Jan 11, 2011

Sock Snowmen

 

This morning when I went out to take my daughter to school it was -12.  That is too cold for my blood and despite the beautiful snow on the ground there is NO way you're getting me outside to make a snowman.  So, instead, I'll opt for the inside version made out of socks.  They're easier to make, last longer and dare I say it... they're cuter too.

Want to make your own?  Here's how:



You'll need the following:
1- white sock.  Use one that has a mid-calf or knee high tube on the top.
decorative socks (the argyle ankle socks shown plus many other styles are at Target for $1)
Rice for filler
twine or ribbon
rubberbands
buttons
something for the nose (I used the top of a bbq stick that I painted orange)


Step 1: cut the foot part off of your sock and discard.  You only need the tube part.  This is great if you have socks that are worn or have holes in them.

Step 2 & 3:   Turn the tube part of your sock inside out and wrap a rubber band around the bottom.  Make sure it is wrapped tightly.  Then turn it inside out again so the rubber band is on the inside.

Step 4 & 5:  Fill the sock with rice.  Be sure to push the rice down as you go.  This will stretch the sock a bit and make it so you get a nice plump snowman in the end.  Then, close the top by wrapping another rubber band around the top as shown in the photo above. 

Step 6:  Taking the ankle socks, cut as shown above.  The first one, you'll cut off the toe and the heel.  The second sock you'll just cut off the heel.  And, I should note.  If you have a sock that doesn't have a mate and it's a longer than an ankle sock, you can dress your whole snowman with just one sock.
Step 7, 8 & 9:  First, take the sock without a toe and a heel and put it over your rice filled sock.  This becomes the sweater.  Then, pushing the rice down to make a solid base, tie a piece of ribbon or twine around the bottom of the sweater.  Next do the same thing with the top of the sweater like shown in the middle photo above.  And, last but not least, add the hat.  The hat is the other sock that you cut up that still has the toe.  (To make it look less like a sock, I tied some twine on the top.)



Step 10:  Next you add your embellishments.  Eyes, nose, buttons etc...  you can sew them on if you want but I went for fast and just used hot glue.


And there you have it - the cutest, easiest, little snowman you'll ever make.  I whipped this little guy up in less than 10 minutes and I didn't even get cold in the process.

Here is one of his friends:  This guy was made the same way as the one above only I didn't add the twine at the bottom of the sweater. 



Just some quick tips:  
- you could sew the sock instead of using a rubber band.
- beans work too, don't limit yourself just to rice
- use socks that don't have mates then you don't have to buy new ones
- the argyle socks came from Target and they have a TON of different patterns for $1
- the striped socks are actually mid-calf toe socks so only need one sock instead of two
- you can add mushed up potpourri to the inside so it will smell good too.

So that's it - super easy and way cute!
Enjoy!

71 comments:

Our really empty nest said...

So so cute, love them! Thanks for sharing! Sue

April said...

Those are too cute! I may have to go digging through the sock drawers tomorrow!

Katie Johnson said...

I might be the only one wondering, but where did you get the snowman's nose??

valentinegirl said...

these are darling....I am usually a class room Mom and these would be an easy project for a holiday party. Totally bookmarking this for next year! And thinking maybe a Valentine's version could work for our upcoming 3rd grade party!! cute idea! I have seen other versions of this, but yours is way cuter!!

Erin said...

Those are the cutest snowmen I've ever seen!!! I'm totally in love! :)

Thanks for the tutorial, you really did a great job showing how it's done!

Judy @ In His Grip said...

Okay, so these are the cutest snowmen ever. And your tutorial is great.

Alberta said...

AAA...Absolutely Awesomely Adorable!

GretchenP said...

really cute! rice is a great idea! and love the addtion of the patterned socks! thanks so much!

Shalana Frisby said...

Hi Amy,
You have a wonderful blog... full of great crafty projects. These snowmen are adorable!

I'm the Craft Editor for Reader's Digest Association (Milwaukee branch) and am interested in one of your previous craft posts for an upcoming publication of Country Woman magazine. I didn't know how else to contact you so I thought that I'd make a comment about it. If you are interested, please get in touch with me for more information. My email address is Shalana_Frisby@rd.com - I hope to hear from you soon. We would really like the opportunity to feature your craft and blog.

Thanks for your time & happy crafting!
-Shalana :)

Emily {WhipperBerry} said...

Amy,
These are absolutely the cutest fabric snowmen I've seen all season! I love that with the rice they will be more stable than if they are filled with fluff!

Semalee said...

I love this! And on my blog we're doing a series called "Making our Homes like Heaven in 2011" and this week we're tossing out our unmade socks! I just put a link to this post on the facebook page in case someone wants to use those socks to make something cute ;)

Semalee @ Nailing Jello to a Tree

Stef said...

Cutest Snowman ever!! I've made sock snowman many times but mine never turned out like yours ;) Love them.
Stef
itsallinmyheadstefsblog.blogspot.com

Kristi said...

Oh my... these are wonderful! Hands down, the best crafted snowmen I've seen. I'd love for you to come link these up at my party.

http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/2011/01/favorite-things-friday-no-7.html

rubber injection molding said...

Very creative idea, congratulations .. it's nice to see that a creative person can be of anything to do something, commendable ..

Heather said...

These are so freaking cute! Just discovered your blog today and am thrilled to be your newest follower :0)

Kim @ Party Frosting! said...

omg! These are too cute! I am so tucking this away for next year! I am loving your blog! new follower...

hugs! Kim @ Party Frosting!

dizzytina said...

These are so so fab i love them. i have just found your blog and love it tina x x
http://scratchycatcrafter.blogspot.com

tina said...

Very creative idea...Thanks for your time..

Jessica @ My World - Made By Hand said...

Oh boy...I am SO making these!!!

Courtney said...

I love these. I just made two of them for a bunco party I am hosting and we are to bring three 5$ prize gifts. I made two as on gift!!! Love LOVE LOVE
So easy

sweet and lovely crafts said...

Hi,
I just saw these on Pinterest and they are SO adorable! I can't wait to make some. What a wonderful idea.

Lori of I'm no super Mom said...

I just did this craft after finding it on pinterest and I LOVED it! So easy and SO cute!!

☼Carolina Artesanías☼ said...

great!
thanks from Chile

K-Sue said...

Cute, cute, cute! I saw this on Moms By Heart. I think we must make some.

Odile said...

Hi! I know in this moment your blog and is so cute. I love your chritsmas socks! Have a nice day!

The Francis Family said...

Adorable! Thanks so much for the tutorial! You're awesome! I found you on pinterest :)

Katy said...

Now why didn't I think of this? This is so cute! Totally going to do this for Christmas. Thanks for such an awesome idea!

Jennifer said...

I saw these on Pinterest and OH MY WORD, they are toooo stinking cute! I can't wait to make a little sock family. =) Thank you for sharing!

Bright Angel said...

Just got the link to your post from Craft Gossip! Definitely making some of these! :) They are SO cute!! :)

Farida said...

Totally Love them....my son had a winter project last week wish i would have found it earlier but i'll still make them.
Thank you for Sharing

Becky Green said...

How ADORABLE!!!!!! I LOVE Snowmen!!!! :) Thanks for showing us! ( Found you on CraftGossip.com )

aurelei90 said...

so cute

Anonymous said...

I love your snowmen! I found you thru Wendi Gratz's Shiny Happy World, and she does find the very best of stuff to swoon over! Great job, and so cute for no more of a time investment that they are! I bet my grand kids would like to make these guys! Thanks so much for sharing! Andrea

Stevie @ MooreBabies said...

SOooo cute! Just saw this on Pinterest and wanted to let you know I LOVE IT!
Moore Babies

Micupoftea~ said...

AWESOME! Easy and charming...I was looking for something to make for my friends and sisters...BINGO! Love 'em. Thanks for sharing. I am a new follower :)

Karisa said...

These are absolutely adorable! I've included them in our sock crafts round-up on FaveCrafts Blog: http://www.favecraftsblog.com/link-love-sock-crafts/

Please let me know if you'd be interested in publishing any of your craft projects with us :)

Anonymous said...

My son and I just spent a day making these for his friends for Christmas presents. Went to the charity shop to get all the socks. They look fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing this idea they are just adorable and am sure his friends will love them.

Kneady Sweetie said...

These seriously are so cute! I am totally going to make these this year.

Meshell said...

Hi...this is a great idea and I am using it for gifts for my staff...

I have a question though...how big are the buttons you used for the eyes??

Sara@TCme said...

Super fun and easy craft!

Anonymous said...

Love these! Just made them with a friend and a little tip we discovered is that you definitely need a mans tall/knee sock for these. We bought womens crew socks and lets just say they are going to be the snowman kids lol!

Kathleen said...

These are so CUTE! I collect snowpeople so really plan to make these - with my granddaughter... Tooooo Cute!

Sherry@ Ties2ThePast said...

Amy, I found this on Pinterest & fell in love!
I posted it on my blog, giving you & your blog all the credits...of course!
Hope you don't mind me sharing!
♥'s
Sherry

Holly said...

I saw these snowmen on Pinterest and LOVE them. Made a couple for my mom and put the post over on my blog, of course giving you the credit for your creativity. check it out if you'd like!
http://twohensandmonkey.blogspot.com/2011/11/once-there-was-snowman.html

Brittany Stewart said...

Love love love these!
Making my own and a possible holiday decoration post coming soon.. (linkbacks to inspiration, of course)
Thank you so much for this idea. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you Thank you Thank you! Love this craft and am sitting here making them right now! Made the first one all the way through to see if mine would turn out even half as cute as yours (I have a talent for totally destroying any good idea!) It turned out fantastic, your instructions were perfect and so simple to follow with all the details and pictures. Just wonderful! Now making several more!!! Happy Crafting!

Ginny said...

I love these! They are so darling. I featured them on my blog: http://www.organizinghomelife.com/archives/1023 Thanks for sharing the idea.

Bruce said...

Thanks for a great blog
Best Christmas Decoration ideas

Jud said...

I love these!!!!
Thanks,
kisses from Brazil,
jud-artes.

mrs.munoz08 said...

i love this!! these are so cute i did this tonight with my son :) thanx for sharing

Homeschool on the Croft said...

That is unbelievably cute! And I have no shortage of odd socks, I can assure you!

sharondais@aol.com said...

OMGosh, these little guys are sooo very cute. I also just ran across ur site. ur tutorial is so great, easy to understand(which I like,ha) got my socks ready to be made up...what fun!!! thank u so much. am going to put one in each of my grandkids stocking's..MERRY CHRISTMAS..

Sereina said...

Those are so cute! Such a creative idea.

Anonymous said...

i absolutely love this!! i made 3 tonight and only had to spend about $10, i had a lot of things on hand. these will be perfect gifts for the grandparents!! thanks for the idea!!

Allison said...

I made these! Here's a link to my finished snow family: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45740646@N02/6488147091/

Simple Sanity said...

Had so much fun making this on Thanksgiving with the whole family! What a creative and wonderful idea. Thank You! We used recycled partner-less socks, stuff from around the house, and for the whole group of us (18) to make the project it only cost the $5 for the huge bag of Costco rice. Thanks! -kv

Here is a link to our snowmen:
http://simplesanityinsuburbia.blogspot.com/2011/12/stressfree-x-mas-secret.html

Anonymous said...

I am among the many that love your idea! I have not read all of the comments, so this may be a repeat...but, I am using men's tube socks, knee high, and cutting them in half. No waste! I also bought fuzzy footies that go above the ankle. I cut the heel part out and use the foot for the hat and the sock part for the snowman's sweater. Hardly any waste there, either! The fuzzy is a little messy, as it wants to shed some, but looks cool! Thank you for posting this idea! It is awesome!

Sharon said...

These are too cute! Thanks for sharing!
Ms. McBee’s Kinderbugs

Anonymous said...

Made one last night - it was so easy & turned out super cute! Thanks for sharing!

Julia Holloman said...

These cuties just melt my heart. I've been collecting snowmen for over 25 years—they just make me smile! Can't wait to add a few of these to my collection. Thanks for sharing your amazing creative art with us! julia holloman

Desi said...

I made these with my crew of three to five year olds, today. What a great project. Thanks for sharing it!

Nathaly said...

tout a fait ADORABLE!!! I like :)

Joyce Atkins said...

I made snowmen for Christmas for the ladies in family and they are so cute! They loved them, and I made one for myself, too. Thanks so much for the sharing!

Dymphie said...

super cute, thanks for telling how to make such a snowman ♥

Laura Zentz said...

OH MY WORD!!!!!!!!!!!
If these were any cuter, they'd be illegal!!!
TOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!
And thanks so much for sharing the how to!

Laura said...

OH MY WORD!!!!!!!!!!!
If these were any cuter, they'd be illegal!!!
TOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!
And thanks so much for sharing the how to!

Sarah said...

Found your tutorial on Pinterest and just HAD to make these little guys. Have put a link on my blog to your tutorial, hope you don't mind
:)
http://3peasinapodpapercrafts.com/2012/01/21/its-beginning-…like-christmas

Re Use said...

cute!

Rose said...

These are adorable!

Terra said...

Hello! I just found your blog on Pinterest. Love the snowman. I have a few questions. Can they still work with men's socks? If so, tube socks or crew socks? How tall are the snowmen you made from ladie's socks? I'm thinking snow family. :) Thank you! Terra

Ann said...

I actually went to a scrapbooking store & seen these displayed there.I have made over 50 of them since before Christmas, & have taught friends & neighbors how to make them...I now have a sock fetish...I need to make more...Who doesn't like snowmen!!! By the way I have never made 2 the same. <3
Kind Regards,
Ann