Sock Monkey Tutorial!

Yay!  I am super excited to share this with you!  I have recently found a few cute sock monkeys on Pinterest and got inspired to make one.  Shopping with Mom, I found some fun socks to use.  I thought I would make a tutorial!

 

First, these are easy and fun to make!   Minimal sewing skills are needed and most of the project is hand sewn (I know, I know….. hand sewing.)   Don’t get discouraged if your monkey does not turn out exactly perfect.  This is fine!  They are meant to be this way; it adds to the charm.

 

 

Supplies:

* A pair of knee high socks.  Other tutorials use regular socks, but I like using longer (higher) socks.  This gives more material to work with and allows for a longer tail, bigger ears, and wider (so they are normal width) arms.

*Needle and thread for hand sewing.

*Stuffing.  I use Morning Glory Cluster Stuff.  This is the best stuffing I have seen.  It is little clusters of stuffing which give a smooth, soft feeling.  They used to stock this at Walmart, however it has been discontinued.  Unfortunately, I’m not sure where you can buy this.

*Buttons for eyes

 

Tutorial

1.)  Take one sock and turn inside out.  Fold, as shown in picture, so the heel is facing up.  Measure down 1″ from the bottom of the heel and mark.  Measure 7″ from the bottom of the heel and mark.  Draw a line down the middle of the sock from the 1″ mark to the 7″ mark.  Then, draw a line 1/4″ on either side of the middle line.  At the 7″ mark, draw rounded corners for the feet.

 

2.)  Starting at the 1″ mark, sew along each line a 1/4″ from the middle line, continuing and following the rounded corners drawn.

 

3.)  Carefully cut 1/4″ from your stitching.  Stop cutting where you starting sewing (1″ from the heel).  This creates the legs.

 

4.)  Turn the sock inside out through the hole in the crotch.

 

5.)  Stuff the monkey through the hole in the crotch.  Be patient!  This is the most time consuming part.  Try not to make the hole any bigger than necessary.

Don’t understuff!!!

(Some how I missed some pictures of steps!  No picture of stuffed sock- Sorry!)

 

 

6.)  Take the other sock and turn inside out.  Lay the sock in profile, as shown in the picture.

7.)  Draw lines, according to the picture.  Draw the arms the same way as the legs, starting just below the heel and ending just above the toes, rounding the corners.  Starting 1″ from heel, draw a line 1″ from the fold, a length of 10″ (rounding one end).  Draw ears.  The bottom is approximately 2″ and 1 3/4″ tall, rounding the corners.  Don’t worry if the corners aren’t round, square looks ok too.

8.)  Sew along the lines.

 

9.) Carefully cut around stitching lines.  Be careful to leave the heel intact!

 

10.)  Turn ears right side out and stuff lightly.

 

11.)  Starting 1/2″ from the raw edge and about 3/8″ to 1/2″ from the finished edge, sew along the rim of the ear.  Stop sewing 1/2″ from the raw edge.  Repeat steps 11 & 12 with other ear.

 

12.)  Turn each piece right side out and stuff.

 

 

Sewing the monkey together!

13.)  Start sewing on the ears.  Place the ears right at the toe line on the top of the monkey, and in the middle of the side.  With a thread and needle, start sewing the ear on.  Take small stitches and hide the raw edge while you sew.  Go slowly and keep re-positioning to ensure the correct placement.  To make more sturdy, sew around the ear twice.  Repeat this process with the other ear on the opposite side of the monkey.  If using striped socks, use stripes to align on the other side.   Just know that it is inevitable that the ears won’t align perfectly.  This is ok!

*Note:  When you are finished stitching, tie a knot on the string (a short ways from the base).  Poke the needle into (and through) the center of the monkey and cut the thread, losing it in the stuffing.

 

 

14.)  Sew on the nose/mouth.  This is easiest with socks that have a different color heel (unlike my socks!)  Fold the edge under along the heel line (this will be the color change for socks with different color heels).  Center the heel in the middle of the front of the sock, just above the bottom of the ear.  Pin in place.  Don’t stretch the heel, but pin so that it forms into a nice oval shape.

15.)  Start at one side of the “oval” and stitch the heel on using small stitches and carefully readjusting the shape as needed.  Stop about 1″ from the end.  Stuff the nose/mouth through the hole left open.   Stitch the nose/mouth closed.

 

16.)  Sew on the arms.  Place the arms along the side of the monkey and position so the top of the arm is just below the bottom of the nose.  Start sewing at the top of the arm.  The arms are the hardest to sew on.  The arms should be positioned so they are slanting down.  The easiest way is to position the arm with one hand and slowly sew in place with the other hand.   Re-position as needed so the arms will slant downwards.  You will be sewing in an oval shape.  Sew around the arm twice to make more sturdy.  Repeat with other arm.

 

17.)  Sew on the tail.  Place the tail on the center of the bottom (heel of the sock).  With the tail (unlike the arms) you will be sewing in a circular shape.  With short stitches, sew around the tail twice.

18.)  Sew the hole in the crotch closed.

 

19.)  Sew on the buttons for eyes.  Take your time deciding on buttons.  The buttons/eyes can make all the difference on your monkey!!  You can also embroider the eyes.

20.)  Optional.  If you desire, sew on a mouth.  I decided to sew slits for the nose on one monkey and nothing on the other.  I suggest sewing on a mouth or nose only if it really needs it.  Sometimes simplicity is best!

I added a flower cut out of felt.

21.)  Love and admire your new sock monkey!!

 

Thanks for hanging around!