Saturday 26 March 2011

Sock-cess!

Today I finally taught my first Workshop day for Frontiers Club - the Saturday club that J. goes to.  They offer courses to children on the schools' Gifted and Talented student register, to give them a bit of extra value/ interest beyond the school syllabus. 

I taught an all-day workshop about making Sock Creatures.   Regular visitors will know of my fondness for sock pets.  Like Bella the Monkey, my cute little White Puppy, the Apres Ski Bunny and Snowman I made at Christmas, the Easter Bunnies from last Easter time,
the Three Sock Amigos....

But today it was others making the creatures and me busy all day, showing techniques, discussing ideas, encouraging ideas, choices and decisions, helping, demonstrating, rescuing, sewing, rushing around a bit... It was a busy, busy day; but I felt that it was generally a success. 

There were 11 students and all but one went home with a creature that was either finished, or very nearly so.  The last girl was a bit unhappy about her creature; she opted to try a dog, made with 2 socks, like this one:
It's the simplest 2-sock creature I have made - for a reasonably ok sewer, it is easy; for a 10 or 11-year-old who doesn't sew well, it's not simple...  As she said (rather too late to do anything about it) "I should have made a bunny too!".  Poor lass.  She took home a body and two legs that were stitched and stuffed, with the extra sock to make the head, arms & ears, plus spare stuffing, buttons etc. to decorate it.  Apparently her dad has sewn some sock pets before, so he would help her.  Some good news for her at any rate.   

We had a number of rabbits - all made to the same design, but all very different.  There was a beautiful bee - designed and stitched by the student with only a little help deciding which bits of sock to use for which part of the bee - it was fabulous!
There was a great octopus; a white cat with button eyes and a felt bow on its head; two "Funny-foot" creatures, with fat bodies, knotted ears and fun features; a weird and wonderful something-or-other; finally, a "Thingummy-whatsit" - an alien-like creature with long atennae/ears and fat little legs.  This one had odd-button eyes, patches stitched on, a ribbon on its ear and a general air of surprise about it.   They were all fabulous!


The wonderful collection of Sock Creatures made by my students today!

So you see, today was a great Sock-cess!

20 comments:

  1. They look fab, well done!

    Saw your lovely write up in Simply Homemade today, good for you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow Lizzie! They all look great! I bet you came home so tired!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh what a motley crew!

    Excellent stuff Lizzie :-)

    How is your new grand-niece?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such fun. I love the one with the orange collar.
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Lizzie! I had a great time at your workshopr yesterday! I have made few other sock pets at home - will post them on my blog when they are finished! Thanks! Katie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done. I bet the kids were really proud

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like you had a great class,Lizzie....some lovely sock pets made.
    Congrats on your write up in Simply Homemade....was reading it yesterday....expect a rush of orders!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. what a buzz to have such success - they are wonderful - lov ethe octopus

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow love all the sock creatures you make Lizzie! Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog. It really made me smile! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lizzie this really put a smile on my face; so glad that the class went well and what great students, such cute sock pets!

    ReplyDelete
  11. They look great! I love the yellow spotted one with the bow.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic! Such an excellent way to encourage these kids to broaden their horizons, I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. They look soooo great! Hopefully you can attend the next vintage fair, it was great fun love annie x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bet the kids loved it..they've done a wonderful job!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What fun! I'm so pleased it worked out so well - I remember when you first started talking about this :-) Good for you! xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks everyone - and did you see I got a comment left by one of my students!!
    I am so lucky.

    ReplyDelete
  17. They are so good! I have a pair of brand new socks that I brought especially to be turned into something but have yet to try it.....I'm now inspired :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a wonderful set of sock animals. I love them all. The one reminds me of the UGLY Dolls.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I wish you lived closer Lizzie- my son would have LOVED to be at your workshop! The students made the cutest things!!

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...