Hi Linda,
the tube socks are hard to find here too. I have had just as good success using infant socks with a heel. I use the heel as the "face" of the doll, and it actually gives it a little more shape (sticks out farther like a real face does). I use whatever color I find, the pink, blue and yellow socks make darling dolls.
Mine are a little different from the web site pattern. I don't sew arms and legs. I stuff the sock so it's round, then tie string around the "neck" to make a head. Then I tie again at the top of the head to make a hat (the sock cuff) to fold down like a stocking cap and turn the edge back up like a hat brim. I stitch the hat in place. Then I tie a short ribbon around neck to a small bow. I add eyes either with non-toxic permanent marker or embroidery (just black dots for eyes). just be sure to securely tack down any ribbon, trim or string you use, so a baby can't pull it off. (no buttons, either)
for winter, I have also made the white socks look like a snowman and added a felt "scarf" around the neck. they are very cute.
hope this helps,
Carolyn
Posted on Mar 23, 2005, 12:11 PM from IP address 12.218.126.151