About Sock Puppets

Sock puppets are toys created by using a simple sock and adorned to simulate a specific identity (usually an animal). Sock puppets are mostly made for fun and to be used with or around children, rather than being considered worthy of professional presentation, such as it is the case of other types of puppets.

History

The earliest sock puppets in record are from the 1920s, although they didn't gain popularity as a homemade craft until the 1950s, when several US magazines published directions on how to make them. In 2008, an art exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Philadelphia showcased examples of puppets (including sock puppets) from the past 70 years.

Features

Sock puppets are made using a simple sports sock, which is then decorated by adding face details, such as eyes, ears, whiskers or even a tongue, depending on what animal the puppet is supposed to represent. The mouth of the sock puppet is created by pushing into the heel of the sock with open fingers (the thumb opposite the others) and moving the mouth as the puppet "speaks." Long socks are needed for most puppets to maintain the illusion, as the sock needs to cover the forearm to allow the puppeteer to stay hidden or to appear to be a separate entity.

Materials

Puppets can be made with any type of sock that is not transparent (so the fingers cannot be seen through the material), although most puppeteers use either white or gray socks because they're easier to personalize. Felt and streamers are commonly used to create additional facial features, such as ears or noses, although some people may prefer more sophisticated materials, including googly eyes or artificial hair, most commonly used to make dolls. Most sock puppets are meant to represent animals, rather than humans, so the creative license is bigger.

Uses

Sock puppets are used often by teachers in pre-K or kindergarten classes to explain basic concepts to very young children. They are also a common craft learned in beginner's classes because they require few skills, including no sewing. Sock puppets are surprisingly popular in the media as well, including several TV shows. While regular puppets are often used in shows featuring a plot line and several characters, sock puppets are more commonly seen individually, interacting with the people around them rather than with other puppets.

Famous Sock Puppets

The world's most famous puppet is probably Lamb Chop, made famous by creator Shari Lewis, who hosted a TV show for 5 years beginning in 1992. The show has been featured in continuous reruns since then thanks to PBS. Two other sock puppets, known as Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy, were also featured in the show. Two more surprising famous sock puppets are the black and orange worms featured in MTV's The Sifl and Olly Show (1997 to 1999) and Mr. Socko, part of the finishing maneuver of Mick Foley, a professional wrestler.

Popular Culture

The term "sockpuppet" (spelled as a single word) is used to refer to a false online identity, usually created to deceive or mislead people in a forum or group. A common use of a sockpuppet account is for a person to talk positively about her own products while pretending to be a satisfied customer.