pointysticks.net

When I made the first sock frogs it didn’t occur to me that they’d be such a hit. There’s just something about those large silly smiles that induces people to smile back at them.

I chose the cheap nylon womens socks because (mainly) there’s a lot of eye appeal in the colors and patterns.

First things first I suppose. Ankle socks are more readily available in two and three packs, but the drawback is that it may take both socks from a pair to make a single frog. To see if I could do it, I tried eeking out the purple striped frog from a single ankle sock– I did it, but not without some difficulty, had I needed to recut a piece I would have had to sacrifice the 2nd sock.

Start by gathering your supplies. You’ll need quilting or sewing pins, a disappearing ink marker, a pair of scissors, polyfil, matching sewing thread, tatting thread (okay fine, other threads will work but tatting thread is the best), assorted needles and embroidery thread.

Start by fluffing the poly-fil and stuffing the very toe of the sock taking care not to over stuff (these are cheap socks, too much stuffing will reveal the poly-fil through the fabric.)

With your tatting thread put a running stitch around the sock where the stuffing ends. Do not tie knots, just leave the ends dangling, you’ll need those ends in a little bit.

Then carefully cut away the sock about 1/2 inch below the stitch line. When sock is cut away, gently tighten the tatting thread and redistribute the fabric so that it eases in towards the center fairly evenly. Tie the ends now keeping that tension and tuck and stuffing barf and the raw edges inside so that what you have looks more or less something like this:

Time for a little machine sewing! Take that bit that you just cut off and grab that disappearing marker. Flip the sock remnant wrong side out and draw four webbed feet. Do not cut out the feet yet! Secure the fabric so it won’t slip, and with small straight stitches go right over your marks.

Once that’s finished trim the seams to a scant 1/8th inch and turn them them right side out.

It is not necessary to stuff the feet. Merely turning in (at the ankles? If that’s the appropriate word for this part of the frog anatomy– I just don’t know) will be sufficient.

Follow the same process for the eyes. These do need to be turned and stuffed, before adding a little running stitch around the base of each to allow a little gathering and the tucking in of the raw edges.

Time to figure out where everything goes. I found that by using quilting pins I can play around with the positioning of the eyes and feet before committing to anything.

Mark the position of the pin, and you can replace the eye back into the right spot.

Using the matching thread, ladder stitch the eyes into place.

Repeat the process with the placement of the feet.

Now cut the bottom of the heel to cover the bottom.

Tuck the raw edge under and ladder stitch it into place.

To make the mouth I simply follow the line of the toe seam and shape the mouth with stitches.

Just like a ladder stitch but catching the seam under the needles before going to the other side to make the lips stand up a little more. Pull firmly but not tight (as this is just sewing thread and will snap easily.)

At last its time for the eye details. If you aren’t sure of your embroidery skills go ahead and use a bead or some fabric paint. I used a simple backstitch and a french knot in black embroidery thread.

And here he is: