Sock Rabbit for Squiggles

Last night I made Squiggles a sock rabbit! And I'm really pleased with it, especially the blissful expression :D

It felt so satisfying to sit alone in my bedroom surrounded by bits of collected fabrics, bags of stripey socks, and tangled and colourful embroidery yarns. In total, I probably spent about 4 hours making this, but it was a very relaxed experience and I was watching my Nanna's favourite film 'On Golden Pond' with Kathryn Hepburn.

The rabbit is made from one pair of regular size women's socks. I'd made a trial run using an old pair of holey grey socks a couple of months ago (that one was shaped more like a cat than a rabbit) - so I was confident that my slightly dodgy, inexperienced "method" was going to work out!


I suppose it's a tradition (of sorts) to give a newborn a fluffy little creature when it arrives (perhaps not immediately, ha ha! You don't want to freak it out), a little comforting friend to grow up with. What was weird about this was that once I'd finished it, I got it into my head to measure its length (head to toe, not including ears), and discovered that it's exactly 42cm long, which is what Squigs should measure this week. Of course that lead to feelings of awe at the sheer size of Squiggles, and wonder that my belly could contain him/her at all!

I should let you know that the sock animal was partly inspired by the creations of my friend Citrusgirl (also pregnant! Due in November), who makes the most wonderful things completely instinctively and as naturally as breathing. Her blog can be found here, and you can see lots of the amazing things she has made, except, strangely, her sock animal... hmm. Think I'd better put in a special request! :D

Unwanted Arms Become Wanted Legs

Day Two.



Today was another rather full day. In the morning we drove to Aberdyfi to take a walk along the chilly beach, followed by hot chocolate topped with whipped cream :) Then Bec and I went back to work in the afternoon, spending a few hours recording overdubs for the new album. It went pretty well, with another (the third of nine) song "finished," though yet to be tweaked, mixed properly and mastered.

What about the project, you cry! Well, I was about to tell you about that...

With the weather getting colder (although it still seems a little too mild for this end of the year, rather worryingly), I've started fantasizing about LEG WARMERS. I've been looking up knitting websites for some inspiration, but somehow it seems like a waste of good wool. Every time I pick up a ball of wool I get cold feet, ha ha. [Groan]

A couple of weeks ago I happened to be looking at a very ancient Peruvian jumper which no longer fits me (to be honest, I don't think it ever really did), and before I knew it I was removing the sleeves from the body. They looked just like a very beautiful and colourful pair of leg warmers! But, sadly, they felt horribly itchy against my skin, so I figured I needed a liner. That's when I put them away in the 'stuff-I-plan-to-do-something-constructive-with' drawer.


Let me tell you about another, slightly unsavoury project I've been undertaking recently. I've found that there are some T-shirts and tops which, although clean, will start to smell of sweat literally half an hour after putting them on. This can be embarrassing and undermining when you are already in the car on the way to a gig when the smell becomes apparent! So I've been working my way through the offensive individuals, to discover who is who, and now I know that certain items can no longer be worn. Throw them away, you cry! Alas, I cannot, for I know that Something Good can come of all things, no matter how smelly or unloved.

So the plan is, rather than making a whole new lining (would take a long time without a sewing machine), I'll just use another pair of sleeves to line the lovely but itchy ones.

Here's a photo of a couple of contenders:



I was hoping to attach them by very quickly hand-sewing them at the top. It took longer than I expected (as always!) but I'm really pleased with the result, they're so cosy! :)


Wodyafink?! Ignore my knobbly knees!