Sock monkeys are popular stuffed animals, but you don't have to purchase an expensive one. You don't even need a sewing machine to make a sock monkey -- just a pair of socks and a basic knowledge of how to sew by hand. When giving one to a child, include sock monkey-themed books and a notebook so that the child receiving the gift can write about adventures with her new friend.
Things You'll Need:
- Pair Of Knee Socks
- Scissors
- Polyester Stuffing
- Needle
- 2 Buttons
- Thread
Turn one of your socks inside out. Lay it down flat on your work surface, with the heel facing up. Starting at the leg hole, cut down the center of both layers with the scissors, until you reach the heel of the sock. Above the heel will be your monkey's head and torso and below it will be the monkey's legs.
Thread the needle and, using a straight stitch, sew the ends of the monkey's feet closed, as well as the sides of its legs. Use a back stitch or lock stitch to secure the beginning and ends of your seams. Leave a small opening between its legs to turn it inside out.
Turn the other sock inside out and flatten it, so the heel is facing sideways. Locate the part of the sock that would cover your shin and top of your foot. Cut a 1 1/4 inch-wide strip from the top of the leg hole all the way down to the toe with the scissors. This will be your monkey's tail. Sew the tail closed along its length, leaving the leg hole end open. Keep using the same types of stitches you previously used on the legs and feet.
Cut out the heel with the scissors, leaving a 1/4-inch perimeter of room around its circumference, and cut off and throw away the very tip of the toe. You should be left with the heel wedge, a longer rectangle, where the leg was, and a shorter rectangle, where the foot was.
Cut the shorter rectangle with the scissors into two half-circles. These will be the monkey's ears. Sew the rounded parts of the ears together, leaving the straight edges open.
Cut the longer rectangle, the leg portion of the sock, in half with the scissors, down the crease, if there is one. These two pieces of material will be the monkey's arms. Sew them closed on one end and down their length, leaving the other end open.
Turn all of the pieces of your sock monkey right side out. Stuff them with the polyester stuffing.
Sew the opening between the monkey's legs closed.
Fold a quarter of the open end of the monkey's tail down and sew it onto the butt of your sock monkey.
Fold a quarter of the open end of one of the monkey's arms down and sew it halfway down on the body of the monkey. On the other side of the monkey's body, attach its other arm the same way.
Take the heel of the sock and fill it with a pinch of stuffing. Position it on the monkey's head, so that the bottom edge of the heel is level with the top of the monkey's arms. Fold 1/4 inch around the heel and sew the monkey's mouth to the place you positioned it.
Fold down the open edge of the monkey's ear. Sew on the ear halfway up the monkey's head. Repeat with the other ear on the other side of the monkey's head.
Lay the monkey on its back. Sew on the buttons for eyes. Use the thread that sticks out as eyelashes.
Sew a line of thread across the sock monkey's face to make its mouth.
Tip
You can make this sock monkey with a glue gun or craft glue if you want to avoid sewing it altogether, but it won't hold up as well as a stitched sock monkey. Hem the discarded toe portion of the sock to make a jaunty cap for your monkey.
Warnings:
- Do not give your monkey to a child less than 3 years old.
References
Writer Bio
Skyler Breeden lives in Baltimore and has been writing freelance content since 2008. She has written copy for Hampton Roads Publishing Co. and craft articles for eHow. She is a recipient of the Kratz Fellowship and has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in writing from Goucher College.
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