Looking for a catnip toy knitter for the Purrs shop

[Reynard]

When it's done flowering, I clip the plants around two inches from the level of the soil. Then I give them a good 'ol rinse to remove any bugs and dirt and spread them out on newspaper to dry. Outside in a sheltered sunny spot if possible (during the day, but bring in at night), otherwise indoors someplace where it isn't humid. Takes about a week or so to dry out thoroughly.

For toys, I use a pair of scissors to chop it up into pieces - put it all in, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds. IMHO the stems and the dried flower heads are the most effective part of the plant. Then I mix that with good quality cotton stuffing, roughly one part catnip to two parts stuffing seems to be pretty effective.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

hells bells must plant the catnip seed...........how do you prepare it for toys Witty?

[Reynard]

how about your purl?

I have a very puzzled cat sitting here on my desk, probably wondering what, if anything, she has to do with knitting...           

Am rather clutzy when it comes to knitting, so I'd best not volunteer.  I think my efforts would be several dozen factors WORSE than the Purrpoo. 

What I could potentially volunteer is some home grown organic catnip, but that'd have to wait until the autumn. I grow catnip for my local branch of CP (plants and for toys for the stall) and do struggle to keep up with demand seeings that it's very popular, but if I can do a bit of jiggery pokery in my greenhouse, I may be able to stick an extra tray of catnip seed in.

There're no guarantees as my neighbour's cat has this tendency to break into my greenhouse and help himself - have lost track of the times I've seen him sitting on my patio totally stoned... 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

A sluggit yessssssssss 

[Harna]

I don't know what to say! 

It's a good job we actually all know what that photo is a photo of!!  Somehow I don't think it would have been so funny if it had been in muted shades of purple and pink! 

[Bazsmum]

OMG!!! That's it, Im in "knit one pearl one" ......stitches!   

[Teresa Pawcats]

Ruth
I just spotted the picture of your knitting- Well gosh I dont know what to say, certainly different looks like a sluggit 

[Ellie]

So we could really sell them then. Your choice of Purrpoo or Purr Furballs... take your pic, catnip optional. The cats will want to eat em right up   

 

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

So we could really sell them then. Your choice of Purrpoo or Purr Furballs... take your pic, catnip optional. The cats will want to eat em right up   

[Ellie]

It's a furball!!

I've managed to knit a pink square with something resembling a tail at one corner, but stitching it together to resemble a mouse will be the hard part for me!

 

I can't find my smaller needles   only the larger ones that I knitted the scarves with  

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Because my printer toner (black) is out, I had to copy and paste the text into Word and colour it blue so it would print.. no photos... I couldn't figure out the instructions for sewing it up properly, but now that I see the basic shape, thin needles and yarn rather than the funky wool I have and large needles will do.

Tight knight works well as well. I say this of course.. not really knowing if I can do another. 

[Tan]

It's a Purrpoo     

Much better than i could do hun 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

It's a furball!!

I've managed to knit a pink square with something resembling a tail at one corner, but stitching it together to resemble a mouse will be the hard part for me!

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Lexy did sniff, and walked away 

  Tanni I don't think this is something I can make for the shop. When i get my sewing machine maybe can make some toys but this one.. erm... no. 

[blackcat]

I think it is kinder not to comment 

I am sure if you stuffed it with good quality catnip the furries wouldn't care ...

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Anyone who judges me for this.... well you have full rights to 

What do you think? Tadpole?    Took me an hour. it was only once I was done I read the rest of the pattern and it needs to go in a cold wash etc... yeah that's not gonna happen tonight.

[Tan]

  Looks great hun tell ya ma thanks very much, lovely to see what she comes up with 

Lol Purrs knitted toy convention 

[Den]

I asked her and she said she'd give it a go  Well to be more specific she'd see if she can do it first ... she's terribly modest. But it wouldn't be just yet (next few weeks) .. our house is a TIP at the moment (new carpet tomorrow) plus we are in the middle of redoing the bathroom. Once that's all sorted she would be free.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

ooooh looks like we've found a professional knitter.  If your mum would be up for knitting some toys I have a sneaky feeling they will go down very well.  Monkey is fab!!!!

[Den]

Ok this would be knitted monkey sporting my newly knitted scarf (which is sooooooooooo soft and fluffy)


and she's a bit obsessed with her sewing machine so makes Mollys dog beds for me.
As sported by mig ... can't find the other picture I have.

[Den]

I think my mum would do it ..... I'll see if I can get some pictures of her handywork ...

brb.

[Christine (Blip)]

I've found some wool.  It's pink(ish) though so Jaffa may refuse to play with it on principle.

