How to Make a Sock Monkey Doll With a Sewing Machine

Use mismatched socks to make a sock monkey.

A sock monkey is a small doll made from old socks. Although socks for this project need to be hole-free, this is a great use for socks that have lost their mates. A sock monkey makes a fun toy for a small child and you can make one with a few household materials. Sock monkeys look best if you make them from socks where the heels and toes are a different color from the body of the sock.

Things You'll Need

• 2 clean socks
• Sewing machine and thread
• Scissors
• Pencil or chopstick
• Fiberfill
• Needle and thread
• 2 buttons
• Permanent marker

Instructions

Legs

1. Turn both of the socks inside out.

2. Lay one sock flat so that the heel faces down toward your work area. Mark a vertical line in the center of the sock that goes from the toe up to the heel.

3. Sew up the sock and down the other side, following the line with your sewing machine. Sew 1/8 inch to the right of the line and then turn and sew back down the other side of the line 1/8 inch away from the center line. You should have 1/4 inch of space between the two lines.

4. Cut along the line between your two lines of stitching. This makes the monkey's legs.

5. Turn the sock right-side out and stuff it with the fiberfill. Use a pencil or chopstick to push the fiberfill down to the bottom of the legs.

6. Choose a spot near the top of the sock for the monkey’s neck.

7. Sew loose running stitches around the neck with the needle and thread.

8. Pull the stitches tight to give the sock a head and body shape and then tie the ends of the thread together.

9. Finish filling the head area with fiberfill and then stitch the top of the head closed by hand or with your machine.

Arms, Tail and Ears

1. Flatten the second sock out so it is lying on its side.

2. Draw the pattern for the arms from the body of the sock. Mark a horizontal line just above the heel and a vertical line perpendicular to that up to the cuff of the sock. Draw curved ends to form the monkey’s hands.

3. Draw the tail on the foot of the sock. Mark a rectangular shape, with one long edge being the bottom of the sock and a curved end for the tail.

4. Mark two curved ears from the top of the sock's foot area.

5. Cut along your marked lines with scissors.

6. Sew the edges of all of the pieces with the right sides facing each other using your sewing machine. Sew 1/4-inch seams and leave an opening so that you can stuff each piece.

7. Turn each piece of the sock monkey inside out.

8. Stuff each piece with fiberfill, using a pencil or chopstick to get stuffing into the longer pieces.

9. Sew the tail to the rump of the monkey. This will be the heel of the sock.

10. Sew the arms to the sides of the monkey. This should be about 3/4 of the way up between the rump and below his neck.

11. Attach the buttons to the monkey just above the face for his eyes.

12. Draw a nose and mouth onto the monkey with permanent marker.

Tips & Warnings

• Use small pieces of stuffing when you stuff the sock monkey. This will make the final product less lumpy.

• Do not use buttons if you are giving this to a child younger than three since they could be a choking hazard. Draw eyes on with marker instead.

References

• Craft Bits: Sock Monkey
• Super Sock Money: How to Make a Sock Monkey

Resources

• Sock Monkey.net: Vintage Style Sock Monkey Pattern