by S. Roberts
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Year after year does Santa Claus bring you socks? They might be a great gift for Santa in Lapland but on the whole they are a pretty unimaginative stocking filler. Well we have a fantastic idea to turn a boring old pair of socks into a cute, cheeky, little sock monkey.
All you will need is… A pair of socks in any size, needle and thread, toy stuffing, 2 buttons for eyes and a sewing machine is an advantage but not essential
Take the first sock, turn it inside out and lay it out flat heel up.
Mark out the centre of the sock up to 4 cm below the heel line. With a dewing machine, if you have one, stitch 1 cm away from the centre line and sew down towards the ribbed part of the sock. Sew down to the bottom edge, turn away from the centre line and sew across the ribbed section to form a foot. Stitch the other side of the centre line to match.
Now cut up the centre line to divide the legs.
Turn the sock the right way out through the hole at the monkeys crotch. Lightly stuff the monkeys body and legs and sew up the hole in the crotch with invisible stitches.
Lay the second sock out flat in a side profile position and cut out relevant parts as indicated in the diagram.
Tail Fold in half and stitch up the long side, tapering the ribbed edge to a point. Turn, stuff, turn the ends in and attach to the monkeys bottom.
Mouth Turn in edges and pin the oval shaped mouth to the main monkey just below the toe. Stitch invisibly in place leaving a small opening. Lightly stuff and close opening. Embroider on a mouth.
Arms Fold in half and sew up the long edge and across the ribbed edge. Turn, stuff, turn the edges in and stitch in place on the monkeys body.
Ears Put two ear parts together with right sides facing. Sew around curved part of the ear and turn right sides out. Tuck the bottom edge up inside the ear and fold the ear in half. Tack half way along the bottom edge to form a fold in the ear and stitch in place at the side of the monkeys head.
Eyes Stitch buttons on the front of the monkeys head above the mouth.
Pull the hat on to the monkeys head
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For illustrations and photos see http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/how-to-make-sock-monkeys-christmas-toy.html S. Roberts writes for http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk a free educational resource packed with creative things to do over the festive period including traditional, religious and 21st Century activities. For more craft projects visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html
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