Etsy :: The Storque :: How-To :: Recycled Glove How-to: Make a Chipmunk Softie

Recycled Glove How-to: Make a Chipmunk Softie


Story by missbatch Published on October 17, 2008 in How-To	Photo by Miyako Toyota c/o Penguin

Gloves (like socks), while born to be part of a pair, often end their days in lonely solitude, separated from their mates by the forces of the universe that conspire at every turn to pull them apart. Alone, they sadly serve little purpose (aside from the occasional show biz appearance for only the most sparkling among them), and are left to languish in the backs of a drawers and bottoms of closets — that is, if they're not disposed of all together. Ah... but it's a new day.

With her book, Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves, she's given hopelessly single gloves a new lease on life as cozy companions. In her able hands, one glove's worth of material becomes an elephant, a penguin, a donkey, a bunny — you name it — all set free to romp and play together. (Can't you just hear the claps of cheer?)

Crafter and author Miyako Kanamori has a plan and she's ready to share it!

Try your hands at this chipmunk to start your very own menagerie of recycled glove critters. Download complete instructions here or follow along below.

BUY the book at Amazon!

Thanks to the Penguin Group for sharing this project from Happy Gloves.

Author Miyako Kanamori is a crafter who lives in Tokyo. She is also the author of Sock and Glove. You can see more of her work at her website: bananawani.org/nuiguroom.

For more cute critters made from recycled materials, search "Recycled Softie". Some examples plus a few other autumn-inspired creations can be seen in the related items below.

Tags	author, book review, chipmonk, chipmunk, diy, Earth Tones, eco-friendly, Happy Gloves, HOW-TO, How-Tuesday, instructional, Japan, Miyako Kanamori, PDF, plushies, project, recycled, softie, stuffed animal, toys, tutorial, upcycling

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missbatch

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100 comments Login to add your own!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

JustAnotherDay

seriously adorable! I may just have to try this out!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.

PhineasandLou

I love this...definitely a must try!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.

AutumnLeavesJewelry

I love this! Now I know what to do with my "one" gloves I have...awesome!!! thanks!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.

VirginiaRoseKane

Oh, now that is just too fun for words!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:11 p.m.

GrandmaWasAFloozy

AHHH!! I can't WAIT to try this!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.

bubbletime

Adorable!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:15 p.m.

annabeads

Charming!!!!!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.

JustJaynes

So cute!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.

RaeGun

oh this is so so cute and awesome what a fun project

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.

art4milkbones

I feel a chipmunk challenge coming on ..

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.

botodesigns

oooo!! the cuteness!

This is an awesome project. I have so many gloves missing their pair. I always wondered what to do with them. Now I know!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.

dalesdreams

Oh, my goodness, that is just too cute, what a most creative idea for recycling!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:47 p.m.

theartistscloset

Love the acorn earrings-sweet!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.

dogties

So cute!
Love the chipmunks

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.

theseasonalcottage

This brings back memories making these and sock monkeys when my boys were younger. Great piece!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:58 p.m.

SimplyShell

LOVE!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:58 p.m.

skiessoblue

I have so many old gloves!!
That's so cute. I'll have to make one!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 4:58 p.m.

Thinkoutsidethebox

The chipmunk is adorable and I love to see things repurposed...especially into something so cute and useful. Missbatch, your writing humor is fabulous. I really enjoyed your 'hook' paragraph...made me want to read on...

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.

JeweledAmbrosia

Oh, I love this!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:22 p.m.

Yokoo

This is so fun! Such a great idea! Genius I tell you.

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:23 p.m.

emmaray

I can't wait to try this - awesome!!!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:32 p.m.

papermenagerie

this is the cutest ever! Great use for those dollar store gloves.

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:37 p.m.

thedreamdom

Oh, way too cool! Must make this NOW.

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:41 p.m.

GreenfieldSoaps

To cute! I have a black glove without a partner, I might just have to use this to turn him into a skunk :)

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:44 p.m.

