Commissions: Back to my roots

Yesterday (as I was actually trying to work at work--gasp! no!) I was approached with a work related question that quickly morphed into a new commission.

A commission that takes me back to my roots.

SOCK MONKEYS!!

I love sock monkeys.  They're cute but oddly weird looking (which you can play up or down, so versatile!) but more importantly they are EASY!

The ease probably comes from having made so many over my crafting history.  And let me just say, those first ones (completely hand sewn) aren't exactly "good enough" to sell to anyone.

I was tasked with making FOUR monkeys.  The only instructions/requests were "classic" in look (meaning Rockford Red Heel socks) and "baby safe" (so no button eyes).  Two are needed as soon as I can make them and the other two can wait a bit (since they are for babies still in the womb).

I'm pretty excited about this because it will give me a chance to try out the ballpoint needles I bought to make my sister's easter sheep.  I've made monkeys on the machine using a regular needle and had no issues so it will be fun to see if the ballpoint needle makes any real difference (I think I'll use a zig zag stitch too--I think older monkeys had a straight stitch).

So, we'll see what MORE KNOWLEDGE does for the finished products.

Now, to go hunt down my sock stash and see what I have on hand. . .

(oh, and while I'm talking commissions, the giant squid might be moving to stage two shortly--I'm working with the buyer on money issues, so hopefully they'll have the supply fee scraped together so I can buy the fabric and start on it).

Oh, there will be pics once I get these monkeys stitched up.