Bored Panda has reached out to Patricia to learn more about her creative process and ideas for her next projects.
As an avid knitter and crocheter, Patricia has always loved designing new and unique items. She realized that she could combine her love for animals with her passion for crafting by creating adorable hats for pets. When asked what inspires her the most, she answered: "I think my love of history, music, and reading play a big part. For instance, one of my first hats was Marie Antoinette because I was always fascinated by her. And my love of music, in particular opera, inspired Brunhilda."
Now, the question that always comes up is: who are the models for her hats? The truth is, real cats do not contribute to modeling for OonaPatternsETC. Instead, Patricia uses... felted cat dolls! She said: "That is why they are so well-behaved! I purchased them from an Etsy shop named Wool Art Toys which is located in Ukraine. They are named Emily and Charlotte, after the Bronte sisters. I plan to get a third one which will be named Anne, of course, after the third sister."
So far, Patricia has made a wide range of hat designs available, some of which are only sold as patterns due to the time and effort they require. Her personal favorites are the Brunhilda and the Aviator hat. Each piece takes a different amount of time to create. On average, a hat can take about an hour to complete, but some, like the Marie Antoinette one, can take up to three hours due to its complexity. When asked about custom orders and projects upon special request, she answered: "I do some custom work, but it depends on what the person wants. Some hats are just not possible to make."
Sometimes people wonder if OonaPatternsETC also offers other pet accessories, but Patricia explains she tried making cat bow ties, and it didn't work out as planned. As result, she donated hundreds of bow ties she made to a local cat rescue center. She said: "I like to think they will give one to each cat that is rescued." Asked about her future plans, she answered: "I would love to organize a calendar with cats wearing my hats each month, for which the proceeds could go to animal rescue organizations. I think that would be awesome." We hope Patricia’s calendars will someday be another addition to her shop on Etsy that will be as successful as all the patterns and hats.
