Sock monkeys!

Pooky

Maggie_Bob wrote: »

Argh, I'm having a nightmare with my sock monkeys. I'm making one each for my family (4) to give to them in two weeks time (we're having an early Christmas as I have to travel 450 miles). I have all the limbs and bodies sewn and stuff but I just can't make the arms/tails sew on properly. They keep bunching up, and my stitches are all over the place. Help!

(I can't follow written directions, so if anyone can find very clear pictures showing how to sew these on, that would be a great help)

Thanks in advance!

xxx

For quickness and ease (and they look cute too) on a couple of mine I've just oversewn the raw edge and then sewn the arms and tail on with a couple of strong stitches...then sewn a button over the top.....adds to the quirky look and hides a multitude of sins.

HTH

stardrops42

Angie100 wrote: »

Hey Girls - people are underselling their monkeys on ebay and charging ridiculously low prices that don't even cover the cost of making and electricity used for sewing machines. No one stands a chance of selling any on ebay now and making even a little extra to cover their costs when people are doing this. Such a shame I think as it makes would be buyers think that no time or costs are involved when they can buy for a couple of pound when we all know that alot of time and effort goes into making them nicely. The Sock Monkey's image is being cheapened!!!

I dunno - what do you all think??

Hi Angie100

Yes I noticed this on ebay and Both DH and I both said that they were spoiling it for everyone else and as you said people will now think that they can buy them for next to nothing. Like everyone on here I put alot of time and effort into my monkeys and put alot of thought into outfits etc, usually takes me about 4 hours to complete a monkey (sometimes longer!) There is no way I would virtually give them away on ebay, I would rather not sell them at all! All we can hope is that these people get fed up of making them for very little money

Pink_butterfly_3

STARDROPS!!!

I love your monkeys so much!

How much do you charge for them?

Angie100

stardrops42 wrote: »

Hi Angie100

Yes I noticed this on ebay and Both DH and I both said that they were spoiling it for everyone else and as you said people will now think that they can buy them for next to nothing. Like everyone on here I put alot of time and effort into my monkeys and put alot of thought into outfits etc, usually takes me about 4 hours to complete a monkey (sometimes longer!) There is no way I would virtually give them away on ebay, I would rather not sell them at all! All we can hope is that these people get fed up of making them for very little money

Thanks Stardrops - I did think I might get shouted down for saying what I said!!!! Your monkeys are great and I can see how much time and care you take with them and if people can't see that and pay a decent price then as you say no point in virtually giving away something. It annoys me when people de-value things and spoil it for everyone else. Just wondered what others were thinking!!

Angie

Natbag

A couple of people have suggested I make and sell sock monkeys, but I said too many people don't appreciate the hours spent on each one. It takes me about four hours per monkey, so even at minimum wage that's £20+ and people don't want to pay that for what's essentially just a pair of altered socks when you can get them on ebay for a couple of quid. Such a shame really.

Angie100

Natbag wrote: »

A couple of people have suggested I make and sell sock monkeys, but I said too many people don't appreciate the hours spent on each one. It takes me about four hours per monkey, so even at minimum wage that's £20+ and people don't want to pay that for what's essentially just a pair of altered socks when you can get them on ebay for a couple of quid. Such a shame really.

I agree, I cannot see how you can make and sell for say £3. A pair of socks costs £1 without stuffing and anything else. Ebay fees and paypal fees also bump it up so if you sold for £3 you would surely be making a loss lol!!!

bravobeastie

Just looked at sock monkeys on ebay cause both my kids wanted one for xmas after seeing the pics on here lol, but there's no way i'm gonna be able to afford what some of them sell for on there, its mad.

They are fantastic though, such cute lil things. Well done to everyone who makes them :T

Angie100

bravobeastie wrote: »

Just looked at sock monkeys on ebay cause both my kids wanted one for xmas after seeing the pics on here lol, but there's no way i'm gonna be able to afford what some of them sell for on there, its mad.

They are fantastic though, such cute lil things. Well done to everyone who makes them :T

Bravo - I'm not sure what you call expensive but please bear in mind that they take alot of time and effort to make and that has to be taken into consideration when pricing. Most people are going to charge something for their time as well as the costs involved in the actual making.

I would be prepared to pay a decent amount for something that's a one off handmade item so long as it was well made.

As Nats said it takes her 4 hours to make and even on minimum wage that would amount to alot more than we could ever hope to get on ebay for the monkeys.

Handcrafted stuff is always so much nicer I feel...

Bella79

can someone point me in the direction of some easyish lol to follow instructions ?? id love to make one for my dd x

stardrops42

owens3116 wrote: »

can someone point me in the direction of some easyish lol to follow instructions ?? id love to make one for my dd x

Hi owens3116

This tutorial is great and easy to follow:D
http://www.web-goddess.org/writing/tutorial/Image0.html