DIY Catnip Toys from Fabric Scraps

Making a few DIY catnip toys for our kitties has been on my to-do list for a while now. But, of course, I wanted there to be an upcycling element to them- especially with the closing of Joann Fabrics looming overhead. So, I headed to two different Creative Reuse Centers to gather some fabric scraps for this project.

This is the perfect easy sewing project for fabric scraps, after all. These require very little fabric to create.

Anyway, I first went to my local one here in Charlotte, NC, and they had plenty of scrap fabric options.

But I was also able to squeeze in a trip to another craft thrift store, too- located in Greenville, SC.

Honestly, I didn’t really care too much about the fabric graphics. Mostly, I just wanted to nab a few scraps of lightweight cotton fabric, which work the best for handmade cat toys (natural fibers that allow the scent of catnip to come through, etc.). But, as it so happened, I was still able to accumulate some interesting and pretty prints, nonetheless.

And while yes, these secondhand fabric scraps do meet my upcycling requirement, I had one more trick up my sleeve. Ready to see what else I recycled to make these DIY catnip toys?

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Making the DIY Catnip Toys

Now, anyone who has kitties and buys or makes their toys know that catnip isn’t the only element to a well-loved toy. Crinkle cat toys are always a favorite, so I wanted my handmade versions to have that element, too. So, in the weeks leading up to making this project, I set aside a few different bags from various snacks and treats. As well as some organic catnip that I purchased from a favorite eco-farm.

I had plastic bags from wrapped chocolates (don’t judge) as well as a foil bag from some chips (which I’d need to thoroughly clean beforehand). These bags, which I’d typically throw out, would add the crinkle factor to the cat toys I was making!

But first, I still needed to start with the scrap fabric to create them. I decided that 4″ squares would work ideally for the toys and used a 4″ cork tile as my sizing template.

Because we have four cats, I cut out four sets of square pairs for the toys. And one of them was mismatched due to the size of the fabric scraps that I had. Thankfully, kitties neither notice nor care about “flaws” like that!

Next, I ironed the fabric squares and pinned each pair together– right sides facing each other.

Then, it was time to dig out my sewing machine to stitch along three sides of each pinned pair of fabric squares.

Every time I pull out my sewing machine and can successfully thread it, I feel a burst of pride. Especially if it’s been a few months in between sewing projects!

Turning DIY Cat Toys into Crinkle Cat Toys

Once I’d stitched along three sides of the fabric square sets, I trimmed the thread tails and corners just outside the stitching. This will make turning them right side out a little easier and look smoother.

Next, I turned them right side out and pushed out the corners as much as I could. Then, I cut out a square from a plastic bag that was smaller than the toy to slip inside the empty pouch.

After putting a piece of clean “snack bag trash” inside each fabric pouch, I then added plenty of catnip leaves, a couple of pinches of fiber fill, and even more catnip.

Last but not least, I folded over the open ends so that the raw edges were inside the DIY catnip toys. Then, I pinned them shut so that I could stitch them closed.

Just to be on the safe side, I stitched them closed with two lines of stitches (basically back and forth). And now it was the moment of truth- would our kitties even like them?

See Pixie’s paw? Maybe the kitties will actually enjoy these handmade toys…!

DIY Catnip Toys from Fabric Scraps

And, well, the verdict is in- at least as far as Pixie is concerned. She couldn’t get enough of these DIY catnip toys with their crinkly surprise.

Of course, she’s our most play-focused cat and has “zero chill” around anything she can play with. The other kitties were more reserved during their photo shoot. This is Pinto Bean, who was such a good boy and looked right at the camera…

Whereas Cottonball was feeling more contemplative about life in general…

Ruthie refused to sit still and isn’t much of a cat toy cat, anyway. But these three have since played with the toys on their own, so I’d definitely consider this project a success! And it’s such a great way to use up some scrap fabric AND food bags you’d otherwise toss in the trash. Think you’ll make any DIY catnip toys like these for your own kitties?

And for another fun upcycle project for your cats, this DIY Cat Cave is a fantastic way to repurpose twice!

Craft on!

S

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