Monkey business
The art of the sock monkey
By Linda Alger / For The Sun Chronicle
Friday, May 2, 2008 5:16 PM EDT
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| Three of Linda Alger’s sock monkeys show that they can speak no evil, hear no evil and see no evil. (Staff photo by Mike George) |
The sock monkey is a piece of Americana born in the 1920s when the original Rockford Red Heel sock was first turned into animal dolls.
This particular sock was manufactured as a work sock in 1915 and continues to be sold for that function today. The sock monkey became so popular in the 1940s and 1950s that the pattern was inserted into sock packages. There have been several books on how to make many different kinds of creatures from these socks.
Good ideas
My friends often give me ideas for articles, and this one was no exception as my friend Sandy introduced me to a sock monkey book. I was not familiar with the project, but she was very excited about making them.
She ordered the Rockford Red Heel socks online and gave me two pairs. Instructions for a sock monkey and elephant were inserted in the package, so my journey into the famous sock monkey world commenced. Each monkey is made with one pair of socks and is an easy project that can be completed in a couple of hours.
Sock Monkeys can be enjoyed without special clothes, but if you are so inclined, you can sew your own or purchase doll clothes and accessories that fit the toy.
So don't monkey around with this idea, get started! These little guys will bring a smile to anyone's face.
The materials
Materials, sewing machine, scissors, one pair of Rockford Red Heel Socks, cotton batting or polyester fiber for stuffing, all-purpose thread and needle, buttons, embroidery floss, wiggle eyes or animal eyes with fasteners for eyes, red or black yarn, clothing for your monkey
The step-by-step
Following the diagram above, make sure both socks are turned inside out to make the monkey's head, body and legs. For the legs, sew a half inch on both sides starting 3 inches from the center from the white heel and across the end of the top. Cut the sock between the seams about 1 and a half inches to the white heel leaving an opening in the crotch to stuff.
Turn the sock back to the right side and stuff the head body and legs with the cotton batting or polyester stuffing. Tie off the head with a piece of yarn or ribbon and whipstitch the top of the legs.
For the sock arms, tail, ears and mouth, follow the diagram for second sock, using a piece of chalk or washable fabric marker, draw pattern on sock (leave a half inch of brown edge around mouth) and sew on lines leaving opening for ears, arms and tail. Leave enough room to cut out each piece.
Turn arms, tail and ears back to right side, stuff and sew tail and arms to body. Stuff a thin layer in each ear and sew a quarter inch seam around the outside ear. Then sew the bottom of ear onto body.
Turn the mouth back to the right side. Pin the center of the mouth on the face to hold in place. Fold the brown edge under and whipstitch bottom. Then, stuff and finish sewing around top of mouth.
Linda Alger is the Administrative Assistant to the Attleboro Municipal Council and is a local artist who is very involved in the Attleboro art community. She can be reached at BEAKERALG@AOL.COM (please include the word "CRAFTS" in subject line). Any letters she receives may be used in future columns so please include your name and daytime telephone.
