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Socks Appeal: 16 Fun & Funky Friends Sewn from Socks
Stitch up a sweet and silly sock critter tonight!
• Turn your favorite socks into adorable bunnies, kittens, hamsters, turtles, penguins and more
• 16 projects are categorized by skill level, from super-simple to more advanced
• Your dryer ate a brand new sock? No worries-stray singles can now become the perfect gift in just an hour
Enjoy making whimsical stuffed animals using baby socks, knee socks, crew socks…any kinds of socks rock! Give your critter's face plenty of creative expression by embellishing with your favorite buttons and embroidery. Several projects are easy enough for children to make for their own toybox, but you'll want a bunch of these irresistible cuties for yourself, too!
Socks Appeal is a finalist in the 2010 Foreword Book of the Year Awards.
• Turn your favorite socks into adorable bunnies, kittens, hamsters, turtles, penguins and more
• 16 projects are categorized by skill level, from super-simple to more advanced
• Your dryer ate a brand new sock? No worries-stray singles can now become the perfect gift in just an hour
Enjoy making whimsical stuffed animals using baby socks, knee socks, crew socks…any kinds of socks rock! Give your critter's face plenty of creative expression by embellishing with your favorite buttons and embroidery. Several projects are easy enough for children to make for their own toybox, but you'll want a bunch of these irresistible cuties for yourself, too!
Socks Appeal is a finalist in the 2010 Foreword Book of the Year Awards.
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2010
15 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 16, 2010
i don't usually review my craft books, because what can you say?? they are either "good" or "bad", or "easy" or "too complicated"... there isn't a whole lot of emotional resonance, you know? there aren't any socio-political implications or in-depth analyses necessary. however. if you are a crafter?? this book is great great great. in fact, it rocks my world. i have just made something from it (shhhh it's a surprise) and it is cute and was fun and quick, which, as i was seriously pressed for time, was a big plus. i saw this advertised
in this magazine, (which you should check out if sewing/knitting is your thing - plus this issue has an interview with my hero john murphy, with monsters from his forthcoming book!! he is the reason i got into making monsters in the first place, and his creations are truly something to aspire to. zipper-mouths!)i picked up this book and another one advertised in stuffed, which is also great, but i haven't made anything from it yet, so i may review it later, or maybe i will just make the creatures and pretend i made them up out of my pretty little head.
i wholeheartedly recommend this book even to novice sewers - they are not difficult at all, but they are really freaking cute.i want to make all of these except for the ugly-ass mermaid at the end.
in this magazine, (which you should check out if sewing/knitting is your thing - plus this issue has an interview with my hero john murphy, with monsters from his forthcoming book!! he is the reason i got into making monsters in the first place, and his creations are truly something to aspire to. zipper-mouths!)i picked up this book and another one advertised in stuffed, which is also great, but i haven't made anything from it yet, so i may review it later, or maybe i will just make the creatures and pretend i made them up out of my pretty little head.
i wholeheartedly recommend this book even to novice sewers - they are not difficult at all, but they are really freaking cute.i want to make all of these except for the ugly-ass mermaid at the end.
July 18, 2017
Whenever he stops by the library, my dear partner tries to bring me home something I might like. I'm a mixed media artist wanna-be and a jewelry maker who dabbles in a variety of tangential arts and crafts (e.g. assemblage, surface design, fabric painting, embroidery, book making), and I like to learn different techniques in both foundational skills as well as peruse the cool individual projects artists have come up with.
So there he is, bless his heart, browsing the general area he thinks has the appropriate books, and with great thought and care, selects a book he thinks will appeal to me. Over the months and years, his intuition has yielded, among others, the following titles:
• Upcycle with Sizzix: Creative Ways to Repurpose and Reuse Just About Anything: Techniques and Ideas for Using Sizzix Die-Cutting and Embossing Machines — I do not own a Sizzix machine. I do not own any sort of die-cutting or embossing machine. I have never even used a die-cutting or embossing machine.
• Alternative Kilns Firing Techniques: Raku * Saggar * Pit * Barrel — I live in a townhouse and could not possibly build a giant pit kiln in the common areas. Besides, I am not a potter. I have never thrown a pot or done any ceramic work in my entire life.