ReFabulous

I just love this! I can see making a few Christmas gifts like these.... ;)

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:45 p.m.

rebeccaaccessories

He is super cute!! This will be my next weekend project!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:54 p.m.

LoucheLab

Really cute! I'm holding myself back from destroying my winter gloves! yes, they are orange and will be perfect for this...

Oct. 17, 2008 at 5:59 p.m.

artwerx

So cute and clever!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 6:02 p.m.

Bumblebeebaby

That's so cute I can't stand it!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 6:12 p.m.

CheeseAtFourpence

This is great, thanks so much for sharing it. I can see lots of chipmunk stocking fillers being made over the next few weeks...

Oct. 17, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.

Rockalicious

I've always wanted to try this out. Thanks for the article!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 6:51 p.m.

ModFarmgirl

That's really cool! Thank you!!! I suppose if you had a lonely black glove, you could make yourself a little skunk friend!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 7:47 p.m.

cookiesandcreme

this i have to try..... so cute & looks like so much fun!!! thanks for the awesome idea!!!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.

THEHAUNTEDATTIC

THAT IS SOOOOO CUTE

Oct. 17, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.

FeltInspired

so very cool....(looks under bed for lone glove)...

Oct. 17, 2008 at 8:16 p.m.

shopgoodgrace

oh my... this is absolutely adorable! Fantastic directions. Thank you Miyako Kanamori and Penguin Group! (And to missbatch for sharing it as well.) :)

Oct. 17, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.

svillca

It's so cute, I'll try it! Great idea, thanks for sharing :D

Oct. 17, 2008 at 9:02 p.m.

BlackStar

How clever! and cute!
Thanks for adding my earrings to the related items. :)

Oct. 17, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.

InfiniteCosmosGirl

ooooh! i love it! i'm going to make one for my daughter :-)

Oct. 17, 2008 at 10:26 p.m.

MeadowbelleVintage

So cute, why make just one--and who needs gloves when they can have glove ANIMALS?!?
Seriously, a GREAT way to recycle gloves!! Looks like fun for everyone.

Oct. 17, 2008 at 10:31 p.m.

tinygreenapples

I Love it!! I'll have to try it!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 11:14 p.m.

DeborahVoizin

I just love this one! I can't wait to try to make one...or two!

Oct. 17, 2008 at 11:18 p.m.

designbynihan

I absolutely have to try it, soo cute!!!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 12:58 a.m.

BluCille

That's the cutest! I like the wooden nose.

Oct. 18, 2008 at 2:20 a.m.

perebags

adorable!!!! i'm totally trying this.
What a fun Storque article!! Thanks!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 6:21 a.m.

madeofjacinta

sooo cute!!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 6:41 a.m.

symbelmynie

8D incredible!!!
its so lovely

Oct. 18, 2008 at 6:55 a.m.

ALLthangsOLDbutNEW2u

This tutorial was really cool. I never though you could do that with just one glove. Thanks for sharing this. I will definatly try this soon.

Oct. 18, 2008 at 9:12 a.m.

imnotyrbabe

wow..nice tute ^^ thx for sharin ^^

Oct. 18, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.

AwApplesauce

Too cute! I make Boston Terrier glove dolls!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.

Piggy

Adorable!! Who would have thought that it used to be a glove :D

Oct. 18, 2008 at 12:45 p.m.

prairietree

Need to make one for my chipmunk collection! However it will alter my single glove collection.

Oct. 18, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.

Feltathome

absolutely fabulous

Oct. 18, 2008 at 1:48 p.m.

nfall2rt

So cute! How crafty, and great to recycle:)

Oct. 18, 2008 at 2:24 p.m.

PinkWaterFairy

This is brilliant, thank you for sharing :)

Oct. 18, 2008 at 2:24 p.m.

EJPcreations

This is one of the many reasons I truly love Etsy!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 4:20 p.m.

knittingmette

too cool! great idea! thx for sharing!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 4:25 p.m.

