This classic and funny cloth game has been a favorite game of adults and children for years. To make your own sock monkey, follow these steps.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Part 1: Do the Legs
Step 1. Get two clean socks
The best to use are those with toe and heel of different colors from the rest of the sock. One sock will be used to make the body, legs and head, and the other to make the arms, tail, muzzle and ears.
If you have striped socks, they are fine anyway. If your socks have a cuff, be sure to untwist it carefully; the length of the cuff will serve for the length of the monkey's body
Step 2. Turn both socks inside out
Step 3. Spread out a sock with the flat heel down
You may need to flatten the sock against its natural crease to stretch it nicely. If it doesn't cooperate, flatten it using an iron.
Step 4. Draw a center line on the sock that goes from the toe to about two inches from the colored heel
This line will become the separation between the monkey's legs. Again, note that the heel is actually hidden under the sock at this point, so you may need to turn it quickly to check its position.
Washable textile markers are best for drawing. Before cutting make sure the line is exactly in the middle of the sock - a monkey with one fat leg and one thin leg is not a happy monkey
Step 5. While the sock is still flattened, sew on one side of the line you drew and then go down on the other side
Leave about half an inch between the line and the seams.
You can choose to use the sewing machine or to sew by hand. If you are using a sewing machine, use the transport foot
Step 6. Cut on the line between the two seams
The monkey's legs and colored feet will be clearly visible at this point.
Method 2 of 4: Part 2: Do the Body and Head
Step 1. Turn the sock upside down and stuff it
You can find plush stuffing in many DIY stores. The top of the sock will become the body and head.
The amount of padding is up to you. How stiff do you want your monkey to be? If the sock is thin, it may be better not to overdo the padding, to avoid stretching the sock
Step 2. Sew the head and / or hat
If the opening is the same color as the rest of the sock, just make a nice round head and sew it to close it. If it is of a different color, you will have to decide whether to cut the end (making a shorter body for the monkey) and make the head as described above or use the colored part as a "hat" avoiding stuffing the last 3 or 4 cm and sew it into a cone shape.
To make the head: make stitches around the head about 0.5 cm long. Use strong thread, such as embroidery floss. Pull the stitches together until you get the width you want for the neck and knot the ends of the thread. Round your head with as much padding as you want and close the top of the head
Step 3. If you have decided to make the hat, start working with the cuff
Gather the end with large points and pull them to join them. Fold the unfinished edges back towards the center and tuck them inside. Then, sew the opening to close it. Now the monkey is warm!
Method 3 of 4: Part 3: Making the Arms, Tail and Ears
Step 1. Cut the second sock as shown
Although the lines are only drawn on the top, be sure to cut both layers of fabric. For a more precise scheme, follow the link between the sources.
Step 2. Fold both arm pieces in half along the length
Then sew the open side by forming a small arc around the dark ends; the dark ends will become the legs and the opposite side (the open one) is where the arms will be attached to the body.
Keep all these parts open. Make sure they are turned upside down while you work! If they are not, the seams will be very rough
Step 3. Fold the tail piece in half following the length
Then sew the open end forming a small arc around the dark part as you did with the arms; the dark part will become the tip of the tail and the opposite part, the open one, is where the tail will be padded and then attached to the body.
Step 4. Fold the two ears in half and cut on the crease
Then, sew in a small arc around the sides, leaving the flat part open. The opening will be used to stuff the ears and then attach them to the body. Are you starting to notice a recurring pattern?
If you like, you can then fold your ears "again", forming a vertical line in the center of the ear (giving it thickness as in a real ear). Basically, squeeze the edge you just sewed and join the two tips. Sew the two sides together
Step 5. For now, do nothing with the muzzle (once the heel)
We will come back to this part later.
Step 6. Turn the sewn pieces upside down and stuff them
At this point you should have two arms, two ears, a tail and an unstitched, unpadded nose.
The queue could be a bit of a problem. You can try stuffing it with regular stuffing and a pencil to push it all the way through, or you could use cotton or part of an aquarium filter. Both the cotton and the filter are a little more rigid and will give a more uniform appearance to the tail
Step 7. Attach the tail to the butt
Place it carefully and sew it all around.
Step 8. Attach the arms to both sides of the body
It might be a good idea to stick them a little higher than where you think is natural; this will give your sock a more simian posture.
Method 4 of 4: Part 4: Assemble the Face and Ears
Step 1. Trim the edges of the bead piece if necessary
Since this will form the muzzle, make sure that the color of the piece is uniform. Note that, since the outermost edges will be covered, there is no need to cut them perfectly.
Step 2. Fold the lower part of the muzzle back and sew it to the lower part of the monkey's chin
Make sure the rough edges aren't visible on the bottom, but leave the top open for now.
Step 3. Stuff the muzzle to give it volume
It might be a good idea to refer to other images of monkeys made with socks to get an idea of what it should look like. The best monkeys appear to have a snout that protrudes at an angle of about 90 degrees.
Step 4. Fold the raw edge back and sew the top to the face
The muzzle should take up most of the head - don't worry about having enough room for the rest of his features.
- Go ahead, give your little monkey a mouth! On the edge of the muzzle (in the middle) make a seam in a contrasting color.
- If you want to add nostrils, embroider two small rectangles above the mouth about 2.5 cm away from each other.
Step 5. Fold the raw edges of the two ears inwards and close them
Sew the completed ears to the sides of the head. They should be on the same line as the eyes, immediately above the muzzle. Make sure they stick out of your head!
Step 6. Add eye buttons
To give the monkey the whites of his eyes, glue or sew the buttons to a small piece of white felt. Then, using a contrasting color thread, sew the felt just above the muzzle. You finally have an adorable little monkey made with socks!
For a little monkey that doesn't look possessed, stick to black buttons. The size will depend on the size of the monkey. If the monkey is for a child, avoid buttons or make sure they are sewn "extremely well"
Advice
- Important: when stuffing the monkey, use “little padding” at a time. Using large quantities may be quicker, but the results will not be satisfying at all. The project will be gnarled and, well, ugly. Smaller quantities will give a smoother result. It might be useful to use the "rubberized" part of a pencil to "gently" push the pad into place.
- You can use fabric glue to attach the eyes instead of sewing them.
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Further ideas:
- Sew a small red vest for the little monkey, with buttons in front to make it look like an accordion player's monkey.
- Embroider the line of the mouth on the muzzle or eyebrows to add expressiveness.
- Shape elbows, knees, wrists and ankles for the monkey using the same technique you used for the neck.
- Add a pom pom to the hat for a winter monkey, or a little flower for a spring monkey, etc.
- Sew a fabric banana into the monkey's hand.
- Sew a small red heart to the monkey's chest.
- Knit a scarf for the winter.
- To add personality to your little monkey, you can cut out a red heart and add it to the monkey's chest before stitching it up.
Warnings
- If you are making the monkey for a child under three, do not use eye buttons. If they become unstitched, they could end up in the baby's mouth. Instead, embroider eyes, use child-proof and animal-proof doll eyes, or use non-toxic fabric paint or markers to draw eyes.
- Use only socks that you are allowed to cut.
- Scissors and needles are pointed. Be careful when using them.