• Greeting Cards for the first time® — Since I have been giving him handmade greeting cards over the course of the forty years I have known the man (we're not elderly, we just met as children!), I am forced to wonder why he thinks I need remedial card making instruction. Perhaps he thinks my cards suck. I personally think I could've written the damn book.
There have been more, but I think you get the idea.
So you can imagine the internal eye-rolling I did when he presented me with his latest library find, Socks Appeal: 16 Fun & Funky Friends Sewn from Socks . This would be a good point at which to interject that I don't own a sewing machine, have never owned a sewing machine, and, as you may have guessed, have not actually sewn anything since eighth grade home economics in the late 1970s. But, ya know, his heart is in the right place, so I try to be polite by ensuring that he sees me leaf through his proud acquisition when we're lying in bed at night reading. So I start rote-reading the introduction, and…
It's freakin' hysterical.
Homegirl can write! Well of course she can, as she's been an editor for both the Washington Post and National Geographic, as I learn when I flip back to the "About The Author" section. She's self-effacing, encouraging in a non-twee sort of way, and frankly just downright adorably funny.
And the projects for the little sock creatures? They're actually absolutely adorable! And they're ridiculously easy to make; I could easily hand-sew these. And unlike most project-oriented books (those of you who read my DIY reviews know that I routinely rail against project books and much prefer technique books), Brenna's instruction fundamentally invites innovation and tweaking. Combined with the fact that you're simply not going to find the same exact same socks that she's working with, your sock creatures are guaranteed to be unique.
I will be buying this book to keep forever and ever. And she has published more of them since this first one came out in 2010! I will totally be checking them out. One of them, Sock It to Me: Creepy, Crazy & Strangely Appealing 16 Projects Sewn from Socks , is full of monsters and weird things, and thus is right up my alley.
Baby, you hit this one out of the park. Keep on bringing home whatever weird crap you like.
So there he is, bless his heart, browsing the general area he thinks has the appropriate books, and with great thought and care, selects a book he thinks will appeal to me. Over the months and years, his intuition has yielded, among others, the following titles:
• Upcycle with Sizzix: Creative Ways to Repurpose and Reuse Just About Anything: Techniques and Ideas for Using Sizzix Die-Cutting and Embossing Machines — I do not own a Sizzix machine. I do not own any sort of die-cutting or embossing machine. I have never even used a die-cutting or embossing machine.
• Alternative Kilns Firing Techniques: Raku * Saggar * Pit * Barrel — I live in a townhouse and could not possibly build a giant pit kiln in the common areas. Besides, I am not a potter. I have never thrown a pot or done any ceramic work in my entire life.
• Greeting Cards for the first time® — Since I have been giving him handmade greeting cards over the course of the forty years I have known the man (we're not elderly, we just met as children!), I am forced to wonder why he thinks I need remedial card making instruction. Perhaps he thinks my cards suck. I personally think I could've written the damn book.
There have been more, but I think you get the idea.
So you can imagine the internal eye-rolling I did when he presented me with his latest library find, Socks Appeal: 16 Fun & Funky Friends Sewn from Socks . This would be a good point at which to interject that I don't own a sewing machine, have never owned a sewing machine, and, as you may have guessed, have not actually sewn anything since eighth grade home economics in the late 1970s. But, ya know, his heart is in the right place, so I try to be polite by ensuring that he sees me leaf through his proud acquisition when we're lying in bed at night reading. So I start rote-reading the introduction, and…
It's freakin' hysterical.
Homegirl can write! Well of course she can, as she's been an editor for both the Washington Post and National Geographic, as I learn when I flip back to the "About The Author" section. She's self-effacing, encouraging in a non-twee sort of way, and frankly just downright adorably funny.
And the projects for the little sock creatures? They're actually absolutely adorable! And they're ridiculously easy to make; I could easily hand-sew these. And unlike most project-oriented books (those of you who read my DIY reviews know that I routinely rail against project books and much prefer technique books), Brenna's instruction fundamentally invites innovation and tweaking. Combined with the fact that you're simply not going to find the same exact same socks that she's working with, your sock creatures are guaranteed to be unique.
