Sockology: 16 New Sock Creatures * Cute & Cuddly...Weird & Wild

Description

Here you are encouraged to take it one step further with slightly more complex construction and endless inspiration. From a lovable jointed bear and fluffy sheep to a quirky many-eyed alien, these 16 projects will surely keep you entertained (and challenged) for hours.

Brenna Maloney learned at a young age to look at ordinary things in extraordinary ways. She started by making sock bunnies as baby gifts. After her "4 millionth" rabbit, she realized there were lots of other critters to create. Brenna and her family live in Washington, D.C.

"Oh, these are fun: 16 new softies to make from socks. Brenna Maloney thought she'd got soc critters out of her system with the publication of her first book, Socks Appeal (reviewed in Homespun Vol 11 No 10), but one day she found herself making a sock crocodile, then a kangaroo and joey. When a rooster followed shortly after, her husband knew that home life would be chaotic again while she produced another gallery of fabuously funky projects for a new book. Brenna is particularly keen this time to encourage readers to experiment and make each project uniquely their own. She readily admits that success is not guaranteed (she includes photographs of some of her own flops to make the point) but nevertheless, she believes that it's important to help crafters develop their creativity and confidence. The book's subtitle, "Cute and cuddly....weird and wild" sums things up pretty well. Instructions are provided for some lovely little animals - ducks, bees, teddy bears - as well as some that only a mother could love - monsters, aliens and robots. They can be sewn by machine or by hand, making them accessible for everyone. Go on - give them a whirl. You know you want to!" --Australian Homespun; April 2012 "What's a gal to do when all the beds (and most of the walls) have been covered in quilts, when every friend and relative has a quilt - but she still wants to keep stitching? Kim Schaeffer has published a book of 15 quilt designs in an unusual shape: long and skinny. We're talking 22x86in, 30x90in and the like. These quilts have been designed as decorative pieces for stairwells and doors and practical items for use as table runners, a throw on the back of a sofa, or a bed runner to keep your toes warm. They're fast and fun to make, allowing you the opportunity to experiment with colours and techniques, and, of course, they make fabulous gifts, without the need to invest the time and effort required of a full bed-size quilt. Kim's projects include simple patchwork and, in some cases, fun and funky applique." --Australian Homespun; 4/17/12