During our last fundraiser, Mary, a longtime friend of the IBKC, offered up a challenge. For every $25 we gave, she promised to stitch a super-soft fleece kitty bed to donate to our shelter. Well, when the challenge was over, Mary got busy and started making seventy, yes, SEVENTY fleece cat beds.
Last week we met up at the shelter so she could deliver her beds to the kitties.
We stopped in the foster room first to drop off a stack of beds. Remember that cutie pie Jackson, who came to the Internet Cat Video Fest? Well, lucky for us, he was there to greet us! Here is having a "Prince and the Pea" moment.
He's such a sweet little fellow, and loved all the attention he got from Mary.
Ruth, who's the foster care coordinator, was very happy to receive the kitty bed donation. The kittens and mama cats love the beds, and because they're getting geared up for kitten season, they certainly do need them!
Next, we met up with Sarah, who works in the cattery. She was so thrilled to receive a big stack of beds for the big cats. They've been running low on them, so the timing was perfect!
Thank you, Mary, for being generous with your time and creating so many of these wonderful beds for the shelter cats and kittens! I know a lot of heart, effort, and hours went into the creation of these -- we appreciate this huge gift you gave!! Thank you to all you donated during Mary's challenge, too!
And thank you to Sophie, Mary's lovely Calico, for posing so beautifully for these photographs. I'm sure your kitty heart was broken when your mama packed up all your beds and took them away! I understand she still has a little fleece left over. Maybe she can make you one to call your own!
How sweet and how generous of her. And they are such colorful kitty beds, too!
ReplyDeleteSophie is lovely! Any chance Mary could share the directions for making these beds?
ReplyDeleteI love all the pretty fabrics! They look like really comfy little kitty beds. Great job Mary!
ReplyDeleteYes, please. Share the directions for making them! What are they stuffed with? If anything...
ReplyDeleteThis is what Mary used initially, but I believe she modified it a tad. http://www.pitterpatsofbabycats.com/2011/04/finally-as-requested.html
DeleteLaurie is correct, those are the basic instructions I used. I did tweak the size a little to maximize the amount of beds I could get per yard. I cut them 18x20 so I could get 3 out of a yard of fleece if the top and bottom were the same, or 6 single pieces if they were going to be matched to other fleece. I watched for the fleece to be on sale and bought it in 1/2 yard pieces. That way I only had to cut it into 20” lengths :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is a layer of polyester batting inside, also cut 18x20 so that it would catch when I did the topstitching. I don’t remember the brand but Joann’s sells it on a roll for $4.99/yd. A great time to use your 50% off coupon!
This size worked for TPCHS but definitely check with your local shelter.
I don't remember the brand either (I work at the Shoreline store), but I'm assuming it's the fluffy stuff? That only comes in one brand (it's also 40% off right now).
DeleteIf people are looking to make them, check out the remnants section, too. My store doesn't have a whole lot in fleece, but the pieces can be anywhere from 6 inches (rare) up to a yard and a half, for half off the CURRENT price (so if it's on sale, it's half off the sale price).
Hancock's in Kirkland is going out of business and may have some good prices on the fabrics, etc., that you need to make these.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know. Sad to hear they are closing but will check it out. That cute print Jackson is sitting on came from the Lynnwood store closing but they only had one yard and I was hoping for more!
DeleteSophie's a beauty! Seventy beds is extremely generous, Mary. Bless you for blessing the cats with such comfort.
ReplyDeleteMary, you rock! I am glad we got to meet your kitty QA inspector!
ReplyDeleteI love how wonderfully colorful these beds are - they will help make the kitty cubbies extra nice.
How incredibly nice! And I can personally vouch for the fact that cats ADORE fleece. I have a new fleece hoodie and my cats have never wanted to cuddle with me, I mean the fleece, more. They'll make bisquits on it til they're in "ohm" land, all blissed out. Fleece is where it's at.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Mary!
Thank you, Mary & Sophie!
ReplyDelete