| It wasn't that long ago that parents spent much less on | | | | You may still be able to get sock monkey patterns in |
| Christmas presents than they do now. In fact, until the | | | | the Rockford Red Heel sock packages. Just in case |
| middle of the 1900s children received fewer gifts, and | | | | the package doesn't contain instructions, you can do a |
| some of the gifts they received for Christmas were | | | | search online to find patterns for the original sock |
| home-made. Some parents think it's time to stop | | | | monkey. Go to your favorite search engine and look |
| spending so much and get back to a simpler time. At | | | | up "Sock Monkey instructions". There are numerous |
| one time children used to ask for a home-made sock | | | | versions, but generally all home-made sock monkeys |
| monkey, and some still ask for them. | | | | will look similar. |
| John Nelson, a Swedish immigrant, manufactured the | | | | What do you need to make your own home-made |
| first socks in 1890 in Rockford Illinois at The Nelson | | | | sock monkey? |
| Knitting Mills. These socks were sturdy enough to | | | | * One pair of Rockford Red Heel socks. They come in |
| work in and were purchased by workers who had to | | | | two pairs to a package and cost around $12.00, and |
| be on their feet all day. Mainly they were used by | | | | come in various sizes so you can make different size |
| farmers and factory workers. In 1932, the company | | | | monkeys. |
| changed the look of their socks by adding a red heel. | | | | * Cotton batting or polyester fiber to make your sock |
| Because of the Great Depression, mothers looked for | | | | monkey plump |
| ways they could create toys for their children out of | | | | * Red knitting yarn |
| items they had around the home. Some mothers took | | | | * Black embroidery thread |
| their husband's old socks and started making monkeys | | | | * Black buttons, for the eyes |
| and other animals out of them. When the company | | | | * All-purpose thread |
| learned that their socks were being used to create | | | | Gather the above items, find your instructions on the |
| toys for children, they developed patterns and started | | | | Internet, and within a couple of hours you can have |
| including the patterns in the sock packages. This | | | | one or two sock monkeys or sock elephants. There |
| happened in the 1950s. | | | | are several great things about a gift you make |
| If you never had a home-made sock monkey, you can | | | | yourself: you know what went into it so you know |
| buy a package of socks and make one for yourself | | | | there's nothing harmful in it, you've spent precious time |
| and your children. You may be able to find sock | | | | to make it, and even if it doesn't look just like the one in |
| monkeys in gift shops, but there's nothing like a | | | | the pictures, you've created it with love. Your child is |
| home-made sock monkey if you or your child want a | | | | sure to treasure the home-made sock money you've |
| "real" one. | | | | made for them for years to come. |