Cat Walk

In late March 2026, I was invited to offer some knitting for sale in conjunction with the Fernwood Cat Walk on May 30, 2026. The Fernwood neighbourhood of Victoria BC is renowned for its cats. The bases of many utility poles are painted with cats. Many residents have cats. It’s a cat haven.

Was the Cat Walk right for me? I like knitting mittens and hats. The weather at the end of May is summery. It’s not the time of year that people are thinking of bundling up. Clearly, thinking was required.

I had a few reversible cats in my closet — the cat turns inside out into a house. Too cute for words. A good start.

I had a few birds on the shelf. And I tested how long it would take to knit a simple ball toy. All doable. I accepted the offer.

I started making a bowl of fish before inviting a cat loving friend over for advice. She didn’t think the knitted cat toys would be popular. There are a wide variety of toys that cats like, and I wasn’t addressing the sensory experience.

I put on my thinking cap, and made some cat hats to stir the creative juices.

Most of us are familiar with the cat stare — the one they direct when food has been withheld, when you haven’t been home enough, when you’re failing to understand what is required at that particular moment or anything really. Fortunately, there is a very clever cat-stare pattern available for knitters. It’s a bold look, and I’m confident someone will want it, even at the end of May.

In 2025, when I took a cruise along the coast of Norway and over to Svalbard, I bought yarn to make bags. I knit a bag shape, then fulled the wool through heat, soap and agitation. Bags are always in season, so I made a few felted bags.

What else is always in season? Dish cloths. They’re an easy hostess gift, and you can never have too many. I selected my favourite Canadian yarn for this purpose, Lily Sugar N Cream, and knit up a couple of dozen. At three for $25, I should be able to sell some.

At this point, it’s the beginning of May, and I don’t think I’ve got enough cat-themed knitting to fill a table. Time to return to my pattern library. I know there are cats in there. Sure enough, the Parlour Cat by Sarah Elizabeth Kellner was sitting there waiting for attention. The real journey began.

She was quickly joined by The Window Cat, also designed by Sarah Elizabeth Kellner.

This Parlour Cat is where I wanted to start my journey. I remembered using the wool for another project many years ago. However, I saw the grey and black yarn first, so the first kittens were knit in grey and black.

I had fun taking the cats to a local park for photo shoots.

Then, when I told myself I was done, I made one last cat out of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn.

The yarn is thicker, so the cat is bigger. She watches over the kittens.

These knitted cat items will be available for sale at the Fernwood Cat Walk from 1 to 4 pm at the Fernwood Community and Arts Association, 1923 Fernwood Road, across from the Belfry Theatre. Cats, hats and bags are CAD$75; reversible cats are $50; dish clothes are three for $25; balls, fish and birds are $15 each or two for $25.

All items are made from wool or wool blends, except the dish cloths (100% cotton) with non-toxic dyes.

Please contact me through the contact page if you’d like something after the Cat Walk.