Sock Monkey

The most popular item on Granny kids crafts has to be the sock monkeys. I use bed socks to make mine as I just love the soft squishy cuddly result but you can use any socks, even knee highs if you want something with very long arms and legs. If using socks with a pattern try to keep the sock lined up so that the patterns match when you do your sewing, it’s a little thing but gives a nicer and more professional look to your end result.

 You can find many different ways to make a monkey if you Google but I thought I would share my method with you. Each monkey requires 1 pair of socks and some toy stuffing which can be bought in most wool and fabric shops as well as online. The size of the socks doesn’t matter but the bigger the socks the bigger the monkey. 

The first thing to do when making a monkey is TURN BOTH SOCK INSIDE OUT, do this now as you can get so caught up with sewing and forget. The blue lines show where you sew the sock, the red lines are the cut marks. Use back-stitch and try to make your stitches quite small as when you stuff the socks they will stretch and you may see gaps.

This is what you should end up with at this stage.

If you have not read ahead you may have been wondering how you stuff the monkey when the instructions don’t show a gap in the body, the next picture will reveal all.

I have used a purple sock for this image to make it a bit clearer. Before you cut make sure that you are cutting the front not the back of the monkey, the heel of the sock will be the monkeys bum so that would be the back not the front.

The hole will be covered by the mouth section so you may want to put a bit of stuffing in the mouth section and check the position before you cut the hole. Do not make the hole too big as most socks fray a bit after they are cut which will make the hole bigger. Once you have cut your hole pull the legs and the rest of the body through the hole so it is right side out. I try not to over stuff my monkeys as I like them to be quite soft, also if you over stuff you may stretch your stitches and they will show as well as having a lumpy monkey. 

Sew the hole closed when you are happy with the amount of stuffing.

overhand stitch example

If you are using a patterned sock the position of the arms and mouth may be determined by the pattern, if you are using a plain color then just judge yourself where you think look right. I make a point of telling people that all my monkeys are individual and each one is slightly different even if the same sock pattern is used. I generally sew the mouth on first as I base the arm position on this. Use an overhand stitch (pictured at the side) as when you pull the stitches tight they should be less visible. It is up to you if you stuff the mouth section before you start sewing it, during sewing, or leave a gap and do it at the end.

  

 

When stuffing the arms and ears again be careful not to over stuff, I do not stuff the ears or tail when using bed socks as the seam allowance when they are cut provides enough bulk. I use buttons for the eyes of my monkeys, if you are making them for babies or very young children you may wish to use felt.  

 Once you have the basic pattern you can play about and make a number of different animals. If you decide to make an elephant you simply make bigger ears, use the tail as a trunk and make a small tail by overhand sewing a rolled up section of scrap sock. 

Cut the top elastic section from one sock and put it round the monkeys mouth section to give the shape of a shout for a pig, and use the elastic section of the other sock to make a curly tail. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

 This is my first attempt at writing the instructions rather than doing a practical demonstration so if you find anything wrong or hard to understand just let me know and I will try to clarify.