craftgrrl | help making yarn people?

has anyone seen hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy? you know the part where everyone turns into these knitty-looking yarn dolls? i want to make some, perhaps something like these? i want the knit to be very finely woven - is there a certain type of clothing i can buy and destroy that will achieve this type of effect? like socks....or long johns.....fabric? any ideas?

edit: i'm trying to make knitty-yarn equivalents of earl and mooch from mutts comics for my boyfriend's birthday.

so not text only: