In 2009, Thomas launched her Etsy shop, Scooter Knits, with disparate handmade items, including one hand-knit kitty hat, which quickly sold.
She’s been crocheting tiny hats for feline companions ever since. In 2012, her biggest hat-selling year, that was 300 kitty chapeaus (the holiday hats sell best). Thomas sometimes crocheted until 4 a.m. to fill the orders.
Hannah Milman, editorial director of crafts at Martha Stewart Living, isn’t surprised. “People love their pets — it’s ‘the new baby.’ So it’s no wonder people want to create personalized, wearable gifts for their pets,” Milman says. “A large part of it is also social media. … Who doesn’t love seeing cats or dogs on Instagram in cute homemade outfits or accessories?”
At least one of the patterns in the book — the Happy Birthday Cat Hat pattern — is free at Thomas’ blog.