Monday, October 15, 2012

DONKTOBER - Sock Donkey Tutorial


This post is part of Donktober 2012.  For more information please see here.

Meet Delilah.  She is a Sock Donkey.  No, that isn't a typo - monkeys are soooo 2011 afterall.  ;)

Delilah the Sock Donkey, climbing a tree

Like monkeys, though, Delilah can be a little bit cheeky at times and she loves to climb trees.  She's definitely a lot of fun to have around.

So, would you like to welcome your own little Sock Donkey into your life?  Well, it's your lucky day as I've prepared an easy, peasy tutorial for you to make a whole bunch of friends for Delilah.  Yay!

Ok, let's start.

YOU WILL NEED:

1 pair knee high socks, in a funky colour and/or pattern 
Matching thread
Needle
Softie filling
2 buttons for eyes
Fabric scissors 
Sewing machine

STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR SOCKS

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 1 - pin the socks

Turn both socks inside out (wrong side out) and lay flat, with the heel pointing upwards.  Pin down the sides.  Pinning is particularly important if you're working with stripes.

Please note: this may seem extremely confusing but I chose to have my donkey with the inside of the socks as her finished coat.  I know, I'm strange, but I liked the subtle stripes.  Thus my pics are showing the right side of the fabric, when you will probably prefer to be working with the wrong side.  Sorry for the confusion!

STEP 2: CUT THE MAIN PIECES

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 1 - cut the socks

Each sock now needs to be cut approximately half way between the heel and the top.  Please refer to the above picture to get an idea of what each piece will be used for.

STEP 3:  SEW THE EARS

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 3 - sew the ears

Beginning about an inch below the heel, sew 1/4" from the centre down towards your cut.  When you are nearly at the end taper around to the side seam, creating a nice rounded end for the ear.  

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 3 - rounding the ears

Don't stress too much about this step as the stretchy material is quite forgiving if your rounded ends aren't perfect.  If, like me, you would like to have a second go then go right ahead.  You may find that the first attempt had a basting effect, thus making it easier the second time around.

Repeat on the other side to create the second ear. 

STEP 4:  SHAPE AND FILL THE EARS AND HEAD

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 4 - shaping the ears

To separate the ears, cut around the ends and then straight down the middle, between your stitching lines.  Stop at the point where you started stitching.  Then cut 1" towards the heel, through one layer of sock only.  

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 4 - the finished head and ears

Turn out  the sock through this extra 1" cut and fill.  Stitch the hole closed.  Congratulations, you now have the donkeys head and ears.

STEP 5:  REPEAT!

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 5 - head and body

Repeat steps 3 & 4 to make the body and legs.  Yes, it's exactly the same method! 

Sew together these two pieces, at the neck. 

 STEP 6:  SEW, SHAPE AND FILL THE ARMS

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 6 - sewing and shaping the arms

Yes, I know they are really the front legs but for the purposes of clarity I'll call them arms.  Plus, if Delilah is clever enough to climb trees, then I think she's a new breed of donkey.  ;)

Grab your piece for the arms, and using the exact method you did for the ears and legs, start sewing at the cut end taper off when you reach the top of the sock.  Repeat on the other half to create both arms.  

Turn right-side out and fill.  Attach the arms to your donkey body. 

STEP 7:  PREPARE THE MANE AND TAIL

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 7 - separating the tail and mane pieces

Separate the mane and tail pieces by cutting length-wise, just over the half way point.  This will allow for the mane to be a little bit longer.

STEP 8:  MAKE THE MANE

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 8 - cut the mane into strands

Cut strands in the mane to create the look of hair.  Be sure not to cut all the way through the width of the sock though.

Hand sew down the centre line onto the head and between the ears.  I then tied various strands into loose knots to ruffle it up a little more but it is entirely up to you.

STEP 9:  MAKE THE TAIL

Delilah the Sock Donkey, step 9 - sew the tail

Folding in half, right sides together, sew along the length of your tail from your original cut and stopping approximately 1.5" - 2" from the end.  As with the mane, cut this unsewn section into strands.

Turn tail right sides out and attach to your donkey.

STEP 10:  SEW ON THE EYES AND YOU'RE DONE!

Delilah the Sock Donkey, front view

Delilah the Sock Donkey, back view

Enjoy your new donkey friend. Don't forget to let me know if you make one.  I'd love to see him or her! And be sure to email me with any questions if you need any help. I'll do what I can.

Donktober

There are currently two fabulous Donktober giveaways running so be show to check them out and throw your name in the hat to for the chance win some donkilicious fabrics.  You'll find them here and here.  Good luck!

E.

15 comments:

  1. Delilah is the bestest, cutest sock donk I've ever seen.:-) That's one sassy ass-y.Hee He (or should that be HEE Haw) And clever too! I'm definitely going to have a go at this one. Your tutorial makes it all look so easy. Thanks Erin!

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  2. Oh Erin this is so brilliant!! I love Delilah and the socks are just perfect! The mane and the tail are simply adorable :)

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  3. This is so cute! I am seriously about to run over to the store and buy some donkey appropriate knee high socks right now :D. I love his long face!

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  4. LOL~That is the CUTEST, Erin!! You're a genius. :) I love Delilah. Like Taryn, this makes me want to run out and buy some knee socks. xo

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  5. OMG just when I thought the paper pieced donky was the best I see this little gal - I am not on th esearch for funky socks to make one :) I love Donktober!!!

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  6. OMG that is soo cool! Such a cute variation of the sock monkey! =D

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  7. Delilah is super cute! The stripey stocks are so perfect!

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  8. See, so cute I can't even type straight! Socks* obviously, not stocks. Must learn to proofread comments before hitting "Publish".

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  9. Dude this is SO CUTE!!!! Miss E is jealous of Miss L's Damien Donkey...perhaps I can make her one of these. Ridonkulous. Hee haw...

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  10. Awwww! How cute is she!?! FAR better than a monkey ;-D

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  11. What a cute sock project, and yes...waaay cuter than sock monkeys (they kind of give me the creeps).
    Thanks for the tutorial :)

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  12. sock monkeys are so creepy! Delilah, on the other hand, is very adorable :) I have a couple books on sewing little ctitters from socks, but I haven't been brave enough to try it yet. I think I will start with your tute, you make it look so doable :)

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  13. Hee hee, fab, although you get much funkier socks than we do...

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  14. I made a Sock Donkey!! I'm just about to blog about it now!!

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