Sock Monkey Mania

I love making custom projects. It's a challenge to come up with a one of a kind creation that will wow the person who requested it. I love sketching out ideas. I love figuring out what crafting technique to use. I love creating the actual item. But the very best part of it all is watching the reaction of the person who came to me with an idea as they open their special item.

Back in July, my friend Jaquelyn told me about her family's plan to have an "Epic Sock Monkey Christmas." She's already started blogging the preparations. Now, we're not talking about a couple sock monkey ornaments here. It's going to be a sock monkey extravaganza! Think Christmas themed sock monkey decorations, stationary, cookies, mugs, garland, stockings... All of the trimmings and trappings of Christmas, sock monkey style.

Now, I'm not a sock monkey collector and I'm not really a into holidays. So where do I fit into this sock monkey mania? Well, Jacquelyn asked if I could make a Christmas tree skirt worthy of the epic celebration. I must say, her enthusiasm sparked my creativity, so I accepted.

My first thought was to sew a tree skirt using a sock monkey print fabric, but after looking at the limited selection of sock monkey fabrics, I decided to go a different direction and thought this might be a perfect project to knit.

My vision, twelve happy little monkeys, toes at the center, with their arms intertwined to create a star. This was my first sketch.

After making a gauge sample I got out my engineering calculator and some grid paper to figure out the specifics as far as angles and number of stitches and rows and chart the whole thing. Then I set to work knitting.

The result... Well let's just say I think it knocked Jacquelyn's socks off!

To learn more about the epic sock monkey preparations and celebration, don't miss Jacquelyn's blog, Our Epic Sock Monkey Christmas.

Love the sock monkey Christmas tree skirt pattern? The pattern is available for purchase in my shop.