Owl Phone Sock

I've been quite crafty this weekend, so this is the first of three posts! To start with, my youngest daughter really needed a phone sock. After looking at ones to buy I remembered that I had some spare wool (bought originally for gloves) that would possibly make a nice knitted owl phone sock.

All I needed to knit was a long rectangle. The width is the width of the phone plus a bit and the length is double the length of the phone plus extra to make a flap over finish. I knitted the flap-over-end in all rows knit and the rest in stocking stitch - 1 row knit, 1 row purl. Once I had my rectangle I sewed up the sides (leaving the end to flap over) to make the basic sock. 

I used a press stud to close the sock (advice would be to use the largest press stud you can).

A few strands of wool at the corners made the ears (apparently it's an eagle owl, according to youngest daughter).

I made the owl eyes using circles of felt attached with buttonhole stitch and buttons for the centres. 

I always use http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org for nice clear stitch instructions. The beak is two pieces of felt held together, and stitched to the sock, with buttonhole stitch.  

To finish, I used a similar idea for the wings.

See what else I've been up to next.....

Sock Owls

Class 5/6 are going to make sock animals. I'm excited about this one as it will follow on nicely from my sock rabbits and sock snowmen (tutorial for sock rabbits is on 40daysofcrafts.blogspot.co.uk). I'm having a go at sock owls using two different methods from the same sock.

Let's start with a sock - any sock will do, it doesn't have to typically owl patterned. First, I've cut the toe end of the sock off near to the heel, to a point. This will be Owl A. 

Next, using the remaining leg end of the same sock, I've made a slightly curved cut near to the heel. This will be Owl B. You can discard the heel - but keep it if you make any other sock animals as you never know when you might need it.

Owl A (left) and Owl B (right)

Owl A

You can now fill Owl A with your chosen stuffing, right up to the point. I put some rice in the bottom first to help it stand. Now, you can simply fold the triangle over and overstitch it closed, at the same time as attaching it to the stuffed sock. Or you can first stitch the point closed before folding the point over and stitching it to the stuffed sock. Yay - basic owl shape, now the rest is up to you!

Yay - basic owl shape!

Owl B

First turn the sock owl inside out and use a back stitch to stitch closed the curved end. Turn your sock the right way out - see the little pointy ears. Now, stuff the sock. 

Before sealing the owl closed I put a few tablespoons of rice on top of the stuffing (actually the bottom of the owl). I then put a running stitch through the sock cuff and pulled to closed, putting some extra stitches in to secure. My owl stands no problem - possibly the rice helps. 

So here are my two sock owl shapes ready to decorate........ 

To decorate, you could keep it sock authentic and use other sock pieces to create the wings, eyes, trims, feathers, feet etc - I used the matching sock to make wings. I cut two wing shapes for each owl, stitched them right sides together, turned them inside out and attached them to the owl body. Or you could use felt, buttons, wool or anything else you have to jazz them up.

So why not make an sock owl - it'll be a hoot! 

Sock Snowmen

Having previously made sock rabbits, I decided to have a go at sock snowmen. 

You'll need a plain white sock, a baby sock, twine, stuffing and decorations like buttons.

          

Unlike sock rabbits, not too much sewing involved in a sock snowman.  I've stuffed the bottom of a white sock with leftover foam stuffing. You could use other kinds of stuffing or all rice. Then I twisted the sock and forced it back over itself. At this point you can put in a few stitches to secure at the bottom. 

After a bit of experimentation I found that adding a layer of rice before I turned the sock on itself helped the snowman to stand up later. 

I stuffed the rest of the white sock until I felt it looked tall enough and was able to knot the sock (see photo below). At this point you could trim the knotted end with scissors or just fold the sock over the knot.

The baby sock is used to make a jumper and a hat. Cut off the heel and the toe of the sock and then cut the sock into two pieces. Simply slip the bottom half of the sock over the snowman and tie into place with string or thread, pulling it tight enough to create a snowman shape. The top of the sock (with the cuff) will become a hat. Number of different ways to do this. You could just knot the end of the sock or tie it together with string or thread. However, I have cut a small strip of sock off the end without the cuff, cut some slits part way down from the un-cuffed end and lastly tied the small strip of sock where the fringes end.

To finish your snowmen off you can stitch or glue on eyes and carrot noses, add trimmings and buttons - it's up to you.

Here he is with some friends!

Since the 40days project we've made more sock rabbits, including ballet bunnies. Have a look...... 

These were our original sock rabbits - tutorial on 40daysofcrafts.blogspot.uk.