Sock Wreaths!

I finally got my pinterest invite and it's the best thing to happen to my financially strapped Christmas! I saw this crazy cute sock wreath and decided I HAD to make it for my Aunt Kathy. She and I go to a large local craft fair every year and take mental note of all the cute things we have to make....and NEVER do. I told her about pinterest and how it was the online equivalent to the craft show:) And since I have all this free time on my hands and no money for expensive gifts, why not try this super easy and so cute idea?!

I went to the dollar store and lucked into both the foam wreath and 3 pair sets of socks. I chose Christmasy colors and what sort of had a wintery look to them that is January/February appropriate (sure the Christmas one is cute, but what fun is a Christmas present you'll have to wait an entire year to enjoy?).

Tip #1: If your dollar store has the fully round circle, I'd recommend buying that one . Mine (pictured below) had squared off edges that disintegrated while I was working. You can't tell in the finished product since it is completely covered, but it made a mess of the table AND the socks, so I had to do a little vacuuming of the wreath with a bristle attachment to clean it up.

Tip #2: Try to get full length socks. I had both "no-show" and full length socks. The full length gave more working area so the winter wreath came out looking a little fuller.

Supplies:
Round foam floral wreath
3 pairs of socks
glue gun
knife

First you'll need to cut through the wreath so you can guide on the socks. I don't have proper crafting tools, so I used a steak knife from the kitchen. I left the knife in for the picture so you could see the space you'll be using:

Next I cut my socks. I cut off the toe tip and the heels. On the full length socks, you'll get two even sock "tubes". On the no-show socks, I basically cut just past the cuff to get the heel out, but saved that piece to use. I used six different socks here, (just set aside their pair for another project). Then I laid out my pattern:

Sample Before (one sock is missing from this picture, oops!)

Actual After

Just slide each sock onto the wreath, overlapping a little on each one so you can't see the foam underneath. Be careful with pressure on the wreath, I popped one in half (Thank goodness I don't panic:)....surgery with some hot glue....back to sliding socks.....) When you get them all on....dot a little hot glue where you've cut the wreath and hold together to recreate your full circle until glue is set. I went back around and evened out the socks, making sure the foam was completely covered, especially where the wreath was glued back together (twice). 

I took one of my left over former pairs and cut it from leg to toe on both sides (not all the way through though! Sorry I didn't catch a picture of this....next time). This will make one long mirrored looking sock (still held together by the toe). I finagled a "bow" and attached it to the wreath with a dot of hot glue...Tuh-da!!!!

$3 each!!!