
Do you have several stockings that have become unparalleled and do not know what to do with them? In this article we will teach you various crafts to use your old socks.
Doing crafts is one of the best ways to spend time with children and stimulate their creativity. However, it is a task that can also be enjoyed as an adult and that allows you to reuse elements. In this article we will share 12 crafts that you can do with old socks.
There are multiple physical and emotional benefits to this activity, especially in childhood. It helps develop imagination, fosters patience, increases self-esteem, strengthens family bonds and develops motor skills, according to an article by Oxfam Intermon.
In addition to being useful for children, crafts allow you to recycle objects. In this way, they promote the circular economy. This is a concept that refers to a change in the forms of production and consumption to generate value for longer.
1. Puppets
Puppets are one of the crafts with old socks that have captured the attention of children for many generations. They stimulate creativity because they allow you to learn fantastic stories. With old socks it’s a lot of fun to create characters.
To begin with, you must look for wool, threads, buttons, markers, ribbons or any element that serves to characterize the characters. The area where the foot goes will be the head and mouth of your puppet. So it is best to put your hand between the sock to determine where to put each decorative object. By moving your hands, you will pretend that the puppet is speaking.
2. Clothes for dolls
Games that allow you to develop creativity are the best. Therefore, encouraging children to make clothes for their dolls with old socks is a great idea. You can make skirts, shirts, scarves, blankets or any garment that allows the imagination.
3. Animal-shaped dolls
With a pair of old socks it is very easy to make dolls shaped like a bear, rabbit or dog. You just have to cut the stockings depending on the shape you want to achieve and then fill them and join them with thread and needle. The toe caps can serve as ears and the thickest part of the stockings as the body.
4. Cleaning rags
One of the crafts with old socks that is most useful is to make rags to clean the house. For dust, ordinary socks turn out very well.
To bring shine to surfaces evening stockings are wonderful. On the other hand, sleeping stockings or heaters are perfect for cleaning wooden floors and collecting pet hairs.
5. Cabinet flavouring bags
With old socks or stockings you can make bags filled with potpourri so that the cabinets maintain a good smell. The potpourri is made with various fruits, flowers or dried aromatic plants that preserve and emit a pleasant aroma. They are put in the drawers and the filling is replaced from time to time.
6. Hair garters
Veiled stockings or socks break very easily. However, they can be reused to make hair garters and extend their lifespan.
Because of their elastic material, they are fantastic for making hairstyles, such as ponytails. In addition, they tend to hide very well in the hair, because they are brown or black colors.
To get the garters you must cut the stockings from the ankle area upwards, in pieces of 4 centimeters. By the material, they themselves will tend to form like a garter. If it is half pants, the part of the hip can be cut to form bullets.
7. Fingerless gloves
In the winter it is very annoying to feel frozen hands. However, sometimes gloves become a hindrance because they do not allow you to manipulate the cell phone or write well on the computer. An excellent alternative is to create fingerless gloves with old socks. They will keep you warm and you won’t have to spend money.
8. Pet toys
Toys for dogs or cats are usually expensive. However, pets destroy them in a couple of hours or even minutes. Therefore, an excellent alternative is to manufacture them with old socks.
To do this, it is enough to fill a sock with other socks and make a strong knot. You can decorate it to look like an animal, a fish or a ball. Another option is to take a long sock and tie it in each end. In this way, it will serve as a teether for your dog.
9. Sleeve protector
When young children are learning to eat, they often stain their clothes sleeves with food. If they draw a lot, they stain them with crayons or ink.
Therefore, taking old socks and trimming the foot area serves to create sleeve protectors to take care of clothes. In addition, it is a comfortable idea that will not disturb children.
10. Decorators for poteras
There are many ways to decorate the pots to give them a special touch. If you have nice and colorful old socks you can use them as linings for the materas. Especially for small and medium-sized ones, such as those used for succulents.
11. Cases
With a pair of old stockings or socks you can make multiple cases, such as cartridge cases or linings for objects. If you have cute baby socks, you can add a closure to them to work as purses.
With larger stockings it is possible to make a cartridge case to store pencils. To make it you must make a cut on one side and sew a zipper.
12. Stocking worms
There are two crafts with old socks to make stocking worms that are great fun for children. The first is to make several balls with socks and put them together until you get a worm. To make it more beautiful you can add legs, antennae and eyes.
The other option for making a worm or snake is to stuff several old socks and close the tips on them. Then join each piece to the desired length. So you have a long worm that you can roll up and lengthen to play.
Use your creativity
We have already pointed out 12 crafts with old socks that you can do to take advantage of at home, with your pets or have fun with your children. However, the possibilities are many.
Let your imagination run wild to give a second chance to those socks that have run out of their pair, have a gap or have simply been replaced by new ones.