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Saturday, September 28, 2013

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.

37 comments:

  1. Here, kitty, kitty.....bring me some candy! :) He's so darn cute!

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  2. Scrappy made me laugh out loud! Thank you for the instructions- he would add to anyone's Halloween decor!!

    Visiting from Say it Saturday!

    Happy Weekend,

    Love, Joy
    Yesterfood

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  3. Very cute! I love the way he is hugging his jar full of treats!
    Jenna

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  4. HI I'm stopping by from Say It Saturday. Your kitty IS too cute.

    Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow, - you are too funny.

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  5. Scrappy is so cute! I am surprised he isn't handing out cat treats to the 6 other felines? This must really be your favorite time of year! You are so darned creative!

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  6. He sure made me smile. Love the big lollipop. I think that would last a whole book's worth!

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  7. that crazy eyed cat made me smile J! i'd look like that too if someone were to take my candy! LOL cute as ever :)

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  8. Nice kitty - here kitty - gimme your candy and no one gets hurt. Hee Hee - what a clever project - really!

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  9. Scrappy is wonderful! I love him so much. If I pet him and play nicely, will he give me some candy corn too? Because you know how I feel about candy corn. :) I love black animals myself; our dog was all black and I thought he was so pretty and shiny. Black cats are really cool too.

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  10. Scrappy is a good looking dude, and I like anyone who dispenses candy corn. This is a great project, Joyce. :-)

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  11. so cute, new GFC follower
    hope you can visit my Inspire me Monday

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  12. LOL, Scrappy is so cute! And your cats all sound a lot like my cats. My daughter says we have Halloween cats the orange on is a pumpkin, our black and white one is a bat and the white one is a ghost! Sounds good to me! Thanks for sharing on We Made That Wednesday!

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  13. What a great project. I will need to do some shopping to get some of the needs but some I have. Have painted some cats on canvas for Halloween.

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  14. I love this. So cute!! I just made something similar that was filled with corn candy. thanks for showing how you made it. Linda

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  15. This is so adorable. Love it. I'd love to have you come share it at my Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
    Sew Crafty Angel

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  16. What a great kitty story. I to have full bellied rescues and I just love them. Scrappy on the other hand is so cute! Thank you for sharing on our Four Seasons Blog Hop

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  17. Adorable! Pinned:) I love candy corn and your kitty is sew cool!

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  18. Why is it I always spend at least a minute 'playing' with the little toy cat on your sidebar? *lol* Although Scrappy, the Candy Guard Cat is adorable.

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  19. Miss J, you know I love your blog and this little kitty just makes me love it even more. I'm the proud owner of not one but 2 black kitties and they are really something else...they go from sweet to terror in 60 seconds, lol...but yours is pure sweetness! Scrappy is the best! Thank you so much for sharing him at the Fluster Buster party. Pinned to my Spooky Beauties board. Much love, Lizy party co host

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  20. Adorable kitty! I like the orange button eyes and his little mouth and nose! So cute!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party

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  21. Cute project, found you at mells mansion!

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  22. That cat is adorable, and anything holding a jar of candy corn has my attention!

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  23. Your kitty is too cute! Love it. You did a fabulous job. Thank you so much for sharing with us at A Bouquet of Talent this week. You were featured at Pick of the Bunch today! :)

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Hugs
    Kathy

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  24. Soooo cute! I don't have any cats any more and this one will be very low maintenance. He'll just have to fight my grandaughter for the candy! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend.

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  25. This is beautiful! Btw just followed you on Bloglovin! Hope you
    return the follow!:0)

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  26. Cute! My kids would love this! ~Carla

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  27. That's o cute, when I was young I had a beautiful black cat she was just the most lovely thing I named her stormy because she was like a black storm cloud. Thanks for linking

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  28. This is super cute! I love cats :)

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  29. Thanks so much for sharing this on the Four Seasons Blog Hop last week. You are one of our features this week! Stop by and join us again.
    Easy Life Meal & Party Planning

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  30. This is so adorable! I am featuring you tomorrow with your project! I hope I get a chance to make one! Theresa @DearCreatives

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  31. Found you on the pin it party feature. I love this! It is absolutely adorable. Hoping to make this over the weekend with my kiddos. Thanks so much for sharing :).

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