July 10
I've always wondered how to make sock animals but have never had a go at it, this book is a perfect guide. It's full of inspiration, lots of different animals to make, octopuses, squirrels, lions, rabbits, mice and many more from all shapes and sizes of socks and some from gloves too. Its projects are split into skill categories, those for beginners and children, for intermediate level and the more experienced. There are step by step written and photographic instructions to guide you through the projects. There is also a section at the front telling you what supplies you will need and showing a few different stitches. It also gives you a few tips for making the projects in the book. Now you have something to do with all those mysterious odd socks that appear in the washing!
* Sewing Directory, The *
Sept 10
Did your washing machine eat one of your favorite striped kneesocks, leaving you with a lonely orphan? Maloney has a plan for that sad sock. Perhaps there's a penguin, hamster, or octopus inside that yearns to be free, and with a few snips and some simple sewing, you can make it so. Her collection takes the classic idea of the sock monkey and makes it into something new using basic techniques and imagination. Maloney's style is very informal-it's like reading the inner monolog of a craft blogger-and this will either charm you or distract you, depending on your tolerance for quirk and personal stories. Most of the projects are easy enough for (supervised) children, but adults who like a little whimsy won't be disappointed, either.
* Library Journal, USA *