Sock Monkey Tutorial...

I got a call last night from a girlfriend wanting to know how I make my sock monkeys. Some others have also inquired, so I thought I would post a bit of a tutorial for those of you who are interested.

I want to start by saying I am no seamstress or anything near it. I am a self-taught, trytryagain, do-it-'til you get it close enough to right type of gal. I enjoy love crafting and anything creative, but it is a lot of trial and error. If you choose to read on, consider yourself warned!

I did not take pictures as I went along, so I am just gonna share the tutorial I followed for my first one. (Click here for the link.) The site is web-goddess.org, and it is a great step by step guide.

A shorter version is HERE. It is from SuperSockMonkey.com and I printed this page out to have by my sewing machine on my first one.

As with most things I make, I read the instructions, put them away, and winged it. A couple of mistakes/tips...
1. Don't stretch the crotch out too much by trying to stuff it fast. This can be a disaster to try to sew shut later. Stuff it slow!
2. I use a popsicle stick to get the stuffing down into the feet.
3. Ears can be difficult. I think every monkey I have done has had different ears. I like them to all be unique though.
4. Fuzzy socks are easier and more forgiving if your hand stitches are not quite perfect, but it is a little harder to get them going on the sewing machine.
5. I like to mix and match socks so that the arms, tail, and mouth are a different color.
6. Fuzzy socks yield a much shorter monkey than the traditional tube socks do, but I like it that way.
7. I use embroidery thread and felt for the eyes for baby gifts. I wouldn't want a button to come loose in a baby's mouth.
8. The mouths are anything from embroidery floss to ric rac. The sky is the limit.

**MOST IMPORTANT** Have fun. The monkey just won't turn out right otherwise!

I am probably forgetting something, but feel free to ask questions and I will answer them to the best of my inexperienced ability.

I made several of these little guys for Christmas gifts, and everyone LOVED them! Here are a few of my favorites:

This is actually a sock dog/cat. I was a little monkey'd out right before Christmas, but I loved how this little thing turned out!