Creating Sock Monkeys: No-Sew, All-Fun Crafting Project

Making a sock monkey is a fun and easy craft project that can be done with or without sewing. While the traditional style involves using a pair of socks, a needle and thread, and buttons for eyes, there are no-sew options that utilize fabric and glue. This paragraph will introduce the topic of how to make sock monkeys without sewing, offering a guide to the materials needed and the steps to follow for a fun and simple craft project.

How to Make Sock Monkeys with No Sewing

Choose your sock(s)

Choosing the right socks is the first step to making your sock monkey. You can use any socks you like, but the best ones have heels and toes in contrasting colours. You can use matching socks or different ones for a funky monkey! Whatever you use, pick socks that are clean and don't have holes.

If you want to go for the iconic sock monkey style, buy Rockford Red Heel Socks, which have a distinctive red heel. Alternatively, you can use any colour socks, such as burgundy, beige, brown stripes, khaki, dark blue, melon red stripes, grey, white, or teal stripes.

If you're making the sock monkey for a very young child, avoid buttons, as they can be a choking hazard. Instead, use pieces of felt or fleece, or embroider the eyes.

Cut the sock(s)

To make a sock monkey without sewing, you'll need a pair of socks, preferably with contrasting colours on the toes and heels. You can also use Rockford Red Heel Socks for a more classic look.

Turn the socks inside out with the wrong sides facing out. Place one sock with the heel facing up; this will be the body of the monkey. Place the second sock with the heel to one side, which will be used for the other body parts.

If your sock has a small cuff, cut it off—it is too thick and inconsistent with the rest of the sock.

You will need to cut the sock from the opening to 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the coloured heel. This splits the sock into the legs, so make sure you're cutting through both layers of fabric. You can eyeball this line or draw a guideline using a ruler and fabric marker if you'd like a perfectly straight line.

Once you've cut out all of your pieces, you're ready to assemble the monkey.

Sew the body

Now, let's sew the body of the sock monkey!

First, turn the socks inside out with the wrong sides out. Place one sock with the heel facing up; this will be the body of the monkey. If your sock has a small cuff, cut it off—it is too thick and inconsistent with the rest of the sock.

With the right sides together, start at the fold along one of the sides of the monkey. Sew across the raw edge at the bottom of the foot, turn and sew up the leg. Stop and backstitch about 1 inch from the centre between the monkey legs. Sew the other leg the same way. Now you have an opening to turn and stuff the monkey body.

Turn the monkey body inside out. Use a long corner turner to get into the feet and make sure they are all poked out. You can use the blunt end of a knitting needle, too—just make sure not to poke through the fabric.

Fill the monkey body with polyfill. Start by filling the feet and up the monkey's legs, then the main body.

Slip stitch the opening closed. Some people use a ladder stitch for this. TIP: Use double thread. Knot the end. Take a little stitch and loop your needle through the loop with the knot. This secures the knot, and it won't slip through the sock. Stitch the opening closed.

Now, let's work on the monkey's head and give it a neck! Knot your thread and then wrap it around the neck several times. Pull the thread tight and tie a knot. Add a dab of Fray-Check to the knot to keep it secure.

Next, sew on the tail piece. I like to sew the open edge closed first, then use a whip stitch to sew along one edge and turn to sew the other edge.

Then, using the same technique, sew on the arms. Place the arms close to the indent for the neck.

Now, embroider the mouth. I started stitching across the top of the mouth and used a chain stitch, but you can use any line stitch. I stitched around the outside of the contrast area (the heel of the sock). Then I stitched across the centre to reflect the mouth opening.

For the mouth of the monkey, I pinned it in place before whip stitching it to the face. Add a little bit of polyfill. Begin sewing and add more polyfill as you go along. When the mouth is almost all attached, but you still have a little opening, add a little more to fill it out. Stitch the opening closed and