Any crochet experts around? I used to crochet, but am long out of practice!
I was actually hoping for another OT Day so I could ask for advice on crocheting a guy-sized afghan, but after rechecking my budget and skill level, I think I would do much better to start off with something smaller – like some kitty toys.
Do any of you crochet toys for your critters? I want something safe, and cute, not only to amuse the kitteh but the guy as well … 
P.S. And easy.
[QUOTE=RPM;7087463]
Any crochet experts around? I used to crochet, but am long out of practice!
I was actually hoping for another OT Day so I could ask for advice on crocheting a guy-sized afghan, but after rechecking my budget and skill level, I think I would do much better to start off with something smaller – like some kitty toys.
Do any of you crochet toys for your critters? I want something safe, and cute, not only to amuse the kitteh but the guy as well … 
P.S. And easy.[/QUOTE]
Granny squares…you can start slow and small than work yourself up to an afghan…
That are those little critters called? I am sure you can wing little mice etc…or dolls…
I would ahve suggested to stuff some cat nip in them… but that was before the junky moved in…after she is done slobbering over the catnip toy, it’s positively nasty…so just polyfill for my stuff. but then again, I don’t spoil my kitties much in that way…almost all toys I ever bought got me a week ‘meh’ (not even meow mind you!). The biggest entertainment will probably be untangling the kitty from your yard, lest you incorporate some unsightly lumps into your work…
(Ravelry and google…)
I crochet cat toys for my critters. I’ve made mice, fish, birds, octopi, spiders, etc. I put some pelleted catnip into them along with stuffing and they are a big hit among my cats. Check out this site for some free patterns for cat and dog items.
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/pet_items.php
At DE SPCA where I volunteer they have a few crocheted cat toys that look like the green one in the top left of the pic. The cats enjoy playing with them… I’ve thought that ideally they should be longer to give a little more room between your fingers and cat claws (and of course these are cats that aren’t mine 
although I want my fingers far away from my Handsome cat- he’s a monster!) http://voices.yahoo.com/cat-toys-crochet-11965651.html?cat=53
I don’t care what you crochet, just be sure to put drugs in it.
I speak on behalf of Da Kats.
[QUOTE=mvp;7087704]
I don’t care what you crochet, just be sure to put drugs in it.
I speak on behalf of Da Kats.[/QUOTE]
are we talking Xanax or Catnip?
[QUOTE=M.K.Smith;7087703]
At DE SPCA where I volunteer they have a few crocheted cat toys that look like the green one in the top left of the pic. The cats enjoy playing with them… I’ve thought that ideally they should be longer to give a little more room between your fingers and cat claws (and of course these are cats that aren’t mine although I want my fingers far away from my Handsome cat- he’s a monster!) http://voices.yahoo.com/cat-toys-crochet-11965651.html?cat=53[/QUOTE]
Hey, those are thingamajiggers! 
Alagirl–
I hope mvp’s talking catnip! I know I am!
Don’t really want to get the thread off on a non-menagerie-related theme, but since the afghan would be shared by the kitty, slept under by the kitty, etc., maybe it’s OK to ask – are there any sort of masculine-looking granny square patterns around? All the ones I saw online this weekend were sort of floral, or gave an overall lacy effect when joined together. I know I can “guy it up” with choice of colors, but …
I would much rather do some sort of squares than tackle a whole ripple or other type of afghan–much easier to correct mistakes on individual squares than halfway through a whole afghan!
Meanwhile, mice and balls and fish sound good …
[QUOTE=RPM;7088507]
Alagirl–
I hope mvp’s talking catnip! I know I am!
Don’t really want to get the thread off on a non-menagerie-related theme, but since the afghan would be shared by the kitty, slept under by the kitty, etc., maybe it’s OK to ask – are there any sort of masculine-looking granny square patterns around? All the ones I saw online this weekend were sort of floral, or gave an overall lacy effect when joined together. I know I can “guy it up” with choice of colors, but …
I would much rather do some sort of squares than tackle a whole ripple or other type of afghan–much easier to correct mistakes on individual squares than halfway through a whole afghan!
Meanwhile, mice and balls and fish sound good …[/QUOTE]
well, some times I want to give my catnip junky a xanax…if only to keep stuff from flying off shelves and tables…after all, my floor is ALWAYS on fire! :lol:
http://talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=101222
I know, I know… bird forum…
this lady went through the trouble putting a tutorial together.
The squares are really basic, the color is the design element.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n66/Granfire/004_zps48f8ab2c.jpg
You can always keep going, making the whole afghan one huge granny square.
A friend brought me a crochet hook and a skein of yarn, and so far I have made two cat toys from a pattern I found online! I also checked out several crochet books from the library.
I crocheted one toy for my kitties and the other for my friend’s kitty. My kitties thought the best toy was the one where the long snakey strand went moving across the air from the yarn ball to my hands, where the bright shiny thing went flashing in and out of the soft chewy thing. One of them spent the first session watching me so closely I thought she wanted to learn how to crochet; during the next session she got brave and attacked the toy! (and my hand )
Now to buy another skein of yarn and start on some more toys. When I get to where I can follow a football game without missing any stitches, I will figure I am back up to speed! (Gotta watch the game with one eye, my work with the other, and get my friend to keep one eye on the kitties to keep them from attacking the toys!).
I like crochet, I just can’t read a pattern for the life of me!! Thank god for YouTube and how-to videos or I’d be totally lost.
Masculine afghan ideas: if your guy is a video gamer, take a look at some of the 8 bit video game afghans featuring Mario, Tetris, Megaman, etc.
Now knitting…knitting’s easy. My kitties get new wontons whenever I have scraps that are too small for anything else laying about. I have this pattern in my stack-o-stuff too.
ETA: Just for funsies and to torture the felines, I just may have to make a couple sets of these. :lol:
If you want real kitty fun. find a pattern for a draft doggie - a long snake with floppy ears and a dog face that is intended to stop drafts under doors. The draft doggie has substance and will stand years of abuse and is simple to make - all single crochet and you stuff it with deceased pantyhose so there is no scattered fluff when they finally breach the sides of the toy.
Both of these sound like great ideas–the wonton and eggroll toys and the draft doggie (back in the decade when I first learned to crochet we called those “draft dodgers”! ;)). I never knew those could be crocheted, though. I will try one for my kitties. Also love M.K.Smith and Alagirl’s “thingamajiggers”. The squiggly ones look like the middle “springy” bit on the toys I made.
I must buy some more yarn!
RPM – if you have an AC Moore near by and a Facebook account, I seriously suggest “liking” their page. You can get 50% off coupons on top of their 30% yarn sales. Nothing like getting 80% off already cheap skeins of Red Heart for making stuff like this!
Thanks, VaqueroToro! I will go “like” them right now
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
