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 sewasockmonkey.pdf
Quite some time ago one of our “Ask Matt and Shari” questions was, “Could you show us how to make a sock monkey?” Well, I’m sure by now that viewer figured it out, but so have I and it was so much fun that I’m sorry I waited so long!
When you make a sock monkey, you want to start with a pair of the Original Rockford Red Heel socks. These fabulous work socks were invented in 1880 when Rutherford B. Hayes was president and they’ve stood the test of time! I’m sure the first sock monkeys were made from red heels that were either worn or torn in one place or perhaps they were just affordable enough to be used to make holiday gifts for children of hard working families. So, when you make your sock monkey, think about the others who have come before you and what struggles they may or may not have had as they were fashioning a special stuffed animal for a young loved one.
To make a sock monkey you’ll need only a few materials and they can be made by hand or with a little help from your sewing machine. I made mine by hand.
Materials List:
- One pair of Original Rockford Red Heel socks
- Polyester Fiberfil stuffing
- Off white thread or embroidery floss
- Black embroidery floss
- Embroidery Needle
- 2 buttons
- Scissors
- Pins
- Ruler
- Red Yarn
Instructions:
Sock One:
1. Start by making the body out of one of the socks. Turn it inside out and lay it flat with the heel up. Measure from the cream part of the heel down 3” towards the opening in the sock. Stitch two lines down the middle of the sock about 3/8” apart to make the legs.
When you get close to the open end, curve the bottom to make the feet.
2. Now, cut the two legs apart by cutting between the legs up towards the heel. Go passed your stitching to within 1 ½” from the heel. This will leave an opening to turn the sock right side out and to stuff it.
3. Next, trim the excess sock around the monkey’s feet to remove some of the bulk then turn the sock right side out and stuff it with polyester Fiberfil stuffing.
When it is stuffed enough for you, whipstitch the opening closed.
4. to make the head, measure down about 5 ½” from the “toe” of the sock and tie and 18”length of floss around the neck.
Sock Two:
1. First cut the tail for the monkey by measuring over 1” from the front edge of the sock and cutting a strip. I made mine about 14” long, but anywhere from 12-15” is probably about right. Fold the tail in half lengthwise with right sides together and stitch along the long side, rounding at the cream end to end the tail.
2. Next cut the arms from the rest of the upper part of the sock. Cut the piece into two pieces along the fold. Fold each arm in half lengthwise just like the tail and stitch along the long side, rounding at the cream end for hands.
Notice how the ends of the tail and arms are rounded and trimmed.
3. Turn the tail and arms right side out and stuff. Then, close all three pieces with a few stitches, and whipstitch them to the body. (I placed my tail within the heel area on the back so my monkey could sit comfortably.)
Well, we’re moving right along, but now it’s time to add some personality with a nose, mouth, eyes and ears!
4. To create the nose and mouth, cut the heel from sock two leaving a bit of brown sock around the cream.
5. Using black embroidery floss sew one long stitch like I did, or use several running stitches to create a mouth through the center of the red lips. I put a French knot at each end as well. Just above the middle of the mouth add a couple more knots for nostrils.
6. Whipstitch the mouth and nose piece to the face about 2” down from the cream of the “toe”. Fold the brown part of the sock under as you go. I stitched around the top first to make sure the stitching and position was just right, then I stuffed the mouth and finished stitching all the way around.
7. To create the eyes, first stitch the two black buttons above the mouth piece and use embroidery floss to make the eyelashes.
If you are making this sock monkey for a young child, embroider the eyes instead of using buttons.
8. To make the ears, cut four identical “C” shapes out of the remaining brown sock material. Pin two pieces together with right sides facing each other and stitch around the curve. Turn the ear right side out and stuff. Once it’s stuffed, fold the raw edges along the straight opening to the inside and stitch the ear closed.
Then top stitch around the outside of the ears about 3/8” in from the edge.
Put a little fold in the ears along the flat edge and stitch it in place. This will help to create more interest with the shape of the ears. Then, hand stitch the ears to the head.
Your monkey will look adorable once he has his ears in place!
9. Last but not least, it’s all in the details, and I added a little hat with a red pompom made out of the toe that was left from sock number two. I tucked in the corners a bit and stitched the pompom to the center. This held all my gathering in place along with the pompom.
I took just minutes to knit a little red scarf for my monkey and once it was wrapped around his neck I felt like my monkey was complete!
Here’s my sock monkey in the spring when he doesn’t really need the bulk of the winter scarf. In summer, who knows, maybe a red bikini?
I hope you have fun creating a one of a kind sock monkeys for your friends and family. After all, who doesn’t want to snuggle with this adorable guy?
Shari
If you are interested in purchasing the materials you will need, I have small kits available that include the original red heel socks and enough yarn for a pompom on the cap for $19.99 plus shipping and handling.
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W
There's nothing that gets you in the holiday spirit more than creating old fashioned paper snowflakes! 
But, I thought Matt had a fear of Sock Monkeys?