Did anyone check out the article on yarn-bombing on our Facebook page? I have an idea! Art on the Avenue is on June 21 this summer and I would like to yarn-bomb one or both of the benches outside the shop for the occasion. I was thinking of swatches and cutting up old sweaters but then I was inspired by the incredible folks who yarn-bombed one of the bridges in Pittsburgh with blankets that will be donated to various charities when the art (really, it is art!) is taken down. You can see the amazing You-tube video of the installation here.
Anyway, I too would like to have something useful once the “Yarn-Bomb the Benches” campaign is over, and since it has been a while since our last cat-hug drive I’m hoping you’ll help me by knitting cat hugs – you remember cat hugs! – which we can loosely baste together to make slipcovers for the benches, then disassemble and donate to the Humane Society when we’re done. The hugs are little mats, knitted or crocheted, that are sent home with adopted cats, and are occasionally used at the Society’s facility when they have an injured cat or a little batch of kittens like
Bixby
Buckaroo
and Boulder
Aren’t they are the cutest? (Don’t tell Jack and Purl I said that)! You can find out more about them here.
So, have they charmed you into joining this project?
Here’s how you make a basic hug:
You’ll need about 110 yd of a super bulky yarn such as Encore Mega OR if you want to use up odds and ends, you can use double strands of bulky yarn, triple strands of worsted, quadruple of DK, quintuple of sport, or sextuple of fingering!
Knit Version: With size 11 needles, cast on 30 stitches and knit 88 rows. Bind off loosely.
Crochet Version: With size N hook, chain 27. Turn, and beginning in second ch from hook, *single-crochet in every ch (or sc after the first row), end ch1, turn. (26 sc) Repeat from * for 48 rows. Finish off.
You can weave in ends or leave them out. The kitties will probably love them hanging out. Be as basic or creative as you like! Would you like to remember a former member of your household? Cross-stitch his or her name or initial on the hug once it’s made. I will be doing a nice big G to remember Geordie on one of mine.
I’ve started organizing some odds and ends:
Purple for the passionate cat:
Black and gray for the sophisticated cat-about-town:
Browns and greens for the outdoorsy type:
Don’t worry about whether the yarn is washable. If the hugs felt a bit when washed, even better!!
I’m kind of excited about the whole thing and if you all will help out with a cat hug or several, I think we’ll cover the benches and maybe even more!
I’ll keep you posted!
