Sock monkeys!

gemsmember

Thats the problem with a lot of the craft books and patterns, they say you can make them for your own use or for gifts, but can't sell them, so as you said before, you are better making your own interpretation of an animal etc.

Some patterns will sell a commercial licence as well, but you have to dig deep to find those.

Shelley3774

I wonder if someone can give me some advice I've made quite few sock monkeys and love the ones with the very big mouths. I found that by using the toe of the sock it makes the mouth much bigger but I am having trouble sewing them on. I find it difficult to get them straight so thinking I may go back to using the heel! How does everyone stitch the mouth on?

gemsmember

I ladder stitch mine on - I use the heel and find that I can get a nice big one as they are quite stretchy. The toe often has a seam and doesn't seem to give such a good rounded shape.

gemsmember

Has anyone seen the sudden jump in the number of sock monkeys being offered for sale on Ebay, and the prices that some of them have sold for. Today there were quite a few from a new seller that all achieved over £15 each with some as much as £28. Those prices are usually achieved in the USA.

Shelley3774

gemsmember wrote: »

I ladder stitch mine on - I use the heel and find that I can get a nice big one as they are quite stretchy. The toe often has a seam and doesn't seem to give such a good rounded shape.

Thanks Gemsmember I just had a trial using the heel for a change and it seems to have worked ok so I'm going to go sock shopping tomorrow and make up a few more using this method. Hope I don't waste any more good socks I've already binned 2 pairs tonight

gemsmember

This is an example of one of my mouths

Shelley3774

That is fabulous Gemsmember it is so big it does look like its the toe part! Do you stuff it really well?
Sunsetgirl makes lovely sock monkeys with big mouths but I always thought she used the toe but i have my doubts now.

hogshead

gemsmember how do you sew on the arms? They look as though they come from a more rear angle & incorporated into the sock as opposed to being sewn on. OK tha makes no sense eeven to me & I know what I mean....gonna be one of those days!
Could you take a bigger pic with more angles.
Thanks

hogshead

cuddles123 wrote: »

Another question.
Read about using a tube to turn and stuff arms and tails. Where on earth do you find a long narrow tube?

OK I know this is super old but OH was on ablout this yesterday saying he'd think of something for me to make it easier.
I have just had a lightbulb moment! How about snipping the end off a turkey baster & using that the feed to sock onto & stuff at the same time.
Who'd have thought turkey basters could have such a multitude of uses.

Off to see if I still have one lurking around.

gemsmember

I stuff very firmly. I use about 200-250gsm of stuffing in each monkey. I use the knob end of a knitting needle to push the stuffing in and the sharp end to move it about a bit, but you do have to be careful with the point - it can go through the sock and ruin them (ask me how I know LOL!!).

I indent the neck of the sock so the arms are fitted, rather than have them hanging loosely.

I sell my monkeys to order so have to be fairly certain that they will look the same as each other, as the customers don't see them until they receive them. You still can't be 100% that they will all look the same though, because even two socks the same, will stuff slightly differently.

One thing I am fussy about though, is that the stripes match, that is a pet hate of mine and the one thing that annoys me if I buy a garment or something, I always look to see if the stripes match.