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ysabetwordsmithThese are the setting and content notes for "Connoisseurs of Comfort."
"Cats are connoisseurs of comfort."
-- James Herriot
The first floor of the retrofit garage has meeting and class space, along with a screened porch.
Upcycle an old sweater into a cat bed.
DIY Cat Bed Tutorials for Your Furry Feline
https://morningchores.com/diy-cat-bed/
https://www.themeowplace.com/10-crazy-awesome-diy-cat-beds/
https://wonderfuldiy.com/wonderful-diy-pet-bed-from-old-shirt-sweater/
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Cat-Bed-from-an-Old-Sweater
https://theyarncrew.com/19-free-crochet-cat-bed-patterns-you-can-easily-make/
https://www.diyhowto.org/crochet-cat-house-nest-bed-patterns/
https://finecraftguild.com/quilted-pet-bed/ (simple)
https://www.joejuneandmae.com/xyz/how-to-sew-the-prettiest-quilted-cat-bed
https://www.dogcatpin.com/cat-beds-to-make.html
Old laptops may be upcycled as cat beds. As long as the computer will still run and produce heat, it can be used for this purpose with little or no modification, even if it no longer supports programs. If it stops running at all, simply remove the original innards and replace with a heat element that produces the same temperature. You may wish to include a fan since some cats enjoy the white noise. If you want to get fancy and save energy, add a pressure sensor that turns the heat off when unoccupied and on when the cat sits down.
Most electronics are difficult or impossible to recycle, unless specially designed for that. Thus upcycling them is often more feasible.
Salvage Yarn
You can salvage yarn from old sweaters, abandoned projects, etc. However, it unravels into a kinky mess that must be washed and hung to straighten it out. This doesn't always work well enough, and knitting with with kinky yarn can distort projects. One solution is to use salvaged yarn for new projects that don't need precision, such as cat beds.
Wool has a strong tendency to felt, and many people dislike wearing felted wool. If the problem is not too bad, sometimes you can fix it, but serious felting tends to be permanent. A better solution is often to turn the felted wool item into something where felt is irrelevant or even helpful. With pet beds, thick solid felt holds its shape better and is less prone to snagging compared to freshly knit or crocheted items. If you are knitting or crocheting with salvaged wool, you can always felt the item after making it. Just remember to make it bigger than needed because felting causes shrinkage.
Old quilts can be upcycled in many ways. Cat beds are good for upcycling quilts that are very stained, tattered, or have fabric that is breaking down.
You can make your own stuffing from scraps of yarn, fabric or foam. A mix of different materials makes for moderate weight and prevents similar bits from packing down too much. Teasing it with fingers or carding with a comb will make it fluffier too.
"Cats are connoisseurs of comfort."
-- James Herriot
The first floor of the retrofit garage has meeting and class space, along with a screened porch.
Upcycle an old sweater into a cat bed.
DIY Cat Bed Tutorials for Your Furry Feline
https://morningchores.com/diy-cat-bed/
https://www.themeowplace.com/10-crazy-awesome-diy-cat-beds/
https://wonderfuldiy.com/wonderful-diy-pet-bed-from-old-shirt-sweater/
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Cat-Bed-from-an-Old-Sweater
https://theyarncrew.com/19-free-crochet-cat-bed-patterns-you-can-easily-make/
https://www.diyhowto.org/crochet-cat-house-nest-bed-patterns/
https://finecraftguild.com/quilted-pet-bed/ (simple)
https://www.joejuneandmae.com/xyz/how-to-sew-the-prettiest-quilted-cat-bed
https://www.dogcatpin.com/cat-beds-to-make.html
Old laptops may be upcycled as cat beds. As long as the computer will still run and produce heat, it can be used for this purpose with little or no modification, even if it no longer supports programs. If it stops running at all, simply remove the original innards and replace with a heat element that produces the same temperature. You may wish to include a fan since some cats enjoy the white noise. If you want to get fancy and save energy, add a pressure sensor that turns the heat off when unoccupied and on when the cat sits down.
Most electronics are difficult or impossible to recycle, unless specially designed for that. Thus upcycling them is often more feasible.
Salvage Yarn
You can salvage yarn from old sweaters, abandoned projects, etc. However, it unravels into a kinky mess that must be washed and hung to straighten it out. This doesn't always work well enough, and knitting with with kinky yarn can distort projects. One solution is to use salvaged yarn for new projects that don't need precision, such as cat beds.
Wool has a strong tendency to felt, and many people dislike wearing felted wool. If the problem is not too bad, sometimes you can fix it, but serious felting tends to be permanent. A better solution is often to turn the felted wool item into something where felt is irrelevant or even helpful. With pet beds, thick solid felt holds its shape better and is less prone to snagging compared to freshly knit or crocheted items. If you are knitting or crocheting with salvaged wool, you can always felt the item after making it. Just remember to make it bigger than needed because felting causes shrinkage.
Old quilts can be upcycled in many ways. Cat beds are good for upcycling quilts that are very stained, tattered, or have fabric that is breaking down.
You can make your own stuffing from scraps of yarn, fabric or foam. A mix of different materials makes for moderate weight and prevents similar bits from packing down too much. Teasing it with fingers or carding with a comb will make it fluffier too.
