Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat

by Kaori Tsutaya, Amy Hirschman (Translator)

Overview

Got fur balls?

Are your favorite sweaters covered with cat hair? Do you love to make quirky and one-of-a-kind crafting projects? If so, then it’s time to throw away your lint roller and curl up with your kitty! Crafting with Cat Hair shows readers how to transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. From kitty tote bags and finger puppets to fluffy cat toys, picture frames, and more, these projects are cat-friendly, eco-friendly, and require no special equipment or training. You can make most of these projects in under an hour—with a little help, of course, from your feline friends!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594745256
Publisher:	Quirk Publishing
Publication date:	10/11/2011
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	56,523
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Born in Tokyo, Kaori Tsutaya is a cat lover and freelance writer whose writings have been published in magazines and special-interest books. Many of her published works are based on the subject of cats and include articles, photography, and books on crafting.

Her blogs “The Laws of the Cat” (nekono-okite.cocolog-nifty.com) and “The Cat Hair Craft Room” (nekoke.com) are popular in Japan. 

Amy Hirschman is a translator, crafter, and pop-culture enthusiast living in California. She studied Japanese for four years at the University of Pittsburgh and has lived in Japan. Though she is not a cat owner, her friends will attest that she is the greatest cat sitter they have ever had. This is her first published translation.

Read an Excerpt

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
 
CAT-HAIR CRAFTS Q & A
Can I really make crafts with my own cat’s hair?
 
SUPPLIES: I have a cat. What else do I need to craft with cat hair?
 
PROJECT 1: Finger Puppets
This is the first step! You can make these finger puppets out of the hair you brush off your cat.
 
BRUSHING
It is recommended for your cat’s health.
 
PROJECT 2: Book Covers
Apply cute cats to homemade book covers.
 
CAT HAIR
The color and texture of your cat’s undercoat is different from its topcoat.
 
PROJECT 3: Portraits
Remember your pet forever.
 
FELT
What is the difference between sheep wool and cat hair?
 
PROJECT 4: Tote Bags
Carry your cat all around town.
 
ODOR
Cats do not naturally produce any bad smells, and neither does their hair.
 
PROJECT 5: Coin Purses
Save your pennies in a cute cat coin purse.
 
PESTS
Take care to prevent pesky bugs from latching onto your cat’s hair and your cat-hair crafts.
 
PROJECT 6: Knickknack Boxes
Recycle milk cartons and cat hair to make adorable knickknack containers.
 
ALLERGIES
These crafts are not recommended for people with cat allergies.
 
PROJECT 7: Pincushions
With an old sweater and some cat hair, you can make crafty cat pincushions.
 
SHEDDING
The amount of hair that comes off your cat varies with the seasons.
 
PROJECT 8: Badges
Show the world how much you love kitty crafts.
 
LONG-TERM BENEFITS
Cats are naturally eco-friendly—and so are cat-hair crafts.
 
PROJECT 9: Mittens and Gloves
Tuck your mitts inside cozy cat coverings.
 
CRAFT CARE
Advice on the proper handling of cat-hair crafts.
 
PROJECT 10: Hats and Scarves
Wrap your head and neck with warm kitty-inspired winterwear.
 
RESOURCES
Different cat brushes you can buy.
 
CONTRIBUTORS
Meet the cats who donated their hair for these projects.
 
AFTERWORD
Make something special with your cat.

Editorial Reviews

Yes, you read correctly: cat hair is the principal material involved in this craft. And no, no cats were harmed in the making of the book. Tsutaya is a cat fancier who’s come up with one of the more inventive techniques for recycling: use those clumps of fur you brush off your cat (or pick off your black clothing before heading to work in the morning). A bonus is it’s good for the cat. Tsutaya gives instructions for 10 projects, starting with easy finger puppets and going up to mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves to which cat-hair felt shapes are applied. Instructions for care of the craft items and the source of the material are included, as is a gallery of photos of the donors. Intensely cute; it will be lost on dog lovers. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

The year’s most unconventional crafting book.”—Associated Press

“Fun and creative.”—Cosmopolitan

“This dandy little guide shows how to turn stray clumps of cat hair into soft and adorable handicrafts.”—Tucson Citizen

"There's no other word for this book except: purrfect." —Los Angeles Times

“One of the most unexpectedly popular, weirdly specific books I ever had the pleasure to shelve.” –Jenn Northington, Book Riot

“Intensely cute…”—Publishers Weekly

“An extremely helpful guide.”—Buzzfeed

“Quirky and the projects are super easy.”—OregonLive.com

“It caught our attention.”—The Huffington Post

“You may think kitties are only good for getting hair all over your favorite chair and eating more kibble than you thought possible but Crafting with Cat Hair will show you how to turn cat hair into mittens, tote bags, book covers and more.”—CraftFoxes.com
 
“Personal projects that celebrate your cat and they look as cute as can be!”—Neatorama

“Put those furballs to work for YOU!”—Suvudu

“It’s bizarre, to be sure, but the appliques are kind of cute, too. This is a good one for your cat-loving crafty friends (and you know you have them).”—Austin American Statesman

From the Publisher

Japanese cat lover Tsutaya was astonished at the amount of hair her cats shed during their daily brushing, so she decided to make felt out of cat hair, then turn the felt into cute, cat-themed crafts. If hair balls come to mind, think again—most of the projects are quite subtle and feature cat-shaped cat-hair appliqués on household items and accessories. The pieces are simple enough that supervised children could make them, and the directions are clear. Tsutaya also includes fun facts about cats and plenty of cute pictures. These crafts aren't for everyone, but cat lovers will have a lot of fun with this book.

Library Journal