Send your completed toy down here for Blip, Susanne    I shall send a donation to Paws Inn for it and Blip will road test your handiwork  

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

Susanne try the first link  on the link Sam posted. That one has the Maggie Belize Knitting Pattern, and its plain garter stitch (all knit Gill, no other stitches needed) so should be quick. Looks very simple so clearly something for me 

Oh dear, Lexy has just dived ontop of the radiator so something tells me I'm in trouble. I have the back turned to me and am being ignored when I call her  going to be a long night.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

What i think will go down well is simular to the fishys that Alex did for us  and i do love the patterns on this site for the mice, balls and triangles.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/furbabies/links_catcrafts.html

Am I being thick not being able to see an actual pattern on there????? 

I've found some wool.  It's pink(ish) though so Jaffa may refuse to play with it on principle.

[Tan]

Hey maybe we could extend to cat jumpers for the cold weather - Susanne our Purrumpers could be known world wide hun and Jaff & Mos will be rich 

Na only joking hun thanks very much, that woud be fantasic for anyone to do a toy. We could do something  like a small fundraiser - 50p entry to vote on their fav made toy to win it. 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

We could have a "name the shape" competition 

 

I'll have you know I'm a very good knitter!  or used to be    When my nephews were small, I used to knit them all sorts of jumpers with fancy pictures on them 

[Christine (Blip)]

We could have a "name the shape" competition 

I shall go first    With amateur knitters.... BLOB 

[Tan]

Brill thanks -- Lol now we all must see what ya come up with on theis thread. We could have a "name the shape" competition 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

If I can find some wool lying around, I'll have a go at that pattern and let Jaffa and Mosi be the judge of how good they are!  I have some pretty potent catnip too. 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Ummmmmm what is garter stitch 

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

I'll have a gander at Sam's link, if its plain garter stitch I think I might be able to, but will give it a try and see if the time it takes and the quality meet the Paws Inn standard. Have to say Lexy got a selection from T last April and the spider is the only one that got obliterated    Good quality toys, that's for sure.

[blackcat]

There are two reasons why older people may be reluctant. One is arthritis in the hands makes fiddly knitting a problem (all knitting, to be frank) and also, the smaller items generally involve a fair bit of shaping, so that requires good eyesight (or at least daylight ). I speak from personal experience ... 

[Tan]

Thanks hunnies 

I went on a local hunt for  a golden oldie cat lover and also popped an ad in my corner shop for knitters but even in our little town which is meant to be a retirement town, i can't find any lovely ladies that love to knit and wouls like to help cat too?  Maybe i got the ad wrong as the title said

CAT LOVER / KNITTER wanted   Maybe they thought i meant Knutter? 

I used to knit a long time ago with my gran but from the amount of mistakes i made, the toys would fall apart at the 1st paw!! 

What i think will go down well is simular to the fishys that Alex did for us  and i do love the patterns on this site for the mice, balls and triangles.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/furbabies/links_catcrafts.html

Like to have at least 4 diff types of catnip filled toys like fish, mice, balls etc and anything thats unusal  basically will consider anything lol  and will be please to cover costs etc and buy them in per toy or per batch.
I can get in the yeooow catnip to use in them from USA which is the best in the world -100% Organic)  but maybe would have to see if it's ok with Yeoww to use it in our own toys 1st?
Looks like Alex used a thin material to wrap the catnip in and used string to bind then placed in the toy. And used a white stuffing for the rest of the toy. 
Yeooow only uses the catnip to stuff their toys so not sure if we can get away with not having any other stuffing?




T hun  I knew you knew a lady who makes toys for you but i would never want to take away time from your toy maker and stop funds coming to you. 
Only if she has the time to make extra for us  and i would buy them per toy or set made    What does she make hun? 
For the volume needed, it would depend on how they sell but if the fishys and bones are anything to go buy, it was very well.  Prob about 10-15 of each toy a month to start with but could increase that number if sales went well.

My boys really miss their fishy and do seems to prefer knitted texture.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

There are some "easy" patters on this thread.  I say easy but I'm a non-knitter so I really wouldn't have a clue as to whether they are easy or not! http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,13010.0.html

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I think I might have some wool somewhere and I know I have knitting needles (probably the wrong size ) so if I can find a pattern I might have a go and see what it comes out like   

[Harna]

Years ago, my grandmother spent some time in a care home. (Don't get me started   ) Anyway, there were a couple of old dears there who would knit dishcloths for the local charity shop. They said that it kept them from 'fading away.' (makes me sad just to think about it.) My point is that there are loads of the retired generation out there who, if we harnessed their 'power' could knit for England!

I can knit but with big holes - not so good for catnip  

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

trouble is its more than just knitting, its the stuffing and good quality cat nip too

[Ellie]

I knit too but have never attempted the toys 

If anyone has the pattern and instuctions I'd give it a go. I have spare wool etc.

Doubt if they would be up to Paws Inn standards though 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I can knit.  But I wouldnt know where to start with knitting cat toys!  I have also not dared to attempt such a thing since I've had Mosi.... 

[Teresa Pawcats]

How many catnip toys do you need a month Tan? I may know someone who will help.