Tatjana V. (tatjana) reviewed on 12/2/2009 + 27 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 4

First: this book is not for you if:
1. You are looking for children's craft books.
2. You have the Martha Stewart, Christopher Lowell, or design on a dime aesthetic.
3. If you are looking for precise patterns or don't have basic sewing skills.

This book may be for you if:
1. You find yourself tatting doilies into little skulls.
2. Your sock monkeys end up looking like a damaged octopus, no matter how closely you followed the directions.
3. You can sew... even a little... even if your stuff comes out a little off.

This book, which I actually got through an inter-library loan (then subsequently bought), makes you feel all warm inside. First, it's written by a guy. John Murphy went to art school. He tried to make a sock monkey and failed, which led him to the creatures. After doing a bunch of these sock creatures, he did a book.

Here's the fantastic thing about this book (besides the pictures), this book is about unleashing your inner sock monster. Yes, there are "patterns" for specific monsters, but the author encourages you NOT to measure and to let the creature take it's own shape. So by the end of the book, you are creating your own sock creatures... if you hadn't been already.
The first day I had the book, I plundered my husband's sock drawer, then my own, then asked my friend's for their cast offs. Oh yes.
Now I'm planning on plundering the local thrift store and asking the ladies to save me their socks!

Did I mention this is not a children's craft book? Yeah. Maybe a teen with a sewing machine that they actually use regularly.

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