I’m joining Kate of Tall Tales from Chiconia once again for her monthly scrap-happy blog post. The challenge is to use scraps from other projects to make something useful, beautiful or both. Several bloggers post once a month showcasing a project made entirely from scraps.
Lily and Petunia waiting for adoption while enjoying their cat beds. Photo credit: B. Solovei
This has been a two-part project. I wanted to make cat beds for an animal rescue group using scraps of fabric, old pillows and discarded clothing. I started last summer before the triple-digit heat set in. It was simply too hot to do anything but huddle together in the one room with our portable AC unit. I made three cat beds, and then put the entire project on hold till the weather cooled.
The first photograph below, shows all my scraps spread out on the floor along with some old bed pillows passed on to me by a client.
The grey sweater and aqua terry cloth robe belonged to my sister. They were ready for the scrap heap, but instead I repurposed them into cat beds as pictured above.
Cutting and repairing my sister’s grey sweater for one side of the pillow. Using a terry cloth pool coverup and part of my swing cover for a second pillow. Lindy loved having piles of scraps all over the floor
Tessa loved playing in the pile of scraps. She was still a kitten when I took these pics.
I stuffed the pillow on the left with fabric scraps and bit of batting. The scraps proved too heavy, so I made the rest of the cat beds using old pillows. The grey sweater made it into two pillows. Two old items of clothing are used on the reverse side of each pillow
Setting this project aside had an upside. Belinda, who volunteers for Nike animal rescue let me know that smaller, narrower pillows would be a better fit for the temporary cat enclosures.
The second batch of cat beds
My second batch of cat beds are smaller. Tessa hopped up on the bench while I took photos, lending perspective to their size.
Tessa likes to be where the action is
Tessa checking out the cat beds
Each of the cat beds has a little story.
Cat beds, side one
The floral fabric is left over from recovering my patio furniture a few years ago. I sewed two scraps together to make it large enough for the pillow. The second pillow is a remnant my friend Marcia used to wrap a Christmas gift a few years back. The third pillow uses part of one of the pillows I used to stuff the cat beds. I covered the last two with leftover leopard fabric from a Halloween costume I made a few years back.
Cat beds, side two
I backed each cat bed with additional scraps scavenged from my sister’s worn pool cover up, a client’s old, stained sweatshirt and my tattered purple workout jacket.
I still have two, king-sized pillows to use for future cat beds. I really enjoyed this “scrap-happy” project.
Nike Animal Rescue Foundation
Nike Animal Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to providing assistance to cats and dogs in need. All the cats and dogs available for adoption can be viewed here on the site. We hold adoption fairs in the South Bay several times a month where you can see all the pets in person. You can read more about their volunteer efforts here.
From Kate’s blog:
“ScrapHappy is open to anyone using up scraps of anything – no new materials. Anything made of scraps is eligible. If your scrap collection is out of control and you’d like to turn them into something beautiful instead of leaving them to collect dust in the cupboard, why not join us on the 15th of each month? You can email Kate at the address on her Contact Me page. New members are welcome. No long-term commitment required. Regular contributors will receive an email reminder three days before the event.”
Have you made something entirely out of scraps lately? Please share your link in the comments section, below.
Gardening Nirvana 
A perfect scrap happy project.
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Thank you, Cathy!
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Gorgeous, and not only using scraps but doing some good with them at the same time. Double bonus! Clearly your girls are dying to test them for you…
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My girls love to be in the middle of things, and I think they really enjoy the novelty of having things spread out on the floor. It felt good making these little cat beds, knowing they would go to a good home. Thanks for inspiring us, Kate.
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As you can imagine Alys – I think this is an excellent use of scraps. There will be some very comfy kitties in the refuge while they’re waiting for a new home thanks to you =^..^=
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Thank you, Lynn. I was pleased to learn from Belinda that the “gear” goes with the kitty, so when these cats are adopted, the bed will go with them.
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What a jolly good way of using up those bits that otherwise get tossed into the landfill or sit in cupboards forever! Of course I further like to think that you can make so many that every cat who gets adopted takes their own kitty cushion to the new home with them. Wouldn’t that be something! Kate’s scrap happy initiative makes for lots of interesting posts! As you know one of my current projects is the seaside stash-busting CAL. That crochet adventure began when the decision was taken to rid myself of a cupboard full of unused yarn. So, not quite scraps, but still putting some unloved yarn to good work.
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Pauline, it’s nice to think of future cat beds for kitties on the go. These beds will indeed go home with the kitty when adopted. As Sharon wears through her pool towels (she swims seven days a week) I can claim them to make more. I still have a few pillows to use for filling. I’ll have an excuse to pick up the odd bit of pretty flannel as well. I love fabric, but I don’t general buy it unless I have a specific project in mind.
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…I hit send too soon. Yes, lots of fun looking at all the scrap-happy projects, including yours. I think unused yard counts as scraps. I hope readers will pop over and see your post.
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I’m glad to hear the beds go to the new homes too – that is a reassuring presence for the kitties at snooze time. I’m sure all your friends and neighbours would be very happy to pass on their old pillows to you to use – such a good excuse to replace those flattened head rests 🙂
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Agreed, Pauline! What a great idea.
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What a wonderful idea. Love your quality control assistants.
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Thank you, Amanda! My assistants keep me smiling all day.
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How lucky are those cats going to be? What a wonderful project.
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Thank you, Karen. I had a lot of fun making them, and just loved seeing the two cats sleeping on a pair of them.
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This is great on every level! Such a great way to use fabrics that humans might turn up their noses at–but the kitties will love! My favorite photo is the one of Tessa’s little spiky kitten tail sticking up in the air–I wish kittens weren’t so cute . . .
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Thank you, Kerry! I really enjoyed making these little beds, and will look for ways to make more in the future. Any worn t-shirt or towel will make a nice little bed. And because they’re not over-stuffed, the old pillow stuffing goes a long way.
As for that little spiky kitten tail, I still giggle when I see that picture. She was so tiny. She continues to be such a joy.
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You have figured out ways to use scraps of all kinds to make things that are pretty and useful First the paper scraps and now the fabric scraps. That’s a lot of cat beds you have contributed. Too bad they are still necessary. I’m once again not getting notification from WP in my e-mail. BL did let me know you posted. I’m not sure what’s going on again Sigh. Hugs and love, M
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Marlene, one of the great benefits of sewing with old clothes is how soft they are. I like thinking of the kitties sleeping on their little beds as I make these. I’ll make another batch again as time permits.
There are still too many cats and not enough good homes. The shelters work hard to educate people on the importance of spay/neuter. I’m glad we have rescue groups working on their behalf. Belinda and her daughter make a real difference working with Nike. If I had a farm, I would love to have a sanctuary. Alas, we have a small lot and limited resources. We all do what we can do.
I’m sorry to hear WP is giving you troubles. I turned off email notifications entirely. I just head straight to Bloglovin and do all my reading there. Hugs back your way. xo
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I’m sure the old fabric is soft. I don’t remember what we made the beds out of now but I know we stuffed them with tiny scraps. Everyone saved every corner cut off of everything they made until they had bags full. The fire dept loaned us a huge classroom for a day and we made hundreds. You do good work with great heart, Alys. I found the problem I think and will continue to oversee. I often thought a farm full of animals would have been wonderful but like so many things, some dreams materialize and some don’t. I’m happy with those that did. Have a wonderfilled week ahead.
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Marlene, I think I may have missed the first part of your comment. Did you make cat beds at a local fire department once upon a time? If so, what a wonderful group project. Even the tinies scarps can be put to good use.
I’m glad you’re happy with the dreams in your life that did come true. I’ve always liked the lyric “You don’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need.”
Hugs. xo
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We made pet beds for dogs or cats for our local shelter. It was the first quilt group I had ever joined in Arizona.
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Ah! What a great way to make friends, too, four legged and two legged. xo
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Oh I do like combining scrappy projects with helping out a charity.
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You’ve done this many times, haven’t you, Jan. The quilts for causes are especially delightful, when many hands make quick work.
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Nice looking pillows, Alys! And you have a tester for them, which is perfect.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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What a great idea for using up scraps! I have loads of bits of material from old clothes, and really do intend to use them for something. .. one day! Great to think yours have gone to a good home! 🙂
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Cathy, perhaps you’ll join in one month for a Scrap Happy post. I would love to see some of your sewing creativity at work.
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How sweet are you Alys! I love seeing your little pillow in Lily and Petunia’s kennel. I need two more kitties, so I could name them the same. I’d have a who garden of cuddles, Petals, Petunia, Blossum and Lily 😀 Jim would surely kick us all out, LOL
I never knew you could cut a sweater without it unraveling. Did you have to shrink it or anything before cutting it?
I laughed at the photo of Tessa’s little tail sticking straight up in the air. What a lovely little goof-ball 😀 She’s the luckiest kitty in California to have wandered into your loving arms xo K
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