Sock Monsters Never Die

A few years ago I picked up a book called ‘Stupid Sock Creatures’ by John Murphy. It was from a small book shop in Helsinki called Hobbocks, which unfortunately has since closed. It was a mixture of comic strips and sewing patterns for making strange looking monsters from old socks.

I went through a stage of transforming my old socks into aliens, which was great fun. I then picked up some gaudy patterned socks from a cheap store and made some that were nice enough to give as Christmas presents. It was good to find my rudimentary sewing skills, that I picked up when putting Iron Maiden patches on my denim jacket in the 80s/90s, were still useful.

Imagine my joy then, to see ‘The Return of the Stupid Sock Creatures’ pop up on my Amazon recommendation list under the coming soon section. More stupidity, more monsters and more cartoons! Needless to say this has been pre-ordered and will be winging its way to my door as fast as my Prime subscription can carry it.

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Tina, Tina, Lemon Squeezer!

After making my multi-coloured Sock Monster, Tony, I’ve set to work making use of the other toe sock from the pair. I’m making a girlfriend for Tony, who will be called Tina, for no reason other than that the names go together. I’ve cut out the body parts, which was broadly similar to the way Tony was shaped. The trick is going to be making her look girlie enough so that it’s clear she’s a Tina and not another Tony. The colour scheme will be the same, so I can’t take the easy route and just make her out of pink socks. I can use some suitable accessories and pick the right facial features (buttons for eyes etc.) but hopefully things will start to come together once I get stitching.

 

Count, Dook. Ooh?

Over the weekend I finished my third ‘Harry’ monster. He’s a green, wedge shape with big Popeye arms and little stumpy legs. His eyes are pale green buttons and his mouth is a square of felt. His name is Dook and he looks a little bit like Dan Dare’s nemesis The Mekon. Not sure this monster is hell bent on galactic domination, but I’ll keep an eye on him just in case. I popped down to the market today to pick up some skin coloured felt for when I start my Punch and Judy set. Since there wil be more people than monsters I think I’ll need plenty of it.

 

Monster Club

My house is starting to fill up with monsters now, I’m going to have to find somewhere for them all to live. I could put up a shelf and line them up along it. That would look nice, but I would run out of space very quickly. At the moment the sock monsters live in a big bag and the felt monsters are inside a hat. I’ll probably use something like a big laundry bin, it’ll have enough room for lots of monsters and to be honest, the ones made from sock pieces will be used to it.

 

Punching Judy

For a while, I’ve been thinking about making myself a Punch and Judy set. I’m in two minds as to whether to try making them as puppets or simply as decorative dolls. It’d make a change from my usual monsters, but I think I’d enjoy giving each character their own personality through their features and clothes – they would still have buttons for eyes though. That’s essential!

 

Battle of the Monsters

 

Totally ‘armless

I’ve finished my first monster using the ‘Harry’ pattern and I’ve decided to call him Bo. There’s a joke in there somewhere… He’s bright orange and I made him using some of the more colourful felt I bought recently. I almost have him square buttons for eyes, but in the end I could settle for any that seemed quite right. He’s got a mouth that’s off to one side, which I think gives him a bit more personality. He’s got stumpy legs and no arms, but that never stopped Pac Man, did it? I was pleased with my stitching this time, which was quite tidy and I didn’t burst his seams by over stuffing him either. I’m going to try making a few more ‘Harry’ monsters ‘cos they’re easy to do and they should all get on well with each other.