Crocheted Kitty Toy

Gallimaufry - Slapdash

by Marie Lundgren

Marie Lundgren.

I don't know about you, but I love watching cats play with their toys. They're so funny! This is a toy that has proven to be very popular among the cats I know. As a bonus, it's really easy to make and costs nearly nothing. The crochet hook I recommend is a bit smaller than what you would normally use with worsted weight yarn, but it keeps the stitches tight so that they stand up better to the wear and tear of normal play.

Supplies

  • small amount of worsted weight yarn
  • size E crochet hook
  • yarn needle
  • glass marble
  • small amount of fiber fill
  • one 3/8" wooden dowel
  • acrylic paint (optional)

For spiral:
leave a long tail
chain 100
row 1: 2sc in 2nd loop from hook and in next 49 loops
cut yarn and weave in end (do not weave in the starting tail)

For ball (make 2):
chain 2
row 1: 6sc in 2nd loop from hook, join to 1st sc, ch 1
row 2: 2 sc in each stitch around, join to 1st sc, ch 1 (12 sc's)
row 3: 2 sc in 1st st, sc in next st, *2sc in next st, sc in next st, repeat from *, join to 1st sc, ch 1 (18sc's)
row 4: sc in each st around (18sc's)
cut yarn and finish off end

Wrap the marble with a bit of fiber fill stuffing and fit it inside one half of the ball. Place the second half over the top and with the yarn needle sew the two halves together. Stitch the ball to the end of the spiral.

Paint your wooden dowel and let it dry. If you prefer not to paint it, that's okay too. Wrap the long yarn tail at the top of the spiral around one end of the dowel a few times and knot it. Use the yarn needle to weave the end in a bit then snip off the excess. Now, get yourself a kitty and have some fun!

The balls are great alone stuffed with catnip instead of the marble as well. It gives kitty something to bat around on the floor. Another fun tease toy is to have several spirals (minus the balls) hanging from the dowel instead of just one.