Instructions to Make a Sock Monkey

Nelson knitting mills in Rockford, Illinois were the first to make a red heel monkey sock. Since the 1920s, people have been making sock monkeys for their children. This handcrafted toy, won the hearts of children, all over the world. During the 1940s and 1950s, people used real socks, to make a sock monkey. They used to invite others, by sending custom-made sock monkey baby shower invitation cards. You can now go to a supermarket and buy the required fabric. Its printed with pictures of monkeys are used to make curtains and pillows covers. Hundreds of patterns are available on the Internet, which can be used to make red monkey knitted hats, sock monkey scarves, etc.

How to stitch a sock monkey

Things Required
Two matching buttons to be used as the eyes of the monkey, needle and thread, a pair of scissors, a ruler, a sketch pen, polyester stuffing, pins and a pair of socks (red heel monkey socks). You can use any kind of sock, but, a sock monkey made using red heel monkey sock, looks nice.

Steps to Make Red Heel Sock Monkey
Let us now learn how to make sock monkeys:

• We start by turning the socks inside out and working on the inner side of the socks that is normally hidden. After we finish cutting and sewing the socks, we will turn it inside out again so that the right side of the socks are outside, doing this will hide the stitches and seams.
• We are going to use one sock to make the head, the body, and the legs. The tail, arms, nose and ears will be made using the other sock.
• You can make the body and legs with the help of the following steps. Flatten a sock, such that the heel of the sock faces you. As the name suggests, the heel of the red heel monkey sock, has a strip of red on it.
• Draw the center line from a point, 1 ½ inch below the heel to the cuff of the sock, using a sketch pen. Use pins to hold the sides of the sock together. We are going to stitch the upper side facing you, and lower side of the sock, together.
• Now we move on to making the legs of the sock monkey. Start at 3 inches below the heel of the sock. Draw a parallel line 0.5 inch away from the center line. Sew a seam along this new line. But at the mouth of the sock, let the seam curve gently towards the edge of the sock to make a rounded foot.
• Repeat the process on the other side of center line, to make other foot of the monkey. Cut the sock along the center line using scissors and don't overstep the end of line below the heel.
• You will notice that, we have left a hole in the crotch of the sock monkey, for turning the sock right side out. While doing it, start by pushing the toe, which will form the head of the monkey of the sock, through the hole in the crotch, and then the legs of the monkey. A knitting needle can be used for doing this properly.
• Stuff the polyester stuffing through the hole in the crotch. The next step is to stitch the crotch hole closed. Use the whip stitch to do so.
• We will make the arms, tail, ears and hat, using the second sock.
• Fold the sock so that its red heel sticks out at one side. We will make the hat by cutting the toe of the sock.
• For the tail, draw a line, 1 inch from the edge of the sock, from the cuff to the remaining part of the toe. Cut along the line and you will get a long rectangle which is 2 inch in width.
• Fold the rectangle in the middle and stitch it along its long side with a seam of 0.25 inch. At one end, let the stitch curve in gently towards the edge of the rectangle, so that the resulting tube is rounded at one end.
• Turn the right side out. Stuff the tube with the stuffing. At the open end of the tube turn in .25 inch of the sock and using whip stitch, sew the tube i.e. tail in the center of the heel of the first sock.
• Decide where the neck will be and using tough string, stitch around the neck, using quarter inch stitches. To get the right sized neck, pull the stitches tight, and knot the ends of the string.
• For the mouth we will cut and use the heel of the second sock. The trip of red in the heel of the red heel monkey sock, will serve as the mouth of the monkey. First using whip stitches, sew the lower edge of the heel and a part of its upper edge, to the body of the monkey, such that it leaves an opening at the top.
• Stuff the stuffing inside the mouth, through the opening, and close the opening using whip stitches. The stuffing will raise the mouth of the monkey and will also provide a 3-D effect to the head of the monkey.
• For the arms we will use the second sock. We have already cut a tail from the cuff area of this sock. Now we will cut a part of the sock from cuff to heel and use it make the arms of the monkey. This part is rectangular in size, fold it in the middle and cut it in two rectangles.
• Fold one of the rectangular pieces and sew it lengthwise, with a 0.25 inch seam, to make a tube. At one end of the tube, curve the stitches so that it has a rounded end. Stuff the stuffing, into the tube and sew it below the neck of the monkey.
• Use the second rectangular piece and repeat the procedure to make the second arm of the monkey, after doing so, sew the arm below neck of the monkey.
• Now we will make the ears of the monkey. Cut 4 identical half-rounded pieces of sock. Sew two pieces together leaving an opening. Stuff the stuffing through the opening and close it, to make an ear of the monkey.
• Sew the ear above the neck of the monkey. Make the second ear and sew it on, above the neck, such that it is level with the first ear, on the other side of the head.
• We will make the eyes of the monkey, using buttons. Sew them on the head above the mouth of the monkey. Using a black thread, stitch an embroidery around it.
• We have cut the toe of the second sock, to use it to make a hat for the monkey. Stuff the toe loosely, and while sewing it on the head of the monkey, turn its edges inside.

After going through the instructions mentioned above, you can start getting creative by using different colored socks. You can implement your own ideas for sock puppets. The advantage of this toy is that, it can be made at home by just following these simple instructions. Today, the sock monkey is not merely a toy. There are also plays conducted, in which, the monkey is the main character. Children's rooms are decorated using similar fabrics. There are books depicting this adorable character. A sock monkey is a great companion for a child.