Do You Remember The Sock Monkey?
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
February 17, 2007 8:04pm CST
When I was a child, sock monkey's were very much the fashionable toy. Most kids had one and most elderly people had one on the back of their couch. Yes, the back of the couch was a place to decorate with sock monkeys. In fact my Aunt had them lined up all across the back of her couch. She collected them. No, they were not different, in fact, they all looked alike. The reason she collected them was because different people made them. She told stories about how her friends made them and gave them to her.
I loved sock moneys. I thought they wer so cute and so easy to make. I wanted to make one for my Grandson's birthday. He just turned 2 and I think he will love it. I found this great pattern, complete with pictures. This pattern is so easy to follow that anyone can make one. Enjoy!
http://www.supersockmonkey.com/catalog/howtomake.html
Did you have sock monkey when you were small? Do you know someone who made them?
Have you ever made one?
11 people like this
27 responses
@GardenGerty (157918)
• United States
18 Feb 07
My Aunt started making these as a way to keep busy for awhile. Made one or two for my mom, who (you guessed it) had a collection of stuffed animals on the back of her couch. Both of those ladies have passed on in the last few years. I have the sock monkey,and a whole menagerie of other things, including a couple of white sock snowmen.
4 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
18 Feb 07
LOL It is funny how they all kept these things on the back of the couch. That is a custom that has since long gone.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Oh thank you thank you thank you. My aunt used to make these and when I was little I loved them. She's gone now and I had no idea how to make them but one of my grandsons loves monkeys and I'd thought about making one for him but forgot. Guess you know what I'm doing when things slow down a bit around here. Errrr, writing assignment, addiction to mylot, and lady emailed me today she needs 3 baby afghan sets - she pays great so can't turn her down, plus may be moving. Whew, I just vented, seem to be doing that alot lately.
3 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Yep, I know what you will be doing. You will have sock monkeys all over the back of your couch. LOL
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I never knew about sock monkeys but my gf has pajama pants with sock monkey print on them, I admired the print then she told me all about sock monekys, I think they're adorable!
3 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Thank you so much, my daughter and I both will be probably making these and for sale at our Flea market and for homeschooling art credit. This has been a terrific one on your part. Thanks for sharing this as a discussion at Mylot.
3 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I hope you make alot of money off them. They should sell really well. Good luck
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Thanks for the link. Those instructions look very easy to follow. I have already purchased a bunch of striped socks and plan to make a sock monkey for each of my nieces and nephews for Christmas this year. I couldn't find the rockford socks in any stores around here, so I got the funkiest color/pattern combinations I could find. I love sock monkeys, so I hope they'll love them too.
3 people like this
@lilttownmommie (1473)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Although I never had a sock monkey when I was little I always loved them, thanks for shaaring the link with us, I will definately check it out, and maybe make one for each of my children. I think that they are a timeless classic. I wonder though, how many children now days would really appreciate & enjoy them, I know that small children, like your grandson's age would, they are usually amazed with the simple things, but I don't know if older children, school age, would really appreciate them with all the technology they are spoiled with. Good Luck with making your grandon's & thanks again for sharing the link with us :)
3 people like this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
18 Feb 07
I remember when I was a little girl I love a little sock fella called "Sooty" I don't know what sort of animal he was supposed to be, but he was a cutey, I think with some of these puppets it is the voice that makes the difference, a real cute voice...I wonder if anyone else remembers Sooty....
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
18 Feb 07
i loved sock monkeys and loved making them! it's been so very long since i've made them, thanks for putting up the link to the directions! i'd love to make these for my grandchildren, maybe i can get some done for them for Christmas..thanks again
3 people like this
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
18 Feb 07
We never had any sock monkies. I have just checked the site and I just know I would love to have some of these. I'm going to start making them to-morrow, as I am always buying soft toys to decorate my dressing table and the end of my bed. Thanks for the link.
2 people like this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
18 Feb 07
My 10 year old daughter has one on her bed. It was mine when I was a child.. My grandma made these for all the granddaughters. She had 16 grandchildren in all- so we always got handmade gifts.. (They are the best kind). She made me 2 sock monkeys.. 1 girl and 1 boy-- She also made Raggedy Anne's and Andy's.. My grandpa would string the hair. Holidays and birthdays were the best because you always knew you were getting something from the heart from my grandparents. They are no longer with me-- but I have 2 sock monkeys, 5 raggedy Anne and Andy's (different sizes), a quilt, a quilt rack, a writing desk, several wall hangings, and endless amounts of memories from my grandparents! Thanks for bringing that back.
My daughter also has my Raggedy anne & Andy's.
My mom made a sock monkey for all of her grandchildren also. What great traditions!
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I live in the town where the sock monkey was invented. Or commercialized, depending how you look at it. My hubby still has his, it's 22 years old. My grandma bought our son one for Xmas, it even came with adoption papers. His name is Carlos Enrique, and my son sleeps with it every night. I don't know why I thought these were a local thing. LOL
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
20 Feb 07
LOL No, they were and still are popular all over the US. That is so interesting that they were first made where you live though.
@getnbuy (1312)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I am not good at sewing, but I found a crochet pattern for sock monkeys. I made one for my grandaughter. She loves it. That's a good idea about putting them on the back of the couch. I am always trying to get my cats to stay off the back of my couch. I will put stuffed animals there to keep them off.
2 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
20 Feb 07
AAAHHHH LOL I had never heard of them until a couple yrs ago when my gf told me about them and showed me the ones she made! I LOVE THEM!! they are the cutest things!! I'd like to try making some myself actually but havent tried it yet....Maybe I'll give it a whirl...
1 person likes this
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Thank you so much, I am going to go back and bookmark that page. I have been looking for directions for one of these for quite some time. I found a kit at Crafts 2000 but didn't want to pay 20.00 for it. I should have known who would have had the answer ~ You are the dream of every person who wants to know something. You should start your search engine......askvillageanne.com you could really make some money with all of everything you know ~Donna
1 person likes this
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I actually still have my sock monkey from when I was a kid. A neighbor in the apartment complex we lived in when I was 1 made it for me from a kit. He now sits on our couch in the front room (not on the back of it, though)
2 people like this
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I had sock monkeys...my mom made me and my sisters all one. My niece had one, too. I wish my daughter had one, but unfortunately she doesn't. I may have to get this pattern and make one for each of my kids. Thank you for the site.
2 people like this
@monkeywriter (2004)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I never had one, they were out I think in the 70's?? But I heard about them, and I have seen them. I know they are out sometimes now.
I took somewhat of an interest in them cause they are MONKEYS and I love monkeys. But they arent as cute as SOME of the monkeys I love.
Still I give them credit. Monkeys, socks. NOT a bad idea! Sock puppets are fun and easy to make. I loved puppets as a child. I am sure I would have loved sock monkeys :))
1 person likes this
