MY FIRST SOCK MONKEY - SORT OF

When I was growing up in the 50's, sock monkeys were very popular and my three siblings and I each had one. I don't know what happened to them over the years, but they disappeared and no one in my family seems to remember where they went. Maybe they were sold in a garage sale or perhaps they were given to Goodwill. I didn't think much about them until one Christmas when I wanted to make something to give my mother, whose birthday is on Christmas Day.

Mom had expressed a desire to make a sock monkey and I first thought she and I might make some together, but Mom is having difficulty with even simple sewing, so I decided to make her a sock monkey myself - the first one I ever made. My good friend, Deanna, has made them for years, but I'd been hesitant to try one. Throughout the sewing process, I was unsure about the project and thought I'd made the monkey's hiney too tall. How was I supposed to know how high to make a monkey's bum? I emailed a photo to Deanna who told me the monkey's rear looked ok to her, and after she and her spouse had a good laugh, I finished the monkey and wrapped him as a gift for my mom.

Along with the sock monkey, I gave Mom some flannel sock monkey sheets I'd found at Target under the brand name, "Nick and Nora". I dearly love following through with themes so the sheets were perfect. She seemed to like her gifts, but now I have no sock monkey. I might be trying to re-live my childhood, but I want a monkey too. I think I'm getting into the mood to make another one. This next one will be a keeper.

The history of Sock Monkey's and instructions to make them are on this site:

http://www.supersockmonkey.com/catalog/history.html