Sock monsters

We are having a market day at school and each class is having a stall of things to sell. I decided to try sock monster making with my class.

I picked a relatively simple pattern and we have been slowly working on our creations. I’m loving the fact that although we started with the same pattern our monsters are all looking very different. It’s been lots of fun sewing with my class if a little stressful at times. I have discovered that the skill everyone needs to learn is starting and finishing a thread!

I was particularly impressed when my VERY sporty boys decided a lunchtime in sewing was better than running about outside! I have definitely seen sewing skills improving. I am definitely inspired to do more sewing and already have plans forming for next year.

The classroom fun has rekindled my love of sock softie making and I have been creating some monsters of my own! (with a little help from Stray Sock Sewing). Below is a picture of one of my latest creations.

So teachers don’t be afraid to have a go at sewing with your class, the results are pretty cool and it can be lots of fun.

Aerated fingers

So I decided I wanted to try felting after seeing a number of cool examples. After some serious searching I stumbled across WoolBuddy and decided that I had to try one of his super cute owls (I’m a but of an owl nut!).

I was a little horrified to discover the cost of shipping from his Etsy site so after a bit more searching and a wait for stock to arrive I purchased my kit from Living Felt

The kit arrived tonight and so like a kid in a candy store I quickly unwrapped it, spread the contents across the floor and eagerly got stuck in.

Within about two minutes I stabbed myself for the first time, discovering that whilst fun felting is also a painful business. The instructions were small but easy to follow and my owl quickly took shape.

With things like this I often find that as much as I tell myself to stop I can’t and have to see my project through to completion on the same night started. With this in mind the owl is now complete four hours and several stab wounds later. I’m pretty pleased with him and have made him into a brooch so I can show him off in school tomorrow!