5: K3, P4, C8F, P4, K2, P4, C8B, P4, K3
Repeat these 10 rows 6 times more, then Repeat Rows 1-8 once (a total of 8 cables have been created)
BO loosely in pattern.
Block knitted rectangle.
(optional): If you would like to add a lining to your bag, make your measurements now. It will be much easier than after it has been seamed up.
Fold the rectangle in half width-wise, and seam up sides of bag.
(optional): Sew in lining of bag.

Handle Flaps
With crochet hook, attach yarn & sc2tog 38 times around top of bag.
* sc1, sc2tog, sc13, sc2tog, sc1, turn (17 sts total)
ch2, skip first st in row, dc 16, turn
ch2, skip first st in row, dc 16, fasten off *
Join yarn for other side of bag and rep from * to * for second handle flap.
Attach bangles as the handes.
Weave in ends.
(note: I do crochet, and as such used crochet handle flaps. However, not every knitter is also a crocheter. You can pick up the middle 34 stitches on each side of the bag and knit in seed stitch for 5-6 rows depending on thickness of bangles.)

See others' Bangle Wristlet Purses at Ravelry: