Free sewing project: Felted Cat Toys

Felted Cat Toys

Materials Needed:

Felted wool sweaters
Poly fiberfill
Catnip
Jingle bells
Scrap pieces of assorted trim (optional)

Felting the Sweaters:

Wash wool sweaters in hot water and a tablespoon of laundry detergent. Machine dry on high heat. Repeat 2 or 3 times, until you reach the desired shrinkage. The more times the sweaters are run through this process, the thicker and tighter the wool will become, which is what will prevent raveling.

Basic Cat Toy Instructions:

Step 1. Cut two circles of sweater fabric, each measuring 3” in diameter. You can use a large mug or Easy Circle Cut by EZ Quilting template.
Step 2. If desired, sew various trims onto the RIGHT side of each circle, folding the ends of the trim over to the WRONG side of the circle to clean-finish them.
Step 3. With WRONG sides together, pin circles together, matching the cut edges. Stitch the circles together, stitching 1/4 ” from the cut edge and leaving a 1” opening for stuffing.
Step 4. Stuff with catnip, jingle bells and fiberfill. Machine-stitch the opening closed.
Sunburst Cat Toy Variation:
Step 1. Using the template pictured below, cut two sunburst shapes of sweater fabric, in addition to two circles, each measuring 3” in diameter.
Step 2. With the RIGHT side of the fabric facing you, center one circle over one sunburst, so that the WRONG side of the circle faces the RIGHT side of the sunburst. Pin in place. Repeat with other circle and sunburst shape.
Step 3. With WRONG sides facing each other, pin sunbursts together, matching the cut edges. Stitch together by stitching 1/4” from the cut edges of the circles, stitching through all thicknesses and leaving a 1” opening for stuffing.
Step 4. Stuff with catnip, jingle bells and fiberfill. Machine-stitch the opening closed.
Step 5. Tie a small bow from the ribbon and glue or hand tack to the bottom of the cat face neck, as shown. Stitch a jingle bell to the center of the bow.