The Sherks threw their son, Matthew, a costume party for his first birthday and the family decided they would dress up as "The Incredibles" before
Gritty was unveiled Sept. 24
. But when Valerie saw the Flyers' new googly-eyed monster, she knew she needed to make a costume of him.
Valerie Sherk asked her friend, Elizabeth Musselman, whose husband Tyler is a huge Flyers fan, if she could make the mascot costume for their almost 4-month-old son Connor to wear.
"I said to [Musselman] 'if I make Connor a Gritty costume, can he wear it to the party?'" Sherk told NHL.com. "She said yes, and it all started."
It was a three-hour process of cutting, knotting and gluing yarn and fabric to make the costume. Sherk used her son's orange hoodie and black sweatpants that he'd outgrown to complete the ensemble.
"I have been crafting my whole life," Sherk said. "But once this baby Gritty costume was complete, I knew it was the best work yet."
The internet went crazy for Sherk's creation, which she called "The first Gritty costume," and her goal is to get Connor, Matthew and her other son Joshua, 5, to meet the Philadelphia mascot at a game at some point this season.
"If we all go to a game together my goal is to make [Gritty costumes] for both families," Sherk said. "I make things so other people can get enjoyment out of it... I just didn't expect everyone to love it just as much."
