How to Make a Sock Monkey: Easy Sewing Tutorial

Instructions

1. Start with a pair of socks.
2. Turn the socks inside out with the wrong sides out.
3. Place one sock with the heel facing up; this will be the body of the monkey. And, the second sock with the heel placed to one side will be for the other body parts.
4. If your sock has a small cuff, cut it off - it is too thick and not consistent with the rest of the sock.
5. Here is a diagram of how to cut the socks. If you want the legs or arms shorter, don't cut them as long.
6. Here is how to cut the tail and mouth from the other section.
7. Once you have cut out all of your pieces, you are ready to sew. I started with the body, but you can start with any of the parts. With the right sides together, start at the fold along one of the sides of the monkey. Sew across the raw edge at the bottom of the foot, turn and sew up the leg.
8. Stop and backstitch about 1-inch from the center between the monkey legs.
9. Sew the other leg the same way. Now you have an opening to turn and stuff the monkey body.
10. Turn the monkey body inside out. I like to use this long corner turner to get into the feet and make sure they are all poked out. You can use the blunt end of a knitting needle, too. Just make sure not to poke through the fabric.
11. Here is the monkey body turned right side out.
12. Fill the monkey body with poly fill. I started by filling the feet and up the monkey's legs, then the main body.
13. Slip stitch the opening closed. Some people use a ladder stitch for this. TIP: Use double thread. Knot the end. Take a little stitch and loop your needle through the loop with the knot. This secures the knot and it won't slip through the sock. Stitch the opening closed.
14. I like to go ahead and make all of the rest of the body parts and sew them to the monkey. For the monkey arms, with right sides together, start sewing at the fold along the hand. Leave the tops of the arms open so you can stuff them.
15. Next, sew the tail together. Again, with right sides together, start at the tip of the tail and sew up the side, leaving the top open.
16. Finally, sew the ears. With right sides together, sew around the curved edge, leaving the straight edge open.
17. Here are all of the parts sewn together.
18. Turn them right side out. Again, use a corner turner to help poke out all of the corners.
19. Now, stuff each of the monkey's body parts with the toy stuffing from the open end. I don't put much fill in the finished ears, just enough to make them stand out. You don't want them stuffed full.
20. Next, let's work on the monkey's head and give him a neck! Knot your thread and then wrap around the neck several times.
21. Pull the thread tight and tie a knot. Add a dab of Fray-Check to the knot to keep it secure.
22. Next, sew on the tail piece. I like to sew the open edge closed first, then using a whip stitch sew along one edge and turn to sew the other edge.
23. Then, using the same technique, sew on the arms and ears. Place the arms close to the indent for the neck.
24. Next, we'll embroider the mouth.
25. I started stitching across the top of the mouth and used a chain stitch, but you can use any line stitch. I stitched around the outside of the contrast area (was the heel of the sock).
26. Then I stitched across the center to reflect the mouth opening.
27. For the mouth of the monkey, I pinned it in place before whip stitching to the face. Add a little bit of the poly fill. Begin sewing and add more poly fill as you go along. When the mouth is almost all attached, but you still have a little opening, add a little more to fill it out. Stitch the opening closed and tie off your thread.
28. The monkey is all sewn together!
29. Sew on the button eyes. Or use some embroidery floss and embroider eyes on your monkey. Another option is to cut fleece or felt and hand appliqué the eyes.
    
    Optional: Cut a piece of fleece for a scarf for your monkey to cover the neck. Just make a few short snips into the ends for fringe.
30. Last step: tie the scarf on the monkey and it is done!