It’s snowing here at PetProject, so this seems like a good Friday Fun video for today. This is awesome video of Bailey the Dalmation bounding through the snow! Our dog Saffron apparently got her fill of cold & snow as a stray on the Yakima Reservation. She prefers snuggling on the couch.
DIY: Small Dog Sweater From A Sock
Eegads, how cute is this?! And inexpensive! Follow this quick & easy tutorial and you’ll have a sock sweater for your little dog in no time.
You’ll need: 1 sock, a pair of scissors, and a willing pup. You might want to hem the places where you cut, so it doesn’t unravel, but even that’s simple. (via CuteOverload)
Socks The Cat Terminally Ill
Sad news about Socks The Cat, who used to be the Clinton’s cat. At 19, Socks is terminally ill with cancer. He has been battling several illnesses not unusual for cats—thyroid and kidney problems.
Socks was adopted in 1991, when the Clintons were still in Arkansas and has lived with Betty Currie, Bill Clinton’s personal secretary, since 2001 when the Clintons left the White House. Socks has had a good life with Currie and is clearly much loved. He has even helped raise awarenes of the St. Mary’s County Animal Welfare League, his local animal rescue organization.
DIY: 2 Braided Tug Toy For Dogs
Today, I’ve got a super simple DIY dog toy for you and it’s thrifty too. Yea! Braided tug toys are pretty durable since there are no seams to rip and no stuffing to come out. These two versions are even washable.
Fleece:
The first braided toy uses fleece. If you’ve got pieces long enough, you can use scraps. Otherwise, the tutorial this tutorial calls for 3 1/4 yards of fleece. Check the remnants table at your fabric store and keep an eye out for sales. If you want a wider braid, try four strands. Just follow these instructions on four strand braids(scroll down).
Pant Legs:
The second braided toy uses pant legs from old pairs of pants. You’ll need two pairs of pants. I think a large binder clip might be handy for when you’re hand sewing each end. An alternate way to finish the ends, might be to tie them off with twine by wrapping the ends a several times and knotting the twine. Easy and cheap!
DIY: 2 Tutorials To Knit & Felt A Pet Bed
Here are two different tutorials for knitting a pet bed for a cat or small dog. I suppose if you know how to alter patterns, you could knit a big bed for a large dog too. I just love that people take the time to make these tutorials and are happy to share their patterns. Very generous!
The KittyPi bed is knitted and then felted. This makes a great, durable bed that’s shaped like a flat-bottomed bowl. The felting gives it some structure, but it’s still soft and comfy. Love it! Don’t miss the two page gallery of beds people have made—lots of inspiration. The pattern is from Wendy at WendyKnits and since she’s generously shared this pattern, I want to let you know she has written two books—Wendy Knits: My Never-Ending Adventures In Yarn and Socks From The Toe Up.
The Dotty Cat Bed pattern is another lovely knitted and felted pet bed. (via craftzine) It has a wonderful polka dot pattern and it too makes a flat-bottomed bowl when it’s felted. Those dots are a nice touch. You can see what the bed looks like before felting. This great pattern is from Kelly over at Kelp!Knits. You can see some of her gorgeous sock patterns too—Interlocking Leaves, Oak Leaf, & Hanging Vines.
You’ll need to use a natural fiber yarn to get it to felt. Here are a few tutorials on felting, in case you need them: this one covers both hand & machine felting, here is a printable one on machine felting, and another on hand felting.