GIMME!

Every year at this time I wish I had a solid black cat. But when it is your nature to welcome in only needy ferals and the discards of others, the best colors are usually taken. What is left over now basks in the sun here, in full-tummied splendor, lifting heads only to nod in the direction of the treat jar. "After that," they seem to say, "if you still think you need a Halloween cat, sit down at your sewing machine and make one!"

Yikes. So much for gratitude! But alas. There are six of them and only two of us.......

Even before Scrappy's last thread was clipped and knotted, he was asking what we had around here in terms of Halloween candy. I guess sewing your own cat is the same as giving birth to one. You hope for the best, but ultimately, you get what you get!

So, my new Scrappy is greedy and demanding, won't let go of the candy jar, and sports a crazy-eyed look that fits very nicely in with the rest of this "anything goes" season-to-be-scary!

Want to make your own litter mate on a pint size wide mouth Mason jar? Here's step-by-step instructions!

Materials Required:

Black cotton fabric, 13" x 14"
Black felt square (or scraps)
12" Black yarn or thin cord
1 yard Black ribbon, 5/8" wide for arms and tail
12" Orange print ribbon, 5/8"
2 Orange buttons, 1" mix or match
White crochet cotton
Polyester stuffing
White acrylic paint
Fine point, size 0 paintbrush
Chalk or light fabric marking pencil
Hot glue gun
Pint size, wide mouth Mason jar
Halloween candy
Sewing machine, black thread, scissors, hand sewing needle, pins
Hand drafted patterns for body and paws

Instructions:

1. Draft body pattern by cutting a 4.5" x 11" rectangle from paper. Hold paper vertically and round off both top edges. Draft paw pattern from a 3" circle. Cut 4 scallops into one side for toes.
2. Fold black fabric in half, to 7" wide, and trace body pattern with chalk on top, centered vertically.
3. Machine sew along traced line. Do not turn! Cut body out, allowing 1" border all around stitched line.
4. Fringe the 1" border, stopping short of the stitched line.
5. Stuff body, then hand sew bottom edge closed so piece measures 9" tall.
6. Tie the 12" yarn scrap around the body 3" from top to define the neck. Trim.
7. Cut triangles from felt for ears. Hot glue to head.
8. Hot glue buttons to face, then sketch a nose, mouth, and eyebrows with chalk. Paint over lines.
9. For whiskers, cut 6" lengths of crochet cotton (3) and tie a knot at each center point. Thread needle, push into face, pull through until knot catches inside. Trim.
10. Place kitty behind jar, then tie both together with a 24" length of black ribbon. Knot tightly at side of neck. Knot the orange print ribbon at center point and hot glue it next to the black one.
11. Cut 4 felt paws from pattern and match them in pairs. Blanket stitch all around outside edges. Stop to push small amount of stuffing inside when a 1" opening remains. Continue sewing to close.
12. Make crochet cotton claws. Pull thread through between each toe, clip off and knot.
13. Hot glue paws to ribbon so they meet at center front.
14. Knot one end of remaining black ribbon and glue it to cat at side bottom for tail.
15. Fill jar with candy and then step back! Waaaay back! Those claws are sharp!

This original design, like all blog content, is intended for personal use only. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.