Sock monkey

A homemade sock monkey

A sock monkey is a type of stuffed toy made from hosiery and fashioned in the likeness of a monkey.

The sock monkey probably evolved in the 1910s or early 1920s from dolls made from discarded socks. The earliest known claim to making the monkey dolls dates to 1919. Sock monkeys made from red-heeled socks could not have appeared before 1932, the year the Nelson Knitting Company added the trademarked red heel to its product. The Red-Heel brand sock has included instructions on how to sew a sock monkey in every package sold since the mid 1950s, after widespread application of the product in the field of monkey manufacturing by inventive homemakers became apparent to the company. Most "vintage" sock monkeys found today are probably not older than the late 1950s. Many date from the 1970s.

Sock monkeys remain a popular toy to this day, although not as prevalent as teddy bears. The manner in which sock monkeys are made and the materials used in their creation remain largely unchanged from the initial toys, though great variety exists. Indeed, some modern sock monkeys aren't even made from socks at all.

Sock monkeys in popular culture

• An alternative comic by artist Tony Millionaire features a sock monkey as its protagonist
• The character Catwoman owns a sock monkey in the film Batman Returns
• David Letterman is a noted sock monkey enthusiast
• The liner notes insert for the 2001 CD Buddy & Julie Miller features a photograph of the Millers' sock monkey collection.
• The 2004 Penn Jillette novel Sock is written from the perspective of a sock monkey named Dickie.
• Designer Paul Frank sells a line of merchandise featuring a sock-monkey-like character named Julius.
• Stephanie Carrico Phoenix based Sock Monkey photographer of Isaac the Sock Monkey

See also

• Arts and crafts
• Americana
• Stuffed animal

External links

• Monkey Sock Dolls Monkey dock doll photos and collectibles
• [http://www.midwayvillage.com Midway Village & Museum Center

Rockford Illinois museum that houses exhibits and collections on sock monkeys and red heel socks

• Instructions For Making The Red-Heel Sock Monkey Toy
• How to make Sock Monkey