I have to start with a shout-out to my friend Becky who runs Denver Craft Ninjas (and who has just started an awesome new crafting party business, Kunoichi Craft Events): after several felt-related craft projects, she found herself left with far more felt than she could ever hope to use up. So she very kindly donated a chunk of it to the library for flannelboard making! That’s how I was able to create the clothes dryer below: with a large piece of cream-colored felt courtesy of Becky and the Denver Craft Ninjas.
I told the kids that I did my laundry before I came, and now I needed their help to sort the socks into pairs. If you’ve got a small enough group you can invite children up to pull out a sock and add it to the flannelboard. If its mate is already up there, they can put them together to make a pair. We identify the colors, too. If it’s a larger group like I had today, I do the sock pulling and putting. But the kids help me figure out what color we’ve got and if its mate is already on the board.
SOCK MONSTER!
The kids had a great time with this game – the yelled out the colors and quickly noted a match. It’s a great addition to my clothing-themed storytime!
The clothes dryer is a box with a hole cut in (a kleenex box would work, although mine is a bit larger and sturdier), covered in cream-colored felt wrapped like a gift. I glued two pieces of felt over the hole but there’s plenty of room for me (or a kid) to stick my hand in and remove socks. I added black circles with paint for a little flair.
I’m really proud of this project and so far, the kids have LOVED it!
Today’s roundup will be hosted by Cate at Storytiming. And to see all past flannels, click on the icon to the right to visit our Pinterest page!
Happy flanneling!
missmaryliberry.com 
This is so cute! I love the washing machine as as an added effect. The kids would love it too!
I LOVE this idea!!!! I will be making one for my son’s birthday coming up! One question though, what is a flannelboard?
I have got to make this for my preschool class. They would love it. Mittens would be fun too. Could go with 3 little kittens or the story The Mitten.
This is adorable and I believe I will be making socks for Piper very soon.
This is amazing! I love it and I’m totally going to make it for an upcoming storytime I’m doing on getting dressed. So creative!
Love love love the dryer!! And the pulling the socks out of the dryer is genius! If only I could afford to buy enough “real” socks so I wouldn’t have to make them. Hmmm….
I love flannels which give the kids a chance to handle the flannel pieces. This is on my to do list to read with the book ‘Socks’ by Nick Sharratt.