by Julie Falatko

Whenever I want to knit something that only takes an hour, or I want a use for some extra yarn bits, I make cat toys.

Cats love yarn, they love catnip, and they love clawing at knitted objects. My cats also love to eat, so I made them these food-related cat toys.

Make the Wonton if you want something extra-quick for a smallish cat. If you have a little more time, and 17-pound cats like I do, you will want to make the Eggroll, a much meatier toy.

models: Peatie [top], Theo [bottom] photo: Julie Falatko

Unfinished: 5 inch square.
Finished: 2.5 inch triangular wonton shape

MATERIALS

Plymouth Encore [75% acrylic, 25% wool; 200yd/m per 100g skein] ; color: 256 [cream]; 1 skein [or scrap yarn totaling 18 yards]

1 set US #5/3.75mm straight needles
cotton balls, yarn scraps, of fabric bits for stuffing
catnip
tapestry or yarn needle

24 sts/30 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

A note about gauge: For goodness sake, do not go out and buy yarn for these projects if you have any sort of stash. These are perfect projects for using up the yarn at the end of a skein. If you don't have worsted weight yarn like I used, don't fret. You can still follow the pattern, though you may end up with a slightly smaller or larger cat toy. The important thing is to make sure the gauge is much firmer than is normally required for the yarn you are using. If you knit these projects in the normal gauge for the yarn, your cat toys will be too loose and you will end up with catnip all over the floor. The yarn I used normally calls for US size #8 needles and a gauge of 20 sts = 4". As long as you are knitting these projects in a tight gauge, go ahead and use whatever yarn you've got.

Fold your square diagonally to form a triangle.
Sew the seam up one side of the triangle.
Pour a little bit of catnip into the triangle, then put some of your stuffing on top, and add more catnip.
Being careful not to dump catnip into your lap, sew the other side of the triangle closed.
Pull the far corners of the triangle together to form wonton shape. Hold the corners together while you sew them together, working your needle on the "inside" of the corners so your stitching won't be visible.

Give to happy cat.

Unfinished: 10 inches wide x 8 inches tall.
Finished: 5.5 inches x 1.5 inches

Reynolds Utopia [100% acrylic; 240yd per 100g skein] ; color: 278 [lime green]; 1 skeins [or scrap yarn totaling 50 yards]

1 set US #5/3.75mm straight needles
notions required
cotton balls, yarn scraps, of fabric bits for stuffing
catnip
tapestry or yarn needle

24 sts/30 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
See note about gauge above.

Place knitted piece WS up.
Fold in "tabs" along long edge.
Sew seam along bottom to secure pouch for stuffing and catnip.
Stuff pouch with stuffing and catnip.
Being careful not to spill the catnip, start at the catnip end and roll eggroll very tightly.
Continuing to hold rolled eggroll, sew short seam of flap to "body" of eggroll [I used blanket stitch] to secure.

Offer to a cat who needs an appetizer.

Julie lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

She taught herself to knit two years ago, and while her skill has progressed, she has somehow managed to knit more slowly with every project. She blames her newfound discovery of ripping out mistakes and the fact that she has perhaps one too many hobbies.

You can watch as her works in progress seem to languish for months at http://worldofjulie.com.

Photo: Jim Daniels

Pattern & images © 2003 Julie Falatko. Contact Julie.