Happy Sock Caterpillar Toy

Let's make a happy caterpillar toy out of an old unused sock!

Long sock, thread, needle, embroidery thread, scissors, toy filling (stuffing), hand-sewing skills

Turn your sock inside out. Sew the sock heel shut. I did it by hand using backstitch. You can cut off the excess heel fabric, but I left it and folded it inside. It just added a bit of extra stuffing.

When you're done sewing the heel, turn the sock inside out again.

Add the toy filling for the caterpillar's head. I don't have exact measurements of how much filling you need for the head. It depends on the size of the sock and the desired size of the head.

Then sew around the sock where the neck will be. I used running stitch. My striped sock was very helpful here as I could sew through the green stripe and the seam was straight. Make sure to secure the start point of the stitches very strong, because it should withstand the force when you tighten the thread.

When you have completed the circle around the neck, tighten the thread and secure the end of the thread. The head is ready!

Repeat the steps you used to make the head (fill the sock with stuffing, sew around to make the segment, tighten the thread), and make the body segments of the caterpillar. I made the segments smaller than the head.

When making the last segment a.k.a. the bum, I folded in the elastic of the sock, because it wasn't pretty, but I didn't want to cut it off. Then I sewed the bum shut very tightly.

Using embroidery thread, sew the face of the caterpillar. You can make it happy, sad, or angry. Now your caterpillar is ready.

Give it to your kid and have fun!