No gratitude whatsoever

I felted the kitty bed for Simon and it actually turned out pretty well.

This was the best picture I could get of him before he leaped out and ignored it.  He loves to sit and look out that window, but during the time the bed was there, he avoided the window.  When I replaced it with a towel, he went back to laying up there all the time.  He seems to be more of a lay flat and stretch out kind of cat, so this has gone unused for the last few days.  Stupid cat.  No more knitting for him.

But, I did finally knit and felt something with somewhat successful results.  The only thing I'm not really happy with is that the sides aren't as stiff as I hoped.  They flop around.  Maybe they should have been knit in garter stitch rather than stockinette.  And I felted it for about an hour and half in two session, so it isn't that.  It can't felt anymore.

I used 3 balls of Reynolds Lopi, colorway #9980 and US 11/8.0 mm needles.  I liked the yarn, as it was cheap, but I didn't like how fuzzy it ended up.

So I used an older blade in my Venus razor and shaved it.  It made a big difference.

This was before I felted it the second time.  It got fuzzy again, although not as bad.  I just reshaved it.  Although I highly recommend shaving these things when they are dry and doing it outside.  It's pretty messy.

I don't know if I'll knit another one of these.  I may wait until Annie Modesitt's felted dog bed is published and try that.  Grumperina tells me it is flat, so he might like that. 

Comments

[grumperina]

Oh, Simon, why can't you sit still?

Good solution with shaving off the fuzz - I do it to my wool sweaters! Annie's bed is indeed flat with sides, like an open box. It is elementary to change both the size of the bottom, and the size/height of the sides!

[jess]

it looks really cute! my cat Claw likes the beds I make her -- about a week after I've made it, like she has to have me think she doesn't appreciate it, but then she will...

I always shave my fulled Lopi too -- hooray!

[Agnes]

I can feel that you really love the cat! But you know, pets are like kids (as if I know much ... hahaha ...) ... you can't really control them since they have their own characters and personality. Your bed is beautifully made ... maybe the next cat will like it. ;)

[yahaira]

I guess he likes to spread out and not feel confined, probably why he's always looking out that window.

I told you to leave it as a cat sack! Maybe there's a catknit magazine out there where you can get another pattern for Simon, maybe a cat mesh tank? I hear they are all the rage.

I wonder what the neighbors think seeing you shave a cat bed.

[paula]

Hmmm...cats are funny about their bed spots, aren't they?

I actually think he was responding to a nice, soft, fluffy mound. I say, knit it again and don't felt it. I mean, he obviously liked that and it's less work for you!

And BOY is he cute!

[andrea]

what a difference that razor made - i couldn't even tell it was striped in the before picture. i got one of those cheap electrical de-fuzzers at target to use on my felted things - it traps all the fuzz for you and it's extremely fun to use. ;)

gotta make one of those cats beds myself - actually two!

[Meg]

I think Simon is just trying to be NICE by avoiding sitting right on something that he's seen you working so hard on. He's probably never had a cat bed before.

[anna]

mine is totally ungrateful too. when i try and put him on his felted cat bed, he acts as though i'm trying to lower him into a bath full of cold water. stupid cats.

[Sockbug]

Hey, cats aren't supposed to show you that they like the stuff you do for them, right? Maybe he'd like a felted snake toy, instead? I bet you have some green yarn around there, LOLOL!
http://www.saartjeknits.nl/archives/2005/10/index.html#a000099

[joy]

Wow, what a big difference a little shave makes! Shame that Simon doesn't like the bed, but then you're only starting to know each other! My felted hat is sort of floppy too, except for the brim, which was knit double strand. Maybe you could try that next time, if there's a next time! ;)

[blossom]

but you know cats... he just doesn't want to show you his gratitude... i'm sure he is all over the bed when you are not around, telling his cat friends how good of a mommy you are.

love the felt bed, though!!! it looks great.

[caitlyn]

The felted kitty bed looks so great! I'm glad that felting worked out for you this time around. Maybe Simon will change his mind down the road!

[Stephanie]

Cats are tricky creatures - showing gratitude (or even that you like something) indicates that your aren't completely self-absorbed. Tough thing for those cats. I'll bet he sleeps in it all day while you're at work :-)

[Sara]

I just made two of these for my cats (great stashbusters). I haven't found the right combination of blocking form and finished size yet. The cats like them, but squish them flat, with edges pushed out, and the other ones folded in - not quite photogenic!

[Steph]

The bed turned out great! I'm sure that Simon will love it again at some point My cats used to be so fickle, one day they loved the sheepskin, the next day they didn't. One week it was all about towels, next week they couldn't care less. He's probably snuggling in it when you're not looking!

[Beth S.]

The bed will go over better if you put it someplace else, I suspect. He likes his windowsill just so, I'm guessing, and the bed intruded into his just-as-I-like-it space. But if you stick it somewhere else, he might show interest. You don't happen to have a fireplace or wood stove or anything like that, do you? Heck, you can stick it next to a radiator or a baseboard heater. Heat vent + soft cozy spot = happy kitty.

(Unless he figures out that you really want him to sit in it, in which case he will avoid it For. Ever.)

[anne]

It turned out nicely! I've thought about making one for my cats, but I suspect as with Simon, they wouldn't use it. Maybe a flattish one, though ...

[Di]

Gee- I wonder if waxing would be more effective? (snigger).
So sad when the recipient is ungrateful- especially because it looks so cool. perhaps you can use is as an artistic fruit bowl? or yarn basket?

[marichan]

I'm glad that the felting worked! But I'm sad that Simon doesn't like his bed. But I like the suggestion to use it as a yarn basket!

[Dr. Cynthia]

He's not a stupid cat! I mean, he was purrfectly happy at the windowsil and did not ask for a knitted cat bed, anyway, so we certainly can't admonish him for not sitting in it. He's beautiful and the bed is adorable. Try putting a little catnip in it : )

[diana]

Shaving that cat bed made a huge difference. Hopefully Simon will change his mind about the bed!

[Rose]

I think Simon will change his mind. I had one cat that ignored the bed for 2 months and then I came around the corner one day to find him curled up in it. After that it was his favorite spot.