One of the craft blogs I follow very closely is Craft Hope. The site organizes various crafting-for-charity projects throughout the year, each time collecting a specific handmade item to donate to a different cause. They have just announced their 15th project, creating sock monkeys to distribute to children in Texas.
It was a very, very hot summer in Texas, and the resulting dry conditions have paved the way for devastating wildfires. Entire towns have burned to the ground, leaving whole communities with not a possession in the world. Craft Hope founder Jade lives in Texas, and will be personally handing out the monkeys to children whose families were among the over 1,600 who lost their homes this summer. The mailing deadline for the project is November 24, 2011. [read more about making sock monkeys for Texas children]
I’ve already headed to Dollar Tree and bought a few pairs of socks. If you want to help as well but have never made a sock monkey before, here is a list of tutorials (all pretty much the same) to get you going:
- Sock monkey tutorial at Craft Stylish (excerpted from the Craft Hope book)
- Sock monkey tutorial at Craftbits
- Sock monkey tutorial at Super Sock Monkey
- Sock monkey tutorial at Web Goddess
For something a little different, I also found sock monkey knitting and crochet patterns from Patons Yarn (scroll to the bottom of the page for pattern links).
4 Comments
Michelle @ You are glowing!
Great cause!! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
clothespin
The site linked after the mail in deadline has a virus or something and was blocked on my computer. Hopefully they can get it fixed soon!
And, as one of the Bastrop TX wildfire people, a HUGE thank you goes out to anyone who helps out on this. The city of Bastrop itself is OK but the rest of the area east of town was devastated… by my rough estimate, about 20% of the homes were lost in the area, including nearly 95% of the local state park. The area continues to face wildfire dangers as the severe drought (the worst one year drought in recorded history) continues another year with recurring La Nina conditions.
It is truly humbling to be part of something that is so horrible and to be on the receiving end of programs such as this. We are at the beginning of a long road to recovery, but like other areas affected by natural disasters (Joplin, Greensburg KS, hurricane Katrina…) we WILL recover. I have more information, including lots of pictures of my own house, on my blog, please check it out.
Thanks for all of you help.
clothespin
OH, I should clarify – the 20% destroyed is for all homes in the general area. Within in the burn area of the fire, the number is most likely closer to 95% destroyed, if not higher. Don’t want to understate the devastation or anything…
Peaches
1. Great idea for a good cause. Cookie for all involved!
2. In the late 90’s, I had a crush on a guy whose Geocities screen name was The Texan Sock Monkey.
3. My friend Ann keeps a sock monkey Christmas tree. I might have to attempt a sock monkey wreath. Thanks for the tuts!