Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the tea on my latest crafting adventure: a little something for my favorite niece. Seriously, this kid is the absolute best. I wanted to make something special, something she could actually use, not just another dust-collecting knick-knack.
So, I started by brainstorming. What does she like? What does she need? She’s super into animals, especially cats, and she’s always losing her hair ties. Ding ding ding! We have a winner! I decided to make her a hair tie holder shaped like a cat. Purr-fect, right?
First things first, I needed a plan. I’m not exactly Michelangelo here, so I kept it simple. I grabbed some felt – pink for the body, white for the face, and some scraps of black for the details. I sketched out a basic cat shape on a piece of paper, nothing fancy, just a simple outline. Then I cut out the felt pieces using my sketch as a guide. It was a bit wonky, but hey, handmade is supposed to be charming, right?
Next came the sewing. Now, I’m no expert with a needle and thread, but I can manage a basic stitch. I sewed the white face onto the pink body, then added some black felt for the eyes, nose, and whiskers. I even gave her a little embroidered mouth. It looked a little cross-eyed, but I decided to roll with it. Adds character, I told myself.
Here’s where the practical part came in. I sewed a small loop of elastic onto the back of the cat. This is where she can slide her hair ties. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s functional! And cute! Double win!
To give it a little extra oomph, I decided to add some batting to stuff the cat and make her feel a bit more plush. Honestly, the stuffing made her look a little…chubby. But again, I embraced the imperfections. Who needs a supermodel cat hair tie holder anyway?
Finally, I added a little keyring at the top so she could clip it onto her backpack. And there you have it! A slightly lopsided, undeniably chubby, but totally adorable cat hair tie holder for my favorite niece. I even added a few hair ties for her to start with.
- Grabbed felt (pink, white, black)
- Sketched a basic cat shape.
- Cut out the felt pieces.
- Sewed the face onto the body.
- Added eyes, nose, whiskers (a bit cross-eyed).
- Sewed on an elastic loop for hair ties.
- Stuffed with batting (maybe too much).
- Added a keyring clip.
I can’t wait to see her reaction! I’m pretty sure she’ll love it, even with all its flaws. And hey, if not, at least I had fun making it. Plus, now I have a better idea of how to make one that’s actually symmetrical next time! Maybe. We’ll see. Crafting is all about the journey, right? And maybe a little bit about bribing your favorite niece with handmade goodies.
Update: She LOVED it! Wore it on her backpack the very next day. My heart is full!
