What are Sock Monkeys?
Sock monkeys are children’s toys made from socks, most iconically the trademarked Red Heel Socks manufactured by the Nelson Knitting Company, later acquired by Fox River Mills. Because they are cheap and easy to make, sock monkeys have become a symbol of working class inventiveness for some Americans, as the origins of sock monkeys lie in making innovative children’s toys out of existing household scraps and supplies. Today, consumers can either purchase manufactured sock monkeys or make their own: Fox River’s Red Heel socks still come with directions for making a sock monkey. Many sewers think fondly of sock monkeys, as they often form the basis of a beginning sewing project, when someone is just beginning to learn the basics of the craft. Although the first documented appearance of sock monkeys is from the early twentieth century in the United States, they have probably been in existence for much longer. Mothers, especially lower class mothers, have a long tradition of making poppets
