So I’m sitting here with my very first ever sock monkey. I’ve been wanting to make one for a while, and even found a few sets of instructions online, but never really got around to it(Instructions 1, Instructions 2, Instrtuctions 3).

We call my son “monkey boy” as he climbs on and jumps over everything, and he has a love of monkeys. The sock monkey will be going to him shortly, if I can part with it. I’ll be making one for his cousin and his sister, too. They are in Florida visiting the grandparents right now. I think maybe they’ll like a monkey package from home :^)

I have hundreds of unmatched socks in a bag that I’ve finally admitted will probably never be matched. The goal was to use these socks to make them, but as I was rummaging around the Salvation Army the other day, I found 2 pair of the red-heeled socks they are normally made with for only 49 cents each(still in the plastic with tags and everything-yay me!) I couldn’t pass it up, and was finally motivated enough to make my first sock monkey.

Of course, it helps that the Spring quarter is over for school 8 classes (24 credit hours) was a bit much, but it looks like I still made the Dean’s list. Another yay for me! So this week is the break before summer quarter starts, the kids are gone, and aside from some housework I really don’t have a lot planned except for a few sewing and crocheting projects. Oh, and one knitting project, but as it is a gift I’m working on for someone in September, I won’t be blogging about that yet. But after his birthday, you better believe I will tell you all about it. It’s going to be nice, and it requires a lot of creativity and my learning a new skill in knitting.

Anyway, back to the sock monkey. I’ve never made one before, and my sewing is really not very good, so I practiced on an old pair of socks in the basket first. They actually do match each other, but as they don’t have very much elasticity, I don’t really wear them at all. I’m so glad I practiced on the old socks first, as it didn’t go very well at all.

But I did figure out what not to do next time!

Definite learning experience. I feel bad for the little stripey guy, being all ugly and not put together well. I think I’m going to remove his tail, create a face, and put some yarn hair and clothes on him. I can’t bear to throw him away, but he’s really not something I wanna show off that much…lol.

Still, confident at what I did right with him, and understanding what I did wrong, I set out to make a sock monkey out of the good socks.

Here are some of the progress photos:

Sock turned inside out, legs made at toes.

Socks right side out, ready to be stuffed.

This is after I stitched the head closed, rolling the cuff down for a “hat”, basted around the neck and pulled a little to shape, then stitched the other sock’s heel on the face and stuffed:

What you lookin’ at?!

He’s got no arms!

The arms and tail are taken from the other sock, and stitched in to place:

I used white embroidery floss for all stitching.

I am the one-armed man! hahaha!

Oh, yeah, got 2 arms now! Somebody stop me!

 

And here is the final creation:

And the tail makes the monkey!

 

I was going to go pick up buttons for his eyes, but I kinda like him this way. Maybe I’ll add some later, I don’t know. I didn’t cut up the rear enough, so he looks like he’s wearing the pants with the big crotch that all the thugs wear nowadays. I guess the ski-hat covering the eyes goes along with that whole thug-monkey theme…lol.

I think he’s so cute. I’m going to make the other one later today. I may try to slow down and create my own instructions detailing what to do when…of course, that would require being a little more organized. But if it helps spread the sock monkey love, it would be worth it.

If anyone tries to make sock monkeys after reading this, or have made them in the past, please feel free to send/post pics of your little monkeys as well-I would love to see them!

I bought the materials to make the projects in my sewing blog last week. Money’s super tight, so instead of going to JoAnn’s(or even Hobby Lobby), I went to Walmart. They don’t have quite the selection of the other stores but what they lack in variety, they more than make up for in price. I did find a couple basic fabrics to make foundation pieces out of and a couple fabrics with patterns.

Here’s the pattern again:

These are the materials for the pants (look closely-two different shades of the same fabric):

Soft, creamy, and only $1.00 a yard!

For the two tank-camisole shirts(both are silky and soft-the dark one isn’t black, but a nice, rich chocolatey brown):

Again, only $1 a yard. Yay for deals!

This super-sassy super-cute silky fabric is going to be a dress, wtih enough leftover for both a short headband, and a long, 60’s-style headband:

I love the pinks, grays, and black-only $2 a yard.

This is going to be a jacket to wear with the tanks and pants(adding a little color and pattern to the basic fabrics to liven it up a little) and possibly some type of purse or bag, and a belt depending on what’s left over:

Another $2 a yard fabric(I like the dotty circles).

And finally, something I hope to have finished by mid-summer, a dress with matching jacket:

Feels like linen and very summery-$3.00/yard.

I’m going to make one of the shirts first, since it seems like the easiest one to get me back in to the swing of sewing and all. Then it’s on to the pink plaid dress with matching jacket. I think it will be a nice little summer outfit. In the end, it may be a little too much pink plaid and I may end up wearing one or the other and not both at the same time, but that’s fine too. I think the jacket will go well paired with one of the tops and one of the pair of pants, and the dress will look great with a simple white cardigan.

Of course, I have several projects due for school, as we are in the last week of the quarter, so this won’t start till the third week of June. But I have my materials and my notions…I just have to get the machine ready and wait till I have time to start. I’m so excited!

I’ll take lots of progress shots for each piece, and keep them updated on here. Not that I think my sewing is oh-so-riveting, but I like to be able to look back in my blogs and see a record of how far I’ve come. Also, if any experienced sewers (or just people who might be able to help in general), they can leave comments. Feedback is always appreciated! And maybe I’ll inspire some other person to dust off their sewing machine, too.

 

I took my sewing machine out of storage two weeks ago….had to dust it off as it’s been there for almost 6 months. I wanted to do some t-shirt deconstruction/reconstruction…that’s how it all started. And I did tear some up and make leg warmers, headbands, hats, skirts, and tube tops.

Now I’ve got the fever again. I have patterns in a box that are unused…I buy them on sale when they’re 99 cents(normally up to $16), with the intention of making them some day. Of course I haven’t gotten around to making them yet. I did make my dogs fuzzy fleece pullovers, but they weren’t nearly as impressed as I was with them.

 

My next project I’ll be making for myself. It’s a Simplicity pattern, and I’m really excited to try it. I’m not a very good seamstress at all…but I know some basics, and the patterns come with instructions. Plus, I need some decent clothes and can’t afford to build a wardrobe just now. So, here’s what I’m starting with:

 

2 different style pants, a simple dress, a top, and a jacket. With different fabrics and colors, I can create a nice little work wardrobe for when I finally get back into the workforce. Yay for me!

I really like the green and brown colors in the pictures, but I also like pink and brown for a combo as well. And since I have over 50 pair of shoes in my closet, and at least 10 purses, I don’t really have to worry about accessories.

Wish me luck. When and if I ever get the chance to start these projects, I will post pictures of the process and the finished results.