Monday, November 3, 2008

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: