Everything you wanted to know about Sock Monkeys and more

 
Well I’ve become somewhat obsessed with sock monkeys!
It seems that people have definite opinions on them, similar to clowns, love or hate them. So it all starts with a pair of socks $4.95 from WalMart.
After making a couple for gifts for my niece and nephew. The mania began. The traditional sock monkeys that we think of were made with a specific sock, the  Rockford Red Heel Socks. John Nelson, a Swedish immigrant to the United States, patented the sock-knitting machine in 1869, and began manufacturing work socks in Rockford, Illinois in 1890. During the Great Depression, American mothers first made sock monkeys out of worn-out Rockford Red Heel Socks.
Sometime around 1951 Nelson Knitting company discovered that their socks were being used to make monkey dolls, this resulted in a dispute over the pattern. The company was awarded the pattern in l955 and started including it with every pair of socks.
In 1992 the Nelson company was acquired by Fox River Mills.  A  change in the red-heeled sock design distinguishes monkeys made with Fox River Mills socks from Nelson Knitting Company socks. Fox River heels are more uniformly ovular, without the end points that gave Nelson Knitting-made sock monkeys their smiles or frowns.
You can still buy the Nelson socks so your sock monkeys will “smile” at you. They also have several other differences. This site is full of patterns and information, and you can also buy the new or old style socks.
  
Beginning and end results above, of course I had to add a knitted scarf, and vest!
I found several good patterns, and tutorials, (if anyone needs a fast, traditional gift)
From Lenny Taylor short and concise directions here
Web Goddess has a detailed tutorial on how to cut and sew
From Paton Yarn, a free knitted sock monkey pattern
Another knitted sock monkey pattern from Thepatternbox.com, from Mummble-Jummble2, she has other free patterns also.
Here is a crochet sock monkey pattern from qDpaToOtieS very cute, and a nice blog, she has a wide variety of tutorials from snow globes to pumpkin pie upside down cake!
Craftbits has a sock monkey pattern for modern striped socks
I like this one from Clubhouse.com, it is detailed
From the Wikihowtomake a sock monkey
Sock monkey blog, of course
And we can’t let our sock monkey’s go with out some stylish knitwear, here is a pattern for a hat and scarf from Sock Monkey Fun, and a crocheted skirt.
And from Patricia Spork a Sock Monkey poem
Vintage Sock Monkey
By Patricia Spork
Clean socks filled,
sewn to bond,
monkey doll’s
floppy bod;
Red pom-pom
—sometimes—
adorn
hatted top,
While red lips
—always—
smile
stuffed bottom
Well that’s everything I know about Sock Monkey’s! Have Fun.. 

Technorati Tags: sock monkeys,knitted sock monkey pattern,crochet sock monkey pattern,sock monkey poem,knit,knitting