Stray Sock Sewing: Making One of a Kind Creatures from Socks Paperback – October 13, 2008

I was a little taken back by the reviews that said they were hoping to have more instruction on the dolls, although it is true that the instructions for sewing come at the back of the book and they are not instructions for all of the animals shown. I think that with the instructions given, a person could design his or her own one-of-a-kind creations. If you are in a hurry to have one of the examples shown in the book, probably I would select one of the ones with full instructions from the back of the book. The others can be done, but might take a bit of practice and trial-and-error. The Lace Rabbit is one with full instructions that would be a good gift. Of the ones that instructions aren't actually given, I like the duck (p. 16 and 17), although it would take a little figuring to make it come out right, and there aren't instructions for the arm-less dolls, like the pigeon, seal and duck. All in all, I like this book and it has a lot of ideas for making sock creatures.

If you are looking for a book with patterns to cut out and pin to a sock, this won't be the one for you (but then I don't know if you will find a sock doll book like that). What this book does have is really great photo instructions that show you how to cut up a sock and how to sew and stuff the dolls you make. It is really simple and I feel like a 10 year old (who knows basic hand sewing) could understand the instructions. This book is a great way to inspire your creativity and your own imagination. There are lots of fun pictures to give you ideas to make your own original sock dolls.I find the book well written and layed out. The author has divided the book into three sections:1 All about sock dolls. A menangerie of fun pictures of Daniel's sock doll creatures. It's definately eye candy for the creative person.2 The Basics of making sock dolls. This section includes some how-to sewing techniques.3 Projects step-by-step.

It's kind of amazing how many books there are about making toys out of socks. This one is distinctive because of the author's ability to make sock animals that are---dare I say it--art. They are expressive, playful and fun. The cute/winsome factor of the photographs is off the charts. Can an ordinary crafter achieve comparable results? Maybe, maybe not. But the book is inspiring nonetheless. If you enjoy this sort of thing (and someone in my household really does enjoy this sort of thing), the book is worth having just as a gallery of inspiration and possibility. As a free-form crafter myself, I liked that he didn't use plain socks, which would be easier to find; instead he often worked with the kind of weird, embellished socks that seem to always end up without a mate.

I bought this book a while ago but didn't pull it out until last week. . .and now I can't stop making sock dolls! The goal of this book isn't to tell you how to make the same dolls Daniel makes. . .it's to show you how to make YOUR dolls! The instructions, which are excellent and extremely well illustrated, cover basic doll making and several different types of dolls, but don't replicate the dolls in his fantastic photo gallery. It's easy enough to do that, if you want, once you've made one or two, but what's the fun in replicating what someone else has already done?Use this book as a springboard and see how high YOU can fly!

There are 2 of these, this is the first book and he has a second book which I actually bought first since I saw that in a bookstore and was able to flip through it before buying.  Stray Sock Sewing, Too: More Super-Cute Sock Softies to Make and Love  I actually made more from that book, you can see images I uploaded on that book. I liked it so much I decided to buy this first book for more ideas and uploaded what I made. I only started with this book. I think its great. Now I am always looking at socks when I shop!!!

It's a great little book, but I'm disappointed that what is pictured in the book ( and on the cover) is not really included in the project instructions. The cat on the cover, the crocodile, and the mouse pictured in the book are not in there; I'm not sure if they are in the first book, but had I known I would've picked up the first book only.This is one reason why I hate buying books online and am upset places like Borders closed down their stores- I don't know what I'm getting until I get it, and when I do get it, it's not worth my time or money to ship it back.

This book is so cute and really good. The directions are clear and easy to understand, there are also nice clear pictures to help you get through the directions if you don't understand the text. There are tons of pictures to inspire you with other ideas besides the directions for the ones he gives you. I would recommend this to anyone who loves hand sewing crafts. Great for making gifts for kids!<3Shipping was also Extremely fast, I got it in 3 days with the free super saver shipping.

I have to agree with Genevieve Hayes' review. While I absolutely adore the book and the sock animals it teaches you to make, I am more happy that I only bought the $2.50 copy. More than half the book is all just a gallery of amazing sock animals in the most adorable scenes... but you only get to make 8 animals. The cat on the cover isn't included in the making. The lion that I fell in love with in the photos... they don't show you how to make him either. All they show you how to make is the long eared mini rabbit, lucky cat, pig, lace rabbit, indian elephant, teddy bear, punk zebra, and bead-eyed hippo - that's it.All but one of the images in the listing for this book are sock animals that the book does not show you how to make.

a number of people have given this book low marks because they feel it doesn't have enough projects and that the instructions aren't exactly tailor made for their needs. I feel however, that if you have a little bit of sewing ability (even just what you learn from the books suggestions of practising certain stitches) and a little bit of an ability to look at projects that have been made, once you have tried a few of the sock projects that are in the book, you should be able to look at projects and see how they were made. This book opened up a lovely soft world of fun for me. I now go into my daughter's school and work with the kids teaching them to sew and helping them make sock animals - though we do a sock cat that I designed a pattern for by looking at other people's makings. Everything can't always be spoon-fed to you. use your own ideas and feel free to make things that look silly, wonky - maybe they don't turn out right the first time but the next time you try it you know where you went wrong. That's what life is like! have fun with it and don't get too serious. I think if you read the copy in the book you'll see that that's a lot of what Dan is saying.

i bought this book as i want to learn how to make animals from socks, instead most of the book is around pictures of sock animals made, only last 15 or so pages were filled with relevant information.

I saw this book while on holiday and liked it, so ordered it when I got home. Have already been busy creating one of the seriously cute Chinese Lucky Cat style dolls and a huge sock monkey. I think this will inspire many presents this Christmas!The book is divided into sections, with a photo gallery of some amazing sock creations. Who says that sock creatures have to be monkeys? There are animals and creatures of all kinds in this book! There is also a section of good, clear instructions in basic skills for constructing sock creatures and a set of projects with step-by-step instructions. All are clear and easy to follow, with good photographs.The best thing about the book is its quirkiness. The artist who has created it writes with humour and just a touch of craziness, which makes it special and fun.I think it's a great book, full of inspiration and quite cute too!

The character on the cover doesn’t have any instructions on how to make it. This annoyed me because it was the whole reason I bought the book! The majority of the book is photos of the sock dolls but with no instructions for them! You only get a handful of instructions at the end for a select few characters.

Great book full of inspiring ideas, fun, lighthearted and humourous.Not many step-by-step instructions included so maybe not great for young children, but more about ideas and sparking your imagination. I am in my 30s and am now a serious sock creature making addict. Get together with friends on an evening and make stuff! Because it's socks you're using there is no pressure to create 'perfect' objects, the slightly odd and quirky aspects are all part of the attraction. Beccy S