Posts Tagged ‘Foot Traffic’
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by Brenna
December 14th, 2012
The Nutcracker, part 2!
Last week our socks danced the first half of The Nutcracker ballet for you. After a brief intermission, the classic tale finishes this week—remember, if any of the principal players strike your fancy, links to the styles are scattered throughout the narration. Now, shhhh, the lights are dimming and the performers are coming out . . .
Traditionally, the nutcracker turns into a human prince after Marie helps defeat the mouse army. But Marie likes the nutcracker the way he is, so he stays the way he looks, but has a more royal bearing now. They romantically dance in the snow.
The nutcracker and Marie take a nutshell boat pulled by sharks across a sea to the Land of Sweet Socks.
When they reach shore they go to the Sugarplum Fairy who was keeping an eye on things until Prince Nutcracker returned. They tell the Sugarplum Fairy all about how Marie helped defeat the mouse king.
The Sugarplum Fairy is impressed and puts on a show for Marie and Prince Nutcracker. First, cozy chocolate coloured socks and arm warmers dance with a capital “D.”
Then coffee stripes wrestle a little bit, because they’re kind of wound up on caffeine.
Candy cane-coloured red and white stripes twist about.
Floral socks, sheer and woolly put on a fashion show with some garters.
From under Mother Gigogne’s skirts dance her wee little children.
For the finale, the Sugarplum Fairy dances with her cavalier.
Full of joy, everyone dances together as Marie and the nutcracker watch.
But the dancers begin disappearing . . .
And even the Nutcracker Prince leaves Marie.
And Marie is all alone.
She wakes up at the foot of the Christmas tree, next to the still broken nutcracker.
With determination, Marie goes back to sleep, back to the Land of Sweet Socks. If it was all a dream, what a sweet, sock dream it was!
by Brenna
December 7th, 2012
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker Ballet is a classic winter tale and there have been many interpretations. So we thought we’d have a go at reinterpreting The Nutcracker in socks. If any of the principal players strike your fancy, links to the styles are scattered throughout the narration. Let’s begin!
The scene opens on the Sockerhaus home, the tree of green DreaM Stockings has been decorated for the holiday in lights and ornaments with stars on top. Marie and her brother Fritz admire the trimmings.
The clock strikes and a mysterious figure appears. It’s Herr Drosselmidcalf!
He’s brought with him a wonderful toy, a fanciful nutcracker shaped like a soldier.
Marie is charmed by the nutcracker.
Fritz, to spite Marie, breaks the nutcracker. Fritz is a jerk.
After everyone else has gone to bed, Marie goes to check on the poor nutcracker still lying under the tree. She falls asleep.
The clock strikes midnight and Marie awakens, to find the tree grown crazy tall and the nutcracker bigger than she!
Suddenly, an army of mice appear, led by a ferocious king mouse.
The mice attack the nutcracker, overwhelming him.
Marie thinks fast and throws a slipper (well, she’s a slipper—so, herself) at the king mouse, knocking him out. The army of mice run away.
But what happens next? Tune in next week for the socktastic conclusion of The Nutcracker Sock Ballet!
by Brenna
October 26th, 2012
DIY: Drawing detail!
Though we do have a rather wide selection, sometimes we just don’t have exactly that stripe or pattern that you need. But a steady hand and a little patience can take you a long way. I’ve got two quickie guides on adding your own drawn details to socks and there’s a bonus DIY at the end too!
Drawing on nylon
Drawing on nylon is the easiest, so let’s start there. Say your costume needs some sort of specific pattern on the legs. A good example would be Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. Her stitched-together legs are a huge part of costume accuracy (which maybe I’m a big nerd about). Here’s what you’ll need:
• A good reference picture (I like this one of assorted Sally parts) •
• A permanent marker—they make Sharpies in about every colour now, which is awesome! •
• white or off white tights, like the Opaque Tights •
Always test in an inconspicuous place, to make sure that what you’re using and what you’re using it on don’t hate each other. The Opaque Tights and Sharpies get along pretty well!
It is way easier to do this with the tights on, so suit up. Keep in mind there will be a little bleed through from the marker.
Now, keeping an eye on your reference image, start drawing! Try to go as smoothly as you can. Sometimes I found that the felt marker tip wanted to catch on the nylon.
Ooh, the detail really makes it. I wasn’t trying to get too-too accurate with the stitches, just going for the overall feel.
And, done! So easy! If you wanted to earn extra points, just add a blue-grey shade to ‘em with the skills you learned in DIY: Dyeing Nylon.
That’s tights, but what about socks? Join us after the jump for more tips and tricks! Read more »
by Brenna
September 28th, 2012
DIY: Dyeing nylon!
I’ve shown you the basics of dyeing socks and how easy it is. All you need is a box of dye and some hot water. But what about styles that aren’t cotton blends? What about non RIT dye options? Well just you wait. Nothing dyes quite as wonderfully as nylon.
You can use RIT on nylon easy. Use our search to find a white nylon style, I’ve even queued up the search terms just for you! If you’re using RIT, it’s okay if it’s a fiber blend, since this dye is made to work on cotton and nylon blends. Just follow the directions on the package, or the DIY we shared with you earlier this year. So plain ol’ black and white Ribbed Pinstripe Leggings plus some RIT in Sunshine Orange can become these Halloween-tastic orange and black leggings! The dye won’t make any difference to the black stripes, so I’m free to choose what colours I want.
What’s wonderful about dyeing socks and tights is that when you can’t find the exact colour you want for something, you can make it!
Now, there is a fiber-specific way you can dye nylon, and there’s even an option at your grocery store! Join me after the jump for more nylon transformation!
by Brenna
April 13th, 2012
Size 13 feet don’t have to be unlucky!
Did you know that there are three Friday the 13ths in the year 2012? Since we already looked at superstitious socks, for April’s I thought we’d look at what styles and suppliers work well for folks with larger feet. And not just regular larger feet (which, if that’s what you rock, check out our Larger Feet collection!), but that often troublesome size of feet US men’s shoe size 13 and above!
Anybody at extreme ends of size scales has problems finding things that fit and that they like. Often you get used to wearing something that doesn’t quite fit and is a little uncomfortable, because it’s the closest to “right” that you can find. We can’t guarantee that these styles are going to fit every US men’s shoe size 13, because feet come in so many shapes and sizes, but we want to give you options to work with and places to start looking. There are brands that you can rely on having size 13 options, a couple of styles that fit higher than a US men’s shoe size 13 and it’s worth giving tube style socks a chance.
Let’s start with three socks with formed heels that are sized to fit larger than a US men’s size 13! They may be plain black, but they run a range of styles. If you’re looking for something taller, the New Zealand Sock Lady Merino Thigh Highs also have a size that fits US men’s shoe size 14.5+, they’re the Extra Large, green banded, version.
• Authentic Military Bootsocks, Black and Olive are available in an Extra Large that fits up to size 14 •
• Wool Liner No Show Toe Sock, the Extra Large fits 13+ •
• ToeSox Toeless Ankle Socks with Grips, the Black come in an Extra Large that fits up to size 14 •
But what brands are good for larger feet? And are there tube socks that aren’t super boring? Find out after the jump!
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