Aug 20

Aug 20 DIY: “No-sew” sock puppy

Summer of (puppy) love

How has your summer been? Like so many families right now, we spent our summer safe at home. In June, we brought home a sweet and fluffy new addition to our family, Whistler! This little guy has helped fill our days (and nights) with a lot of happiness, not to mention endless playing, walks and puppy kisses!

To celebrate our puppy, we wanted to share an easy project - a no-sew sock puppy! Today is also an extra special day to make one since it’s the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul, which in Judaism is the New Year of the Animals.

So come make a sock puppy with us! You only need a sock, some elastic ties (and a few additional items) to make one!

No-Sew Sock Puppy

Supplies for one puppy:

1 crew sock (we used a women’s size)
4 large cotton balls
Two handfuls of pillow stuffing
6 small elastic ties
Craft glue
2 small felt circles (eyes)
1 small pom pom (nose)
2 small felt pieces (ears)
Optional decorations: chenille stem and pony beads (for a collar) and markers

Here’s how to make this little friend:

1. Start by taking two cotton balls and placing them on the right and left side of the bottom of the sock. Use the elastic ties to wrap around each cotton ball, which will secure it inside the sock. These will become the puppy’s legs.

2. Take one large handful of pillow stuffing and place it in the middle of the sock, right above the legs. This is the puppy’s body.

3. Use the last two cotton balls and place them on the right and left side of the sock - right on top of the puppy’s body. Wrap the elastic ties to secure each cotton ball. These will become the puppy’s arms.

4. Right above the arms, secure the entire body with an elastic tie.

5. Take a handful of stuffing to make a head and secure it closed with an elastic tie.

6. Make a hat for your puppy by folding back the rest of the sock until halfway down on the puppy’s head.

7. Secure the top of the hat with your last elastic tie.

8. It’s time for a cute face! Use the glue to attach the eyes, nose and ears.

9. Yay! He’s all done! What a cute puppy! If you’d like, you can decorate your puppy. We like stringing pony beads on a chenille stem to make a collar and making our puppy colorful with markers.

The month of Elul is a time set aside for personal reflection to get our minds ready for the New Jewish Year, and today, on the New Year of the Animals, it’s extra special to think about all the different kinds of animals that share our world. Whether you have a real pet, a stuffed animal or a sock puppy, you can talk with your child about what we can all do to take care of animals. Taking care of animals is also the Jewish value Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim (kindness to animals).

Let us know if you do anything special for animals today, and if you make a sock puppy too! If you have an extra sock, you can also have fun making a sweet little no-sew bug plushie! We also have many fun activities to help you get you ready to celebrate the New Jewish Year!

Wishing you a day filled with lots of puppy love. ♥