How to Knit a Sock Monkey
You can purchase an original sock monkey pattern which includes instructions for creating the signature red monkey lips, or you can do a fairly good job by knitting tubes and connecting them to form your own version. It’s an easy job to draft a pattern for red lips. Sew on a pair of googly eyes, complete him with a red bow, and your monkey will be just as lovable with a whole lot less work.
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Things You'll Need
- Circular or regular knitting needles, size 10
- Ball of beige sock weight yarn plus a few ounces of dark brown and red yarn of the same weight
- Graph paper
- Double eyed needle
- Stuffing material
- Row marker
- 8-inch length of red ribbon
- Velcro for hands and legs
- Jiggly eyes
- Sewing needle and thread
Instructions
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Cast on 30 stitches and knit 30 rows in stockinette stitch, which is knit one row, purl the next. Measure how many stitches equal an inch and how many rows equal an inch. This allows you to draft your own pattern according to size. Use the graph paper to design red monkey lips for the middle of the face.
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Cast on stitches using dark brown for the monkey’s cap. Knit a few rows to make the hat and then switch to the beige yarn and knit the face down to the lips. Use your draft to incorporate the red yarn in the center of the face. Finish the length of the head and slip a stitch marker on the last stitch before starting the length of the body. Cast off the head and body section once desired length is reached.
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3
Knit the lengths of the arms and legs in stockinette stitch. If you wish to have dark hands and feet, remember to use the dark brown yarn for a few rows before switching back to beige. Cast off each length and set aside. Knit the tail.
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4
Use the double eyed needle and stitch the body of the monkey down the back. Leave a long length of yarn so you can sew both legs onto the bottom. Use the double eyed needle to seam the arms, legs and tail. Close one end on each section at the end of the tail, hands and feet. Use stuffing to fill the body, arms, legs and tail. Assemble the entire body by stitching the legs to the body with the long length of yarn. Leave a small space between the legs. Attach the arms on either side of the body and stitch on the tail.
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5
Go back to the stitch marker at the bottom of the monkey’s face and carefully thread a length of red ribbon through every other stitch in that row. Tie in a bow at the neck. Attach small pieces of Velcro on the hands and feet so that they can be fastened together. This is handy for hanging the monkey around your neck and waist. Complete your monkey’s face by sewing on a pair of jiggly eyes.
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