Materials
One Large Sock, Basic Sewing Supplies, Stuffing (fibre or soft fabric), Embellishments
Try Stuffing Your Doll With Used Fabric
- Did you know that 11.2 million tons of textile waste, mostly discarded clothing was estimated to end up in US landfills by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (Cesarina Mason et al., 2021, 146).
- The amount of clothing bought world wide increased by 60% between 2000-2014. From 2003-2018 the average number of times an article of clothing is worn reduced by 36%. (Burnside, 2022)
- Less than 1% of clothing is recycled through a closed loop approach to fashion, while only 2% are recycled in other ways. (Giordano, 2020, 285)
References at the bottom of the page.
This is PJ.
It doesn‘t matter how you make a sock doll, it is truly about the fun of the process. PJ is really just a sock cat with modified ears!
- If you’d like to make a monkey, just cut the head round. Make the ears with the leftover fabric by following the ‘bobcat’ tail directions.
- If you’d like to make a bear, make the ears round instead of pointy. To make the tail follow the ‘bobcat’ tail directions.
A great thing about sock sewing is that it can help you learn how to sew. It also gets you thinking about how to modify what you already have!
Sock Doll Tip: Stitching
Your stitches should be close to the edge of the sock, but not at the very edge. Tight straight stitching will work, but for extra strength consider backstitching.
Straight Stitching
This easy stitch is great for starters, it is also a good option if you want to stitch details onto your finished doll.
Backstitching
I especially love this stitch when securing the doll's arms to its body.
Cutting the Sock
Lay the sock out flat, and cut the sock to match the dashed lines below. Stop at least 2cm below the heel of the sock when cutting the tail. Any scrap pieces can be stuffed in the sock later.
Visual: Step 1
Step 1
Turn the sock inside out and stitch along the dotted lines. Leave a gap on the side of a leg, and at the end of each arm and the tail.
Step 2
Turn all pieces right side out. Turning the tail right side out can be difficult. Consider braiding a piece of wool, or cutting the sock tail shorter to make a bobtail kitty.
Visual: Step 3
Step 3
Fill the body with stuffing through the gap in the leg. If you are using recycled fabric, cut the stuffing into small pieces. Massaging the doll as you stuff it will help to keep the stuffing even. Stuff the arms.
Step 4
Sew closed the gaps that you left. Tucking the edge of the fabric in (essentially creating a hem) will help it look tidier.
Visual: Step 5
Step 5
Pin the nose a third of the way down the face. Hem it on most of the way, but add a little stuffing before closing. Use pins to anchor the arms and tail in place, then do two rows of backstitching to keep them secure.
Visual: Step 1
Step 1
Turn the sock inside out and stitch along the dotted lines. Leave a gap on the side of a leg, and at the end of each arm and the tail.
Step 2
Turn all pieces right side out. Turning the tail right side out can be difficult. Consider braiding a piece of wool, or cutting the sock tail shorter to make a bobtail kitty.
Visual: Step 3
Step 3
Fill the body with stuffing through the gap in the leg. If you are using recycled fabric, cut the stuffing into small pieces. Massaging the doll as you stuff it will help to keep the stuffing even. Stuff the arms.
Step 4
Sew closed the gaps that you left. Tucking the edge of the fabric in (essentially creating a hem) will help it look tidier.
Visual: Step 5
Step 5
Pin the nose a third of the way down the face. Hem it on most of the way, but add a little stuffing before closing. Use pins to anchor the arms and tail in place, then do two rows of backstitching to keep them secure.
Finishing
Embellish with buttons, fabric paint, or embroidery. If you have worn out socks with a nice cuff, cut the cuff off at the elastic to make a collar.
References
Burnside, A. ”Price of passion for fast fashion; How our throwaway approach to clothes and love for bargain buys is ruining the planet.. and why we have no time to waste to address the problem.” Daily Record [Glasgow, Scotland], 19 Oct. 2021, p. 18. Gale In Context: Global Issues, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A679416099/GIC?u=abbo55004&sid=bookmark-GIC&xid=591cef58.
Cesarina Mason, M, et al. “Recycling Habits and Environmental Responses to Fast-Fashion Consumption: Enhancing the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Generation Y Consumers’ Purchase Decisions.” Waste Management, vol. 139, Feb. 2022, pp. 146–57. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.proxy.ufv.ca:2443/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.12.012.
Giordano, R, et al. “Building the Fashion’s Future. How Turn Textiles’ Wastes into Ecological Building Products.” Strategic Design Research Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, May 2020, pp. 284–93. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.proxy.ufv.ca:2443/10.4013/sdrj.2020.132.11.