String Theory

[rolanni]

So, when Trooper first came to us, he was a Twizler Champeen.  He would play with some of the other toys we have in our sparse(!) collection of Feline Entertainment Items, notably the Floofy Ball, and Turtle.  He would also do some serious kickhat with the springs, but we couldn't interest him in the old braided leather cord that had been a favorite with. . .several generations of Cat Farm Cats.

When Sprite arrived, she fell upon the leather cord with high-pitched squeaks of Coon Cat Gladness and dragged it around with her everywhere, insisting, whenever she found an idle person of the Thumbs persuasion (which, in this house, is often) that we Make The String Work.  Such was her enthusiasm that she won Trooper over to String Play.

Well, upon inspection earlier in the week, it was revealed that the old leather cord really was old, and brittle and just plain worn out, so I remembered to stop at Tractor Supply to take on rawhide boot laces, in order to make a new cord.

In order to braid the strings together, I tied a knot in one end, and closed it into the top drawer of the file cabinet, then I stepped back, keeping tension on the cords, and began to braid.

Trooper was in his box.  He kind of glanced at me, decided I was Being Funny Like I Did, and went back to sleep.  Sprite, of course, came to sit on my feet and bat at the dangling ends.

. . .at least, she did until the braid was about half-done, when she looked up -- and saw what I was doing.  She squeaked, went over to the box and woke Trooper up.  He still didn't Get It -- and then he did, and jumped out of the box to sit and watch the progress of the braid.

When the last knot was tied, I couldn't get it out of the file cabinet fast enough; Sprite wanted it NOW; it was hers; I had made it for her, and by Bast, she wanted it.

The old leather cord went the way of such things, and here's Trooper and Sprite and the new string:

String Theory.
Trooper and Sprite and the Leather Cord.
Photo by Sharon Lee

Comments

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Squeak! Squeak! The Thumbs are making something for MEEEEEEEEE! :)

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

I have a long braid made of colored fleece that my girls like but I may have to get some rawhide laces and make them a braid like that.

String Theory - Instructions?

[aska-kettlingur.livejournal.com]

Kitt Bull wants one. Since she's never seen the original, she'd like some info before she sends 'The Keeper of the Thumbs' to the store. How long should the laces start out as? Would different colors pose a risk of ingesting dyes or impart an unpleasant flavor while chewing on the string? Do you soak the laces to make them pliable before weaving them? Do you weave them tightly or loosely? Sounds like enough questions for a separate craft blog. Thanks, Pat

Re: String Theory - Instructions?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

In order to make one braided cord, you need (at least) two sets of 72-inch leather shoelaces. I braid three laces together fairly tightly, which makes for a nice thick cord that they can still grab onto and drag around. Eventually, the knots at the ends will slip a little and the braid will open up.

I try to avoid dyed leather, just because; and because I'm buying shoelaces, they don't need to be soaked. If you use real rawhide leather cord, I'm thinking you'd need to soak it first.

Re: String Theory - Instructions?

[aska-kettlingur.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I suspected that the color would be bad for the kitty. I just happen to like color, but I imagine she wouldn't care. Do you suppose if you soaked the knots and then let them dry they would tighten up and stay longer? It works in the old movies when they are trying to torture someone and soak the leather bonds they tied them up with. (I thought about re-writing that last sentence to get rid of the trailing prepositions, and decided to go split an infinitive instead.)

Re: String Theory - Instructions?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Can't hurt to try. I've never actually had the knots UNknot, but it's an easy enough fix, if they do, and I'm lazy, so I never went past the knot-braid-knot.

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Clever of the Princess to figure out what you were doing -- and kind of her to tell Pop!
Plus, they sound *really cute*!

[the wol (from livejournal.com)]

Find some rope or cording made from cotton or some other cat friendly material. Knot the ends of the rope to prevent it from raveling. The rope should be long enough that when one end is tied around your waist, about two or three feet of the long end will drag on the floor. When you have a day when you are going about the house doing housekeeping chores, tie the rope on, push the not around to your back, and trail the rope behind you. Hilarity will ensue.

String

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Braided shoelaces actually. Happiness for cats. Happiness for the author?