I will be buying this book to keep forever and ever. And she has published more of them since this first one came out in 2010! I will totally be checking them out. One of them, Sock It to Me: Creepy, Crazy & Strangely Appealing 16 Projects Sewn from Socks , is full of monsters and weird things, and thus is right up my alley.
Baby, you hit this one out of the park. Keep on bringing home whatever weird crap you like.
April 27, 2017
Often I will check out ebooks from my local library's online source (overdrive.com) that I really don't think I have much interest in but maybe my curiosity is piqued just a bit. These books are usually craft related (or natural health related). Such was this book. The front looked cute with that little sock hamster on the front. Well, let me say after reading it, I want to OWN this book. Two nieces and a nephew will be coming to stay with my family for about a week this summer again, and I want to make them each their own little sock stuffed animal. It has such cute ideas! Into my Amazon cart it is about to go!
July 26, 2014
Ugly, awful projects. The only cute on in the book is on the cover. Read Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves or Stray Sock Sewing: Making One of a Kind Creatures from Socks which are excellent.
October 6, 2010
Even if you never make any of these gosh darn cute sock creatures, which will possibly be my case, the instructions are funny and cute to read.
October 8, 2021
Lazy writing on the authors part? Just a bore to read, waste of money and time. This book could’ve been okay but any chance it had to be interesting was interrupted by the author. Just don’t waste your time. I came for the crafts and left due to the authors need to have little unhelpful comments. If you do buy focus on the instructions and pictures only.
December 31, 2019
Silly and just plain fun!
Maloney clearly has an awesome sense of humor, and it shows through in her clear directions and commentary. These softies are quirky and adorable. I can’t wait to get started!
Maloney clearly has an awesome sense of humor, and it shows through in her clear directions and commentary. These softies are quirky and adorable. I can’t wait to get started!
December 8, 2023
Very cute and informative. I made a bunny from socks and she made the instructions super easy to follow
November 21, 2024
Freaking adorable. These silly and sweet stuffies made from unpaired socks are just too cute! I may have to buy this one…
4 stars, and recommended.
4 stars, and recommended.
November 3, 2025
I liked the flat mice and hamsters. The baby cats and snakes were a vibe. The penguins were silly, and those fish were so slug-looking. Loved em. The caterpillar was creepy, and I appreciated that.
May 8, 2012
Socks Appeal is the perfect craft book for people who love to make things, but stink at sewing. When you use socks as a base, half of the work is done for you - so there's more room to get creative, and less time spent fighting with thread. Some of the projects are so simple it's just snip, stitch, and stuff!
Brenna Maloney's writing is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but also puts the reader at ease. It's hard to resist trying out each and every project.
Brenna Maloney's writing is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but also puts the reader at ease. It's hard to resist trying out each and every project.
October 10, 2013
Okay, so, I didn't really read this, but I looked at the pictures!
The projects are soooo cuute & the directions seem easy. Still, I will have to try to hire someone to lead a workshop at the library so I can make one of these.
The projects are soooo cuute & the directions seem easy. Still, I will have to try to hire someone to lead a workshop at the library so I can make one of these.
March 26, 2011
I haven't tried making anything yet, but the directions are clear and accompanied by photos. The book is divided into sections for projects that range from very easy to more challenging. The animals are super cute!
July 7, 2010
Had to pick up this book, after it made me squeal with delight at every page. The instructions are easy to follow and guided by clear images, and the writing is funny to boot.
September 28, 2010
Awesome book using the simplest things in the house to create kick-ass toys. I will be making some very soon.
February 10, 2011
Adorable and very do-able!
April 10, 2011
Fun ideas!
August 24, 2011
There are a few projects that look promising/doable, but otherwise I found this a bit blah.
August 8, 2016
Some of these projects looks amateur. I don't think I'd make many of them.
September 3, 2012
Super cute book; makes me want to go out and buy some socks to craft with.
March 31, 2013
looks pretty easy, even if you're not a great seamstress. good way to recycle socks. the mermaid if freaky, though.
August 26, 2016
Mostly uses socks as material - cut out shapes etc. Fun projects, mostly animals, for a variety of skill levels.
January 21, 2017
Love this book! Great ideas, easy projects and lots of fun. I would highly recommend it if you enjoy sewing, socks, or goofy craft ideas :-)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews