Did you hear all that swearing...

Oh okay so thats what I heard coming from the general area of Fortworth Texas! This sounds exactly like something my cats would do. From tearing up the couch to the little toilet paper fiasco I posted about it seems there si always stuff going on with cats and it is usually not good. I do not believe I have ever made anything crafty to fox my cats out of messing something up but have put lemon juice on the surface among other things! They always seem to find some other way to get around it... sometimes I just have to surrender.

There have been times in the past when I did have to do something without a pattern....or make my own. I know how hard it is to sew somethings on a sewing maching..plastic is one of them so good for you!

I just do it as best as I can. Sometimes it works and other times it does not. I know about those darned cats and certain types of rubber and plastic.

I know u are not going to like my response but i'm sort of like u & say what i think. I believe i could break those darn cats from some of their bad habits.

I have not used a sewing machine since Jr. High. I hated it, and the machines seemed to hate me. I ALWAYS had trouble with the bobbin. Just thinking about it I would break out into a sweat. I can't do anything without a pattern. I am not creative enough, and need step by step instructions.

My Lolly was the best behaved. I say 'was' because he disappeared which I bet is worse than what you guys are going through - atleast they are still with you. He lived with us for almost 3 years and gave us the best time ever. He reappeared the other day after almost 3 years but my dog has refused to let him in. My heart goes out to him and I am helpless. I was happy however that he has found a female companion. Here is the image.

I'm normally not terribly creative but you just gave me what I hope is a great idea. The seat on my exercise bike is REALLY uncomfortable so I think I will cover it in several layers of bubble wrap and just tape the stuff on with duct tape. It might work.

LOL, very creative Elic but at times when we have our 4 legged critters we must be. Oh yes I have had to be creative on many occasions.

There's always duct tape...

Sounds just like our two german shepherds out back! They had gotten to my brand new ATV and ate the seat! Hubby had to put a fence at the opening of the storage area to keep them out. We just got my seat fixed and it looks almost like new again but much better looking that what it did look when the dogs got it.

I've had to make covers for things before and it certainly can be frustrating! Especially when the bobbin runs out in the middle of the project! I'm no good with patterns, anyway, I swear the things I make without patterns look better than those I make with one!

I don't sew much, but I do deal with bored, creative, curious and destructive cats a lot!

Sometimes I have, & when I must, it's by guess & by golly. I've made several dresses that I designed, & for which I had to make a pattern--though I have no real idea how professionals do that. I had pretty good luck with them, but no-one will ever accuse me of being a seamstress! Something else I made once, never having seen a pro-made one, was a light box. It's used for several things, such as tracing, & viewing slides. The pro ones haven't got translucent glass, but solid white glass which gently diffuses the light. All I had was a wooden fruit box, a 100 watt light bulb attached to a plug-in cord, & a sheet of clear glass, so I had to remember not to let the light shine up into my eyes & dazzle me! It did the trick, though! A girl I knew years ago once said I was a very resourceful person. Maybe she was correct. I have had to make up a lot of items, either because I couldn't afford the store-bought ones, or because I saw a need for a thing, & had to create it! I think I inherited this trait from my maternal granddad, who was very creative, & who was always coming up with little gadgets for this or that task, as well as cobbling together fun toys for me. My favorite--& I wish I knew what became of it!--was a little kid-sized butter churn that really worked. My grandmother would sit in a rocker on our front porch in the fresh air & rock, allowing the motion to operate the churn. I had a tiny rocker just like hers, & I would do the same with my little churn! Maggiepie "If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?" ~ Source unknown

I make many things without patterns, I guess its because my mom brought me up that way. Some times though I mess, up then have to redo it, then if I mess up again, I will normally take a break for a few days then go back to it. As for the cats, luckily mine doesn't do to bad with things like that, however he loves to play with my balls of yarn. I woke up one morning and found 4 balls of yarn that he had been playing with. The problem was it took me all day long getting the yarn all picked up and untangled, that was a pain in the A$$.

Lol now I know what that noise was I have to admit when something does not go my way and it all goes wrong after that I also use not very nice Language I do hope that you got it all safe now from those little Beggars lol

well i am a paper artist and just go along with what i have in my head. glad your seat cover worked out for you.

i usually either work it out,or take apart an older one to make a pattern. either works well.bobbins..rrrr..sometimes they really piss me off. the machine i have doesn't seem to like synthetic thread at all.

I made two mouse costumes once without a pattern - well, mostly. I used footie pajama patterns and then created the head coverings (complete with ears) and front "paws" without a pattern. Oh, and a tail that stayed up because it was attached to the back of the neck of the costume. They turned out fantastic. I've never done anything like it since, except for recovering some seat cushions on wood chairs.

I started sewing by making doll dresses without patterns. The first one that I remember, I made the bodice too large. When the dress was finished, it had some unintended decorative tucks in the bodice. You mentioned sewing with clear plastic. Have you tried sewing with clear nylon thread? I usually have no problem with this, but earlier this week, my sewing machine decided to malfunction. I would have to re-thread it every few inches. I finally decided that the tension was off. I must have had to re-thread 10 times before I got it right. Remember that because of the MS, my right hand shakes uncontrollably. I'd finally get the needle threaded with my left hand, but when I'd try to move my hand to grasp the thread end, I'd pull it out of the eye. What brilliant man decided that a sewing machine needle should be threaded front to back instead of the old way, left to right?

I thought I heard some profanity whispering around in the trees when I was outside trying to see that super moon..lol...I can't make anything from a pattern much less without one. I have many talents but sewing isn't one of them..lol.