I used a yarn I had in the closet with a variegated pattern of bright colors. I didn't use a pattern or anything, I just made it up as I went along. It turned out quite nicely. I even made an attached strap.
Why did I create a colorful purse? While going through old laundry that hadn't been unpacked yet, I came across my skirts. I love my skirts. They're bright colors, elastic wastes, thin fabric, flowy and comfortable. The one problem? No pockets. I carry my phone, cash, and medication in my pockets all the time. I needed a way to carry small incidentals with me while wearing the skirts. These colors at least somewhat match most of my skirts. I imagine this purse will be getting a lot of use this summer!
Below you can see it from the back with the pretty vivid pink and lack of green. The strap is long enough to go over one shoulder so the purse sits at my opposite hip (cross body style).
I did start on #5's bag. He wants one big enough to carry around several of his toys, so his is a lot bigger than mine. I only have the very bottom portion done so far, but it's clear we will need to go buy more yarn for his project!
At least twice a day (usually several more), I take the time to sit with Floki and her kittens and make sure that little Basil is getting attached to a teat and nursing. Even if this means literally holding him so he doesn't tip over and let go, or keeping the girls away as they tend to climb all over and try to steal his nursing spot. Yesterday I was suspicious of his nursing. While Rosemary beside him was nursing with the familiar "tick tick tick" ear movements that anyone who's bottle fed a kitten will immediately recall... Basil made sucking motions with his mouth, tongue in the proper position, firmly attached to the teat, but his throat wasn't moving, his ears never moved. I don't think he's actually swallowing anything. Nothing comes out his nose, and I looked in his mouth. There doesn't seem to be any cleft palate issues going on. I know he's got a bad leg and a short tail, but I have to wonder if something else isn't right with him internally. While his sisters are putting on a layer of fat and starting to look more healthy and rounded, Basil remains thin, to the point of concern.
Unfortunately, our vet has told us before that there's really nothing that can be done for such tiny kittens. Medicine and interventions tend to fail, they're too small for successful surgery, and often times they succumb to the stress of attempting any kind of treatment anyway. This means that we are largely responsible for offering home care as best we can until they are at least six weeks old. I don't think Basil is much longer for this world. It would surprise me very much if he was still with us by Monday morning. He has already started to separate himself from his sisters. I find him in the corner of the box. He lays down and doesn't move around much. His cry is weak and small. But today as I held him in my hands and gently petted his tiny head, he purred. I do believe this is a record. I have never had a kitten this young ever find their purr. It was a beautiful, special moment.
I took a two minute video of the three together in the box while Floki was off at the food dish. You can see how much Basil struggles to get back upright when he is tipped over. He is so weak, and it breaks my heart, but I don't know what else to do for him. I have moved the kittens to a box near the heat register to assure that even if Basil wanders from his sisters, he will stay at least somewhat warm.
Floki continues to diligently care for all three, only leaving them long enough to get a drink, or eat food, or use the litter box.