Hi, my name is Caleb and I am ten years old and learned how to hand sew this summer. My moms friend said she had a great idea for me and I quickly got hooked on sock monsters. I have made 10 in last couple months and really enjoy creating them, naming them and now giving them away as gifts. All you need is a sock, stuffing and buttons. A little creativity helps as well. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I have.

Step 1: What You Will Need

a knee high sock
stuffing
buttons
good scissors
needle and thread or sewing machine
craft glue or hot glue gun
left over craft / sewing materials for more detail

Step 2: Making the Legs

Lay the sock flat with the heel facing up. The toe of sock at the top and the opening of the sock on the bottom.

Step 3: Make One Cut for Leg

Make one two to three inch cut up the center of the sock.

Step 4: Making the Horns

At the toe of the sock make one cut in the middle about one - two inches. Then cut each side of the toe to make a triangle.

Step 5: Making the Mouth

Take the heel of the sock and pull it up. Then make a horizontal cut about 3/4 inch. This makes a natural lip when folded back and also where you can stuff your sock monster.

Step 6: Sewing Legs and Horns

It is easiest to use a machine to sew the legs and horns. I had a friend do it for me and hand sewed some of them too. Sew the horns shut. Sew the legs shut. Using colorful thread is a good way to add detail to your monster.

Step 7: Stuff the Monster

Stuff monster through the mouth pushing the stuffing all the way down the legs. A pencil helps to get it in there. Fill the belly area then fill the horns last.

Step 8: Close Mouth Opening

Using a small piece of scrap material (size should be slightly larger than mouth opening), glue it to the inside of the mouth.

Step 9: Fold Back Lips

Once the scrap piece is glued in you can easily fold back the lips. I like to glue them in place too.

Step 10: Sewing on the Eyes

This is my favorite step because it gives the monster character. My mom has a big collection of old buttons and I ask to use hers. Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to look for really cool buttons.

Step 11: Adding Arms

Again from scrap materials or socks, cut two squares about 3 inches long. These become your arms when sewed shut, stuffed and sewed on.

Step 12: Embellish Any Way You Want

My little sister likes me to put hair on the ones I make for her. I have added eye patches to some, tails and old patches to others. Creepy tongues are cool too.