Friday 29 March 2013

Sock Sloth

I can't be certain why, but recently, I've been slightly besotted with sloths. I don't know when or how this started, but seriously, have you seen how cute baby sloths are?! (Spoiler alert: they're really freakin' cute).


One of the first noted occasions that this obsession showed its prominence was when I found this picture:

I don't even know where I found this, so I don't know to whom I ought to credit it.
Blame the internet.
After I'd finished making my "Thrift Sloth" jokes, I happened to be looking around the Sock Dreams website for some inspiration for the sock-craft contest that Cut Out + Keep is currently running, when I stumbled across these:

Look at them! Just look at them! They are incredible! Exclamation mark!
Also, you can find them here.
These gave me some much-needed inspiration for a contest entry. I would make a sock sloth!


(I also wrote a tutorial on how to make your own, so keep reading for that.)


To make your own sock sloth, you will need:
  • One pair of socks (I used a cheap brown pair that I bought a while ago)
  • Felt scraps
  • Safety eyes
  • Velcro
  • Stuffing
How to make him:



  1. Turn your sock inside out. Pin the leg area of your sock flat, with a row of pins down the centre. Sew from the heel of the sock up, foot-width from the row of pins. Round the end just before the end of the sock. Repeat on the opposite side.
  2. Cut down the centre of these strips, separating them, and cut off the end area of the sock. Turn the sock right-side out from the small hole between the legs.
  3. Cut out a piece of felt for the face. Add two holes for safety eyes.
  4. Add brown patches around the eye area.
  5. Add a nose from felt.
  6. Stitch on a small mouth, and attach face to toe of sock.

  7. Add safety eyes.
  8. Stuff sock.
  9. Repeat steps 1 - 3 on the other sock, cutting the sock off at the heel and turning and stuffing each limb separately.
  10. Sew the arms onto the sloth's body.
  11. Add patches of velcro to each of the sloth's paws.
  12. Add claws to each of the sloth's paws.
And you're done!


I thought that this little guy turned out to be particularly cute. He's a refreshing change from the standard sock monkey, though uses just about as many materials. He can literally hang around anywhere thanks to the velcro on his paws, allowing him to cling to anything from the dining-room chair to your arm.


Everyone who's seen him so far has been quite taken with him, and I've had quite a few desperate pleas from friends eager to give him a loving home. I'm slightly tempted to take them on and start a sock sloth army, requesting that people give me one or two pairs of cheap socks - and/or perhaps some money for the felt and eyes -  so that I can make them a sloth of their own colour selection. I'm scared to take on another project that I won't finish, but I'd love to see photos of my work in different people's homes and lives.


As usual, you can find a full tutorial on how to make him over on my Cut Out + Keep.

Thanks for reading, and please post photos of your own sock sloth if you make one!

LDP
x

UPDATE:
If you don't know, I've been making even more, other sloths! Check out a little video of them here:






19 comments:

  1. An adorable and unique toy. Thanks for sharing your tutorial.

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it. :)

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  2. Replies
    1. I'm so glad! Would love to see your version if you make one, too!

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  3. This is a lovely project. Thanks for sharing it.

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  4. I have a thing about sloths, they are so cute! I might just have to make a trip to primark for some sloth coloured socks!

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    1. Primark is my favourite! It breaks my heart that we don't have one where I live. :(

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    2. Got my socks in asda. Can't wait to start. I don't have any proper eyes found some funky buttons to use instead. Also a tip ive learned as I make a lot of sock animals is to not buy expensive toy stuffing, go to asda or similar and buy cheap pillows then just sacrifice them :) about a third of the price of proper stuffing.

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  5. Hey what size (length) socks did you use!

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    1. Hi! I think they were large men's socks - no particular size, as they're generally on a size 7-13 or whatever scale. :) However, this should work with any size socks.

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  6. I've read your tutorial and a similar one on line and neither one says much about the body of the sloth. I get that you sew the face onto the toe part of the sock and that part becomes the body. Then you stuff that apparently and sew the bottom up?? How does the back look? Do you fold it and sew it or just turn it in on itself and sew a seam or what? I would appreciate some assistance. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Sandra. The basic pattern is similar to that of a sock monkey; here's a simple diagram of where to sew: http://s2.hubimg.com/u/348125_f520.jpg

      Hope this helps; let me know if you need some more help!

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  7. Thank you for sharing..it's so cute!! I could not understand how to do the first step, could you please explain more? I laid flat a sock, and then I did not know where to pin nor where to sew!! Please explain to me how!

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  8. Thanks for sharing! I'm confused on what part of the sock the body is. If there are 4 arms, and it takes 1 sock for 2 arms, what is the body made of?

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    1. The legs of the sloth are made of the large part of the sock (the one that goes in the human leg) the body is the foot part of the sock. For the arms of the sloth you just use the large part of the sock, the rest just cut it off.

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  9. this sloth plush is super unique! I love it super cute! i featured it in my blog: http://www.plushiepatterns.com/sloth-plush-toy-by-ldp/ thank you so much for sharing!

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  10. a socks business will give you a good return, and you don’t even have to worry about that a lot. how to start your own sock line

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  11. The "Dirty Laundry Pink" pattern on Socksmith Ladies Socks is quite charming, and I only just found out about them. The bright pink colour is perfect for adding a dash of playfulness to any ensemble, and the whole thing is such a whimsical spin on mundane tasks. I like the ingenuity and care that went into this design since I enjoy Novelty Socks. Furthermore, I will be using these Socksmith socks often due to its renown for excellence and comfort. Excited to flaunt my latest beloved socks!

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