How to Make a Yarn Monkey
Yarn sock monkey dolls have been around for years and are popular among children who decorate their rooms in a sock monkey theme. Making a sock monkey is an ideal project to do with children, as it allows them to get crafty and make their own playthings at the same time.
Things You'll Need
- Pair of socks
- Ruler
- Pen
- Sewing machine
- Needle
- Thread
- Scissors
- Fiber fill stuffing
- Pins
- Buttons
Instructions
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1
Turn one sock inside out and lie it down on a flat surface with the heel centered and facing up towards the ceiling.
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2
Place a ruler along the center of the flattened sock. Draw a line along the center of the sock with a pen from the heel to the opening of the sock, using the edge of the ruler as your guide.
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3
Place your sewing machine's foot on the line you drew and sew along the left side of the line. Repeat this with the right side. This should create two legs, with the drawn line between the two lines of stitches. If sewing by hand, sew the sock 1/4 inch away from the drawn line on either side to create the two stitch lines. Whether hand or machine sewing, leave a small hole in the crotch area of the monkey.
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4
Cut along the line you drew, creating two separate legs on the sock monkey.
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5
Pull the sock right side out through the little hole that remains in the crotch of the monkey after sewing the legs. Through this hole, stuff the torso of the body with fiber filling. Stuff the legs with fiber filling, then sew the feet to contain the filling in the legs and sew up the hole in the monkey's crotch area.
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6
Turn the other sock inside out and flatten it, but flatten this one on its side so that it looks like a sock profile.
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7
Draw a line from the toe of the sock to the opening of the sock, 1 inch from the edge of the sock.
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8
Sew on the line you drew, then cut that area off of the sock. This will be your monkey's tail. Turn the tail right side out and stuff it. Sew the tail onto the rear end of your monkey.
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9
Cut the foot area of the sock from the heel of the sock, then cut the ankle/leg area of the sock from the heel to the opening of the sock. You should end with the foot area in a rectangular shape, the ankle/leg area in a rectangle shape and the heel of the sock in three separate pieces.
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10
Cut along the existing crease on the long rectangle to make two long, skinny fabric pieces. Attach the ends of one piece with pins, then sew along the pin line to create a monkey arm. Repeat this with the other piece.
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11
Cut the shorter rectangle pieces in half, making four square pieces. Pin two squares together to make a set, then repeat with the remaining squares. Draw an ear shape onto each square and sew along those drawn lines. Cut the ears out of the fabric, making two monkey ears.
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12
Turn each piece right side out and stuff, then sew an arm to each side of the torso and an ear to each side of the head.
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13
Sew the heel of the sock to the front of the monkey, attaching one side just over where each arm is sewn on. Stuff the heel, then attach it fully to the front of the monkey.
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14
Sew button eyes onto the monkey's face and a thread smile onto the monkey's muzzle (the heel of the sock) to complete the monkey.
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References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
