GET INSPIRATION FROM THE FANTASTIC SOCK & STOCKING UPCYCLING COMPETITION!

Extravagant creations from the sock-competition

Today we will focus on something really exciting - socks! And not just any socks - but upcycled, transformed socks. Socks that have gone from being an ordinary, simple sock to becoming fantastic creations; an elegant suit or a cute dress.

Socks from the 1940s

In the 1940s, in the middle of a burning war when there was a rationing of basically everything, the swedish magazine Husmodern organized a sock competition: From worn-out old socks, you were supposed to create something completely new. Many entries came in to the competition and the materials ranged from old wool socks to silk stockings. First prize went to Miss Edith Petterson from Sollefteå who made an absolutely fantastic suit.

Could you believe that this suit is made out of old socks?

Try to imagine Miss Edith Petterson, when she, in the town Sollefteå far up in the upper north of Sweden, unraveled old socks from both of wool and silk. From these old socks she woved a new fabric that was 4.5 meter (14,8 feet) long and out of this fabric she made an exclusive suit. I'm soooo impressed! How did she do it? Where did she find her patience? She must have been an absolutely outstanding woman!

This dress used to be socks!

Second prize in the sock competition went to this fantastic children's dress. Absolutely stunning work! Smock, wrinkled arm, worked collar. And this dress have once been socks! Can you imagine? So impressive! I do not have the name of the person who created this masterpiece, but I will do my best to try to find out.

wonders made out of old socks - The skills in the 1940s was impressive!

The second runner up is this fabulous boy costume. I have seldom seen anything more cute: braces and a cute little round collar. And everything from socks!!! It's sooooo impressive!!!

Recycling/upcycling was a necessity in the forties when the borders were closed and it was difficult to get new material to make clothes from.

The marvellous top in the upper right corner won 7th prize and the nice rug won the 4th prize.

Can you imagine, they sat there and unraveled old socks and dreamed of winning the sock competition and at the same time a world war was going on not far from them. Sock competitions like these could certainly help many to keep their spirits up during difficult times.

Jacket made of socks.

The photo above is not from the Stocking competition but it is also from the forties and the magazine Hurmodern. The jacket is made out of six stockings. The text says something very important;

"As we have mentioned before; a ripped up sock is just like any other piece of fabric. If you view your ex-socks in that way, you will soon find so many other garments that they can be transformed into."

I actually have lots of socks that I will try to do something with. I can at least try but I doubt that I have the patience - or skills - that Edith Petterson and her fellow creators had.

Do you dare to take on the challenge of creating something new from old socks?