Ask and ye shall receive...a stuffed cat

So over the weekend I found some cat fabric at Walmart. My child is OBSESSED with cats. The first thing he wanted was a sleep mask.            ( what??... a sleep mask...what 5 year old wants a sleep mask) 

So... I made a sleep mask. Why? Because I am Mom, watch me sew. 

Next he wanted a cat toy.  Ok.. considering I haven't been working with fabric to long I was not sure. What do we do when we are unsure??? We turn to Pinterest,  duh! 

I found a pattern for a cat, doll, toy, thing. Seemed easy enough. Again, I am mom...watch me sew..

STEP 1:  print your pattern. 

problem 1: no printer. 

I sat down with a crayon and construction paper and drew the best uneven pattern anyone has ever seen!! ( it's not horrible...just not measured AT ALL)

So, Pattern made. Fabric cut. Sweet!! 

STEP 2: pin it all on place

problem 2: how the holy hellfire am I going to attach all this so i can stuff it.....

I came up with the brilliant plan to pin it all down and sew all around the edge so it was all together. Go me! 

This worked awesome except when I turned it right side out I could stick my finger through its arm pit..

I then went back in and had to sew the arm pits and ear pits in place

 ......blindly. cause I was NOT flipping that darn thing back inside out ...

Now let me pause here to state my sewing machine is at my mom's.  So I did ALL of this by hand. With an embroidery needle and thick thread... 

*note the purple arm pit and ear pit sewing.

STEP 3: create the face. 

problem 3: this is me. Free handing a cat's face with a needle and the same type thread I would use to cross stitch...

I gave him button eyes. ( no way was I embroidering on eyes that would give my child nightmares). I figured, how hard can his nose and whiskers be. You'd think not so bad... Hahahaha I love you guys and your faith in me.

(Side note I am well aware that his eyes are 2 different sizes. At this point I had a theme going. )

STEP 4: sew, stuff and attach tail.

problem 4: sew, stuff and attach tail

Never in my life has a tail been attached but look like it could fall off at any moment. I stabbed myself. Got blood on it. I had to stop, unstuff, and wash the blood off the tail. Jesus, take the tail... my next cat may not have one. 

This picture is pre blood offering. 

STEP 5: STUFF THE CAT.

problem 5: I left his 2 bottom legs and crotch open cause " I'm so smart I will make this easier to sew". 

Stuff ears - CHECK.

Stuff arms- CHECK

Stuff body- CHECK

Stuff legs-.....crap

Now I had to push the stuffing down so I could sew up his leg. Reposition the stuffing and sew his other leg. Stuff extra up his ... well stuff extra. Push that down. Pinch it shut and sew it closed. Then shake the dang thing all around so the fluff would shift back down. 

I started this "easy" project at about 430PM.

6 FREAKING HOURS LATER!!  I finished the cat. His legs are 2 different shapes. His arms are different sizes. His ears are wacky. His tail has a blood stain and I think he is fantastic.  

Zak named him Jasper cat. #worthit

This picture will also let you see his sleep mask. 

What did my child say to me??? Oh thanks Mom. Now you can make me cat gloves.

I am mom, see me sew...

(Anybody ever made cat gloves???)