How did the Knitted-Cat originate?
It started with Grandmother Marie who was inspired by a cat knitted like a human doll, it’s nose was knitted separately and then sewn on. Marie liked the nose idea but thought a feline shaped body would be nice.
In the early 1980s Marie had her first child Ingrid, and knitted her a cat. Her second child Sonja, also played extensively with knitted cats. Because Ingrid really liked her cat Marie made a few more and the people that received them also adored them.
Fast forward 25+ years and Ingrid now has her own children who also play with their Knitted-Cats.
These photos are family snaps. It was only recently we realised that many of our family snaps had Knitted-Cats in them. There must be something special about the Knitted-Cats and now we have made Knitted-Cats for the creation of your own timeless memories.
Click on the photos to make them larger.
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- Early 1980s, Ingrid with her cat.
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- The very first Knitted-Cat photographed in 2015. Now retired from active play and enjoying the more leisurely pursuits in life.
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- Early 1980s, Marie crafting a Knitted-Cat.
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- Early 1980s, Ingrid with some Knitted-Cats.
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- Ingrid’s children Robert (left) and Thomas (right).
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- In 2011, Ingrid and her son Thomas with a Knitted-Cat she made as a teenager.
Our favourite Knitted-Cat story
Marie asked her grandson Robert, who was 5 years old at the time, if he still played with his cat. “Yes,” he said in a serious matter-of-fact way “I use it as a drenching gun.” (A drenching gun is used to administer liquids to farm animals.)
It was such an unexpected answer we all had to smile.