Sock Monkeys

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OK... So, this year for Christmas, my family has set a max of $15 per person PLUS something you make. I want to think of something fun to make for everyone (ie: my dad, mom, and two sisters, youngest is 23) that is relatively easy and inexpensive but won't end up in the trash.

I can't make anything food related because we're all meeting up in another country. Similarly, whatever I make needs to be small enough to smoosh in my suitcase.

So I was thinking of making personalized sock monkeys. I have basically no sewing experience whatsoever. I do have a needle and thread though and I can sew on buttons. I found a site with instructions here.

For those of you who have made them, am I loco in the cabeza to think I could pull this off? Is there anything special I need to know? Are the instructions I linked decent? Also, any ideas on how to make them each unique?

Failing that, any other ideas? Christmas ornaments seem a little too obvious to me, but I'm not ruling them out.

― Prancing Animals (coco), Monday, 7 November 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

don't give kids ornaments as gifts. unless you like to see them strain to feign gratitude. in which case go for it.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 7 November 2005 21:59 (twenty years ago)

They're not kids.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

It's time for that pottery class. Mugs for everyone!

― The Milkmaid (of Human Kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

here's something I'm making this year & you can totally steal it:

I'm going to go to a photo booth with pre-made signs that make a loving sentence . . . i.e. [frame one] Leaf [frame two] I [frame three] love [frame four] you!
& then put it in a cheap frame from target.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:10 (twenty years ago)

With the addition of funny/goofy/sweet faces I think it could turn out quite charming.
I'm also considering getting one of those frames that make your photos look "collage-y" . . . hard to explain, but it could look sweet with the cutting up of the words & placing them in the "collage frame." it's a frame i saw at target, okay?

― kelsey (kelstarry), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

I like the sock monkeys. You should make a trial one and post its picture here.

― estela (estela), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

But kelsey's idea is also great.

xpost

― estela (estela), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:16 (twenty years ago)

oops. overlooked the youngest is 23 part. xpost

couple of xmases ago i made some personalized glasses with that glass etching stuff. it was pretty easy. made my friend one with the spaceman 3 logo on it.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

I want to steal your idea, Kelsey, but the closest photo booth I can think of is at the Des Plaines Oasis to find a photo booth.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Come to Chicago, my friend & I will booth your brains out.

Actually, I only know of three.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:57 (twenty years ago)

Personally, I like the sock monkey idea, Sarah. I was just offering another alternative.

T-shirts are relatively cheap to make as well . . .

― kelsey (kelstarry), Monday, 7 November 2005 22:58 (twenty years ago)

DRINKY CROW!

― uncle gabby, Monday, 7 November 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

http://store1.yimg.com/I/oxfordoutlet_1870_6689124

― M. V. (M.V.), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

Do you think I should
a- just go with the traditional socks usually used to make said sock monkeys
b- buy some crazy socks
c- maybe make one traditional style and see how it turns out first
d- buy a kit to make one
e- buy the materials separately

TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

― Prancing Animals (coco), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

I found lots of fun ideas on flickr, so I think I might go ahead and try to make all 5 sock monkeys at once (ha ha, one for me) and buy a few different sock patterns to make them more unique (and different buttons and some felt and pompoms for accessories).

― Prancing Animals (coco), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 17:39 (twenty years ago)

a- just go with the traditional socks usually used to make said sock monkeys

they are so expensive though!! (that said, I have found Sock Monkey kits for $10)

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago)

The idea that Sock Monkey Kits exist makes me weirdly happy.

― martin m. (mushrush), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)

I made one for my mom for her birthday.

I might buy another kit this year to make my friend a SOCKTOPUS

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

Where did you buy your kit, rosemary?

I'd prefer to use a variety of socks, but I was worried it might be harder not to use the standard ones.

― Prancing Animals (coco), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

wal-mart, in the craft section.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

I might try to make some felt creatures too, using this flickr tutorial.

― Prancing Animals (coco), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

walmart is evil. . .do not give them your money. They hand it over to anti-abortionists and right-wingers.

sock monkeys are cool. I'd do the same type of sock but all with different accessories for each family member.

Everyone in my family is getting a homemade gift: Knitted scarf and hat sets for sisters-in-law, nieces and nephew. (the nieces' are made with that tacky eyelash type yarn which actually knits up pretty for little girls). Embrodieried pillowcases for folks, aunt and uncle, brother and wife. (They're personalized, like vegas stuff for my folks and my brother's logo for him.)

I think the boy's getting a new black ipod though. I'd knit him a case for it but I think he'd feel less than manly using it. When he has to take me to the craft store he complains that it makes his penis shrink.

good luck with your monkeys sarah.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Tuesday, 8 November 2005 22:52 (twenty years ago)

sock monkey's rule! great plan. If you want to do the photo thing in addition to or instead of...

No photo booth ??? use a digital camera or find someone who has one you can borrow! I want to see the sock monkey pix here soon!

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 02:04 (twenty years ago)

Ha Ha. Well, I need to gather my materials first. But I think I will try felt creatures too, just because that looks like it would be fun too.

Sam, one of my Chicago friends (who posts as pullapartgirl) invited me to an anti-walmart documentary next week. She is involved in worker justice.

― Prancing Animals (coco), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

I am done with 3 monkeys and am half-way through my 4th!

I'm taking a break on 4 to start 5 though - a baby monkey that I plan to make using crew socks.

― Sarah Kittensmew McLusky (coco), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

I've always thought they look pretty scary! But that's just my own phobia, but monkeys and in particular toy monkeys seem frightening.

― Lars and Jagger (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 16:12 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Et voila.

http://static.flickr.com/38/78898940_bfe3d565b7_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/42/78898939_e615a6467d_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/41/78898938_222decbc84_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/42/78898937_b694256963_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/36/78898936_67ca430ea4_m.jpg

― Sarah Kittensmew McLusky (coco), Thursday, 29 December 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

cute!

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 29 December 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

Wow, they are excellent, Sarah, well done! I wish I'd seen this thread before.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 29 December 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

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