Dianecran

Off in search of orphaned gloves!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 4:33 p.m.

pumpkinhaus

hey! I was looking at that book last night at the bookstore!! very cute.. thanks for the tutorial.

Oct. 18, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.

Zahi

love the glove idea :)

Oct. 18, 2008 at 6:25 p.m.

kachingdesign

Aw... it's too cute!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 9:35 p.m.

ThePeachTree

You're killing me with this little guy!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 9:51 p.m.

reindeergirl

OMG, that is so completely ADORABLE!!! :) Thanks for this feature!!

Oct. 18, 2008 at 11:48 p.m.

theinkling

I'll try it right away!

Oct. 19, 2008 at 1:32 a.m.

JoyandWhimsy

So cute! Thanks Miss Batch.

Oct. 19, 2008 at 1:36 a.m.

wingsandfences

goodbye gloves, hello chipmunk :)

Oct. 19, 2008 at 2:40 a.m.

happydaystudio

Cute!!! I love this! :D

Oct. 19, 2008 at 7:38 a.m.

kittyd

Adorable!

Oct. 19, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.

bobnstitch

really great!

Oct. 19, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.

ElegantSnobbery

I am totally going to make one!! Or two or three or four. That is the cutest chipmunk ever!!

Oct. 19, 2008 at 6:38 p.m.

BellaMcBride

Fantastic directions! Thanks!

Oct. 19, 2008 at 8:53 p.m.

miraartz

Love it. Super cute

Oct. 20, 2008 at 12:19 a.m.

TheBrassHussy

how cute, I'll never look at a lonly lost glove the same again.

Oct. 20, 2008 at 3:09 a.m.

lacravatteduchien

So cute!!!

Oct. 20, 2008 at 6:18 a.m.

MyArtShoppe

Wow Amazing! And cute too! What a great rainy day craft project to do with a child ,how fun ; ]

Oct. 20, 2008 at 7:39 a.m.

julietaromano

great!
very very original!

Oct. 20, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.

BouquetSpecialDesign

Love it.
Good idea:)))

Oct. 20, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.

babypeasandcarrots

So cute, my kids would love making those!

Oct. 20, 2008 at 5:55 p.m.

DesignsbyChar

Cute, makes me want to go out and buy some gloves to try it out.

Oct. 20, 2008 at 11:04 p.m.

Kiie

Thank you so much for sharing this. So great of Etsy team to finally share some tutorial. :D

I always wanted to make some sock toys. Soooo cute..

Thanks...*muaks*

Oct. 21, 2008 at 4:40 a.m.

connieb1953

SOOOOOOO adoriable... can't wait to make them!

Oct. 21, 2008 at 9:35 p.m.

ColibriDreams

How cute is this! I might have to "lose" a glove just to try it1

Oct. 21, 2008 at 9:37 p.m.

dcmilkweed32

Absolutely adorable! I love it! Thank you for sharing!

Oct. 22, 2008 at 12:36 a.m.

oldefrostfarm1780

Oh my...C-u-t-e!!!!!

liz

Oct. 22, 2008 at 4:54 a.m.

Ravenhill

How incredible! Thanks for sharing how to make this delightful little creature!

~Emily, an American in Norway

Oct. 22, 2008 at 6:07 a.m.

mojoandco

I love it! Someone is definitely getting a chipmunk for Christmas.

Oct. 22, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.

willabbydesigns

I am going to scavenge around my house for a spare glove right now! I can't wait to try this!!

Oct. 22, 2008 at 11:24 a.m.

cbarjcrafts

Oh this is SO cool! I have a zillion gloves that are missing their pallys. I am going to give this a go! :)

Oct. 26, 2008 at 12:47 p.m.

Enchanticals

I, sadly, was born without the gene for sewing on my DNA. But, I have been aching to make a sock monkey. I adore this glove chipmunk. And... I think I can go against nature and do this. By Jove, I know I can. Love this. Love this. Thank You!
Tralalalalala

Nov. 4, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.