Any ideas for flexible rods?

[Spirit Deer]

I've been on the hunt for a while for something flexible yet fairly sturdy to make one of these cat tents:



The pattern calls for basket weave spline, two four foot sections. I can only find it in six-foot sections, meaning I'd have to buy two and waste a third of it. Too expensive and then there's the wastefulness of it all.

I've been trying to figure out what I could use instead. It has to be something that, when removed from the tent, would straighten itself out because if there is no tension, the tent isn't going to stand up. Needless to say, it also has to be cheap.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Russ]

Have you looked on Amazon for tent pole replacements?

[frugalfranny]

No really great ideas.........but have you looked at any "cording".......some of it is pretty firm. Some could work for the fish mouth........

Also, thin bamboo sticks will bend pretty good.......was thinking of the teepee in the pic..........

Other than that........... change the pattern!!!

Years ago, I made something like a groc. bag but with fabric, and a plastic groc sack sew on the inside.........cats love them.

Similar to this.........(and look what she is CHARGING!!)

Kozy Kitty Cat Sack

[Spirit Deer]

Thanks, Russ. I'll have to check that. Maybe I could even Freecycle something like that. I was thinking flexible fishing rods might work, but tent poles would be better.

FF, I think I remember you talking about the kitty sacks. Great idea! Thanks for the linky. The teepee is the pattern I'm looking for the spline replacement for. $18 plus shipping doesn't sound like that bad a price for the kitty sacks, considering the materials she has in them plus the time. I wouldn't charge much less, if any. I wouldn't pay that because I have the skills to DIY them, but if I didn't sew I wouldn't consider that price terrible. But flannel? Holy moley, with our five cats and two huskies, the outside of that thing would be covered in pet hair constantly!

I'm planning to make the cat cabin above using some of that padding people use under their sleeping bags for camping. I have some that's not doing anything for me. Our cats like to play under an old laundry basket I cut holes out of for them, but it's pretty tacky so the little house should look nicer. I hope they won't confuse it with their litter boxes.

[frugalfranny]

Have you looked on Amazon for tent pole replacements?

Oh........and this made me think of something else............

Have you checked the TS for fishing poles?............those things are made to bend!!! Perfect stuff if you could find the right diameter!

Yeah........agree with the kitty sack thing.........about time and price........but when I DIY I am always amazed at $........... unless of course, I am the one selling!!! (I do the same with quilts, clothes, and other crafts........) And yes, I have had other crafters do it to me at craft shows!!

[nuisance26]

~I see hula hoops in the dollar store every once in a while. That might work. That fish one is so cute!~

[craftypam]

Would pvc pipe be flexible enough?

[frugalwarrior2]

you'll love this tubing from the brewing store. It is like .49 a ft. It is clear and thick,cheap and flexible. It is bigger around though. his is the tubing you transfer brewing from 1 bottle to another so air doesn't ruin the brew.

[Spirit Deer]

Pam, I thought about that, but I'm not sure a three or four foot piece would flex enough without breaking.

Frugalwarrior, will the tubing straighten itself when released? The rods have to create tension to hold the shape of the tent.

No Tractor Supply around here, but I could check L&M Supply when we get there (fifty miles). There might be some old fishing poles up in the garage, too. Or there's Freecycle, too.

I know what you mean about the cost if you're buying vs. selling stuff you've made. It was always a balancing act for me when I had my canvas shop, but I refused to work for less than minimum wage. Consequently, I don't sell stuff like beadwork. No way to compete on equal footing with China, hobbyists, and tax cheaters.

[monkeywrangler71]

I don't think regular tent poles would be flexible enough for something that small. That's a pretty sharp bend at the top, I think it would be way too much tension, if you could even get it to bend that far in the first place.

At times like this, I take a stroll through the Home Depot and look for options and ideas. There might be a nice thin, snappy length of wire/wood/metal out there that is used in the construction of who-knows-what that would be perfect.

[Spirit Deer]

I'm sure I'll come up with something eventually. Or else our kitties will have to be happy with the other two beds from that pattern and/or the gazillion beds they already have.

[mombottoo]

We have a tent that uses the flexible rod, they have silver tubing every 2 feet. The tent rods from a pup tent or one of those play things for kids might work well. Would very small dowel work? It's pretty bendable, just not sure if it would come in 4 foot lengths.

[WV_mom_of2]

You might try printing out the picture and taking it to a home store (Lowes,etc.) and to craft stores like Michaels and see what they might come up with.

[Brat]

1/2 in PVC pipe will work..It comes in 10 Ft sections..

[RaineyDaye]

I'm sure I'll come up with something eventually. Or else our kitties will have to be happy with the other two beds from that pattern and/or the gazillion beds they already have.

I'm making the fish bed from that pattern this month! I hope my cats use it. I have a tent like that (purchased at a pet store a long time ago, and the poles are some kind of flexible plastic. Over time the poles have poked through the webbing meant to hold them and the tent collapses without warning sometimes. My skittish felines don't care for that)