Kitten Care Apron

[Sablehaven]

I foster a lot of kittens, lets start there. I haven't gone a single year without them in a long time. This was actually supposed to be a project for the near-ish future, but I have recently come into the care of two four week old kittens. A male calico and a black smoke tabby of all things. PS for people who understandably don't know this, but both of those are very rare and they were left in a box outside an inn. Putting aside my murderous rage for the sake of more relevant things:

One of the staples of raising kittens has always been my little kitten carrying satchel, I sewed my very first one when I was around thirteen, and I've made at least five more since because they didn't hold up or got lost. The point was to keep the kitten close and be able to move around without waking them, but the design had many flaws. It bounced the kitten, it hurt my neck, it wasn't big enough, etc.

So I'm upgrading. I did a massive amount of research and was absolutely stunned that I could find nothing that fit what I was pining for. Just an apron designed for carrying some kittens and the typical kitten supplies. I couldn't even find someone in a similar position as me, trying to design one for themselves. It just doesn't exist.

So, I'm designing one from scratch. Of course.

My primary goals are thus:

1. Soft, fluffy material, I picked something up just for it from a yard sale.
2. A stable center pocket, no bouncing, that is big enough for three five week old kittens, just to be safe, as well as their towel and stuffed animal.
3. Additional pockets for a bottle - fitted so it can't tip and spill - and a hand towel because kittens are messy things.
4. A comfortable design so it doesn't hurt my shoulders or neck with the additional weight.
5. Light enough that I won't be overheated by it.

Goals laid out as thus, I will be updating this with my progress and of course the final result, and I am welcome (and slightly desperate) for any advice, ideas or resources. For now, back to the google! I have patterns to find and impractical ruffles to pine after!

 

[N F C]

Sounds like an interesting project! I'll follow along to see what you come up with.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Would love to see your old design as well! And kitten pictures too.

 

[Sablehaven]

Ah, my old design was essentially a wide bag with a cloth covered card board bottom and a strap to hang it from my neck, nothing special.

I believe I have settled on a design based on norse aprons or overdresses with the sides laced together and extra wide shoulders.

I have been writing this while preparing their morning bottle, so the picture quality may reflect that: in the fact that I have tried five times now and it keeps crashing on me. I'll try for pictures again later

 

[black_cat]

This is so cool! I'm definitely interested to see what you come up with! Watching!

 

[FuzzyCritters]

This is really interesting! I will be doing fostering in the future, so this could be really handy. When you perfect the design, will you be selling these bags or posting the pattern anywhere so people can make their own?

And also WOW a male calico! And a black smoke tabby! Please post pics if you can!

 

[black_cat]

I am wondering if you might want to do a backpack design? I think that it would give you more space for kitten and additional pockets, as well as being much less stressful on your neck and shoulders. It would also probably bounce less, and give you more arm movement without a bag in the way.

You could probably give it a hard bottom, and put a little window of clear plastic in the front (like I drew on) to let light in. You could use side pockets for bottle and towel, and punch some holes in the top for air. This was using a pic of an existing backpack that could be modified by taking out the wall between the main and front pockets, putting in the window, and adding airholes, but you could also sew one. Just an idea

 

[Sablehaven]

This is really interesting! I will be doing fostering in the future, so this could be really handy. When you perfect the design, will you be selling these bags or posting the pattern anywhere so people can make their own?

And also WOW a male calico! And a black smoke tabby! Please post pics if you can!

I have no intentions in ever sewing to sell, to start with I'm doing this all by hand however, I do plan on posting instructions to the best of my ability!

I know, I could hardly believe it! Unfortunately, every time I try to upload pictures the mobile site crashes. I'm uploading them to my computer and I will post them from there.

 

[Sablehaven]

I am wondering if you might want to do a backpack design? I think that it would give you more space for kitten and additional pockets, as well as being much less stressful on your neck and shoulders. It would also probably bounce less, and give you more arm movement without a bag in the way.
View attachment 2379139
You could probably give it a hard bottom, and put a little window of clear plastic in the front (like I drew on) to let light in. You could use side pockets for bottle and towel, and punch some holes in the top for air. This was using a pic of an existing backpack that could be modified by taking out the wall between the main and front pockets, putting in the window, and adding airholes, but you could also sew one. Just an idea

A very reasonable suggestion Cat backpacks actually exist! Unfortunately, they don't serve the purposes I need. Mess containment for the inevitable milk spills or worse, canned foods spills, and a pocket where they can cuddle on the couch, without being disturbed if I need to check on dinner mostly

 

[Sablehaven]

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1D0fNEdMMWwK5bn9BGxwxrGnEDovwwTxZ - Kitten pictures!