Cats in Hats 30 Knit and Crochet Patterns for Your Kitty

I don’t believe in luck. That said, I do seem to have an unusual talent when it comes to finding four-leaf clovers. It’s a little spooky sometimes! I can be walking outside, glance down, and they practically jump out at me. Once, I found twelve of them in under ten minutes!

I decided to test my so-called luck once. Around my birthday last year, my husband and in-laws took me on a little overnight trip to the Pearl River Resort, my very first time visiting a casino. Funny confession: I’ve lived in Alabama my whole life (minus a couple of years away) and never even realized we had a casino!

Now, before I go any further, let’s clear a few things up:

1. I am not a gambler - never even been or sat at a slot machine. 

2. I’ve been called cheap more times than I can count, but I prefer the word thrifty. 😉

Anyway, off we went....the Southerner in me can’t resist a good story! I walked in thinking, “Maybe I’ll get lucky and win a little extra money.” I was even handed a hundred dollars to spend by my in-laws.

Well… let’s just say that didn’t go quite as planned. I’d win $20 here, $30 there, and then feed it right back into that shiny, evil robot of a machine. By the end of the night, I’d learned a valuable lesson: next time, I’ll skip the slots and buy something fun instead. Live and learn! Which brings me to my new money pit... yarn. I am a sucker for a deal on some yarn. I look at thrift stores, yard sales, clearance bins, you name it. If someone has yarn to give away, I am right there with my hands up, waving, pick me, pick me! 

As for my thrifty ways, I am always looking to score at thrift stores and yard sales.. (Score = an awesome good deal for pennies) Yes, most of it is worsted weight and Red Heart, with all of its itchiness, but I wash and dry mine to make it softer. 

Now this is the kind of luck I like, thrifting luck! I scored a whole lot of yarn for just $14 the other day at a local thrift store. (And when I say “score,” I mean an awesome deal for pennies.)

Sure, some of it’s standard worsted weight and classic Red Heart, a little scratchy at first, but I’ve perfected a trick for softening it up. I toss the skeins into a pair of pantyhose (I prefer knee-highs, two for 97¢ at Walmart!), tie a knot at the end, then wash and dry them as usual. Out are softer, budget-friendly yarns that are perfect for crocheting. It’s truly a win-win!

I find yarn at thrift stores all the time, and a few of them have even started calling me the Yarn Lady. Honestly, I’ll take it; there are far worse titles to have.

 DIY Yarn Storage Crates

This right here is my pride and joy! Just look at all those beautiful colors. 

These cheerful storage bins started out as plain old milk crates I found at a local thrift store, only $1 each! I brought them home, gave them a good scrub, and painted them in fun, happy shades to brighten up my crafting space. Now they hold my ever-growing yarn collection, and honestly, they make me smile every single time I walk in the room.

It might look like I have a ton of yarn (and okay… maybe I do!), but a lot of it was gifted to me or thrifted over time. I also treat myself to one skein a week from Hobby Lobby using their 40% off coupon, a little creative tradition I plan on continuing!

If you look closely at the photo, you’ll notice my colorful yarn crates live in our Homeschool Room. It’s such a cozy space where creativity and learning happen side by side, books, projects, and skeins of yarn all sharing the same happy corner of our home.

I also found this cute rabbit at the thrift store. Along with yarn, I love to collect vintage fun things that you can not find anymore. The world has gotten so drab with its cheap decor and made things. They do not last like they used to. I would love to find some of the real vintage folk art decor, maybe I just need to make some things like that... I don't know. I love the hunt for them though at stores and yard sales, almost like a treasure hunt, with bonus points for finding yarn and crochet hooks!! I guess it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. lol - like that pun. lol

Handmade Hooks & Shop Update

Oh, and before I forget — these two polymer clay crochet hooks can be found in my Storenvy shop! Feel free to hop over and check them out if you’re looking to add a little handmade charm to your hook collection.

 

Little Treasures, Big Memories

This little owl cup was a gift from my hubby — he knows how much I adore owls. It originally came filled with Valentine’s candy (which was delicious, by the way). Once the sweets were gone, I gave it a new purpose. Now it sits right beside my chair, holding my crochet hooks. Every time I reach for one, that happy little owl makes me smile. What do you use to store your hooks? A mug? Or did you crochet a cute thing to hold them? I have seen some cute patterns online, but I am not sure if I am skilled enough to attempt to make one. Maybe one day... WHOOOOO knows..... lol 

Handmade Heritage

Now tell me, isn’t this doll so real-looking? My grandmother made it for me when I was a little girl. It’s a tiny baby boy doll, and she even painted it herself. She was such a talented woman, the kind of maker who could turn her hand to anything. I learned so much from her growing up, how to snap peas and beans, quilt, and can veggies from the garden.

She was feisty and full of life and a heart that loved big. I’m sure as this blog goes on, her name will come up again (probably more than once). I might even dig out some old photos to share; our family has stories!

The sweet little hat in the picture is a baby gift I made for an aunt's soon-to-be grandson. I wanted to make something special for her. It’s a simple crochet baby hat made with a magic circle, a flat circle base, and then rows worked down to the desired length. The Pom Pom, my very first one ever! It was made using my new Yarnology Pom Pom Maker I snagged on sale at Hobby Lobby last week. Love it!    

Granny BB’s Handwarmers

These cozy handwarmers were made for my other grandmother, Granny BB, who just turned 87 years young! She’s my mom’s mom and lives with my parents just down the road. I know, we’re truly blessed, my in-laws live next door, and my parents and grandmother are only about 15 minutes away. It’s a gift to raise my boys surrounded by family and stories from “the old days.”

Granny BB is always cold (she’s rarely seen without a sweater!), so I crocheted her these soft handwarmers using I Love This Yarn in Mulberry. They’re one of the easiest and quickest gifts to make, perfect for last-minute presents or cozy nights.

Here’s how I made them:
1️⃣ Chain enough to fit around four fingers and slip stitch to form a circle.
2️⃣ Double crochet around for two rows.
3️⃣ Decide where your thumb will go, DC to that point, chain to create the thumb hole, then continue around.
4️⃣ Decrease slightly as you reach the wrist, and finish with a couple rounds of half-double crochet for a neat edge.

  

A Mountain-Inspired Hook

And finally, isn’t he a cutie? This is my latest handmade crochet hook! I designed it with the Smoky Mountains in mind, yellow and black, because bees make honey, and bears eat honey. We’re definitely mountain people, not beach people. 

I lived on the beach for a couple of years after high school, and it just wasn’t for me; there was too much hustle and bustle. The mountains, though? Peaceful. Soul-soothing. Familiar. We usually take two or three trips a year and love staying in Wears Valley, our favorite quiet corner near the Smokies.

My mother-in-law, who lives next door, is originally from Austria, and the mountains remind her of home. That’s part of why they mean so much to us.

In the background of the photo, you can spot my Bible (that I absolutely love!) and my Vera Bradley Bible cover, both anniversary gifts from my hubby. We celebrated six years last year, and every time I pick up that Bible, I’m reminded of how blessed I am.