How to Make an Original Sock Monkey
In 1869, a Swedish immigrant by the name of John Nelson created a sock knitting machine for work socks. In 1932, the Nelson Knitting Mills added a red heel to the socks. During the Great Depression, mothers took the red heeled socks and fashioned homemade monkeys as a cheap toy for their children. The look of the current sock monkey varies. It is now created with colorful socks and you can also add pom poms on the toes and in the hair. However, the basic pattern remains the same.
Things You'll Need
- Rockford red heeled socks
- White thread
- Sewing machine
- Needle
- Scissors
- Fiber fill
- Black embroidery thread
- 2 black buttons
Instructions
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1
Turn the first sock inside out and lay it flat so that the heel faces toward you with the red color in the center. Sew two seams down the center of the sock with a sewing machine. Start at the opening and make a seam to 1 1/2 inches above the white of the heel. The two seams should be 1/2 inch from the outside edges of the sock. The bottom opening should also be sewn with a rounded seam in order to make the rounded feet of the monkey. You will leave a opening between the legs for the monkey to be stuffed.
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2
Cut the sock between the center of the two seams. This will form the legs of the sock monkey. Turn the sock right side out and stuff the legs and body with fiber fill.
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3
Cut the second sock just above the white portion of the heel on the opening end. You will cut the entire leg portion of the sock off and then cut it longways in half. Turn the sock inside out. Stitch this top band of the sock down the middle and round the end stitches to form the arms. Leave one side open so you can stuff the arms. Turn the arms right side out and stuff them with fiberfill.
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4
Cut the heel from the second sock while leaving just a small amount of the gray of the sock on the heel. This red portion of the heel will form the mouth of the monkey. On the body, fasten on the mouth where the white toe meets the gray portion at the top of the body by using a whip stitch. This will form the lower part of the face of the monkey. Stuff the face and finish stitching it to the monkey.
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5
Cut the tail and the ears from the remainder of the sock. Cut a 1 inch strip from the opening of the sock all the way down to the toes. This piece of sock will form the tail. The sock should be inside out. Stitch the edges together but leave the end open. Turn the tail right side out and stuff it with fiber fill. Cut small semicircles of the same size. Sew these ears onto the head of the monkey. Attach the arms and tail using a whip stitch.
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6
Sew on the buttons for the eyes using black embroidery thread. You can also embroider two small marks to make the nose on the face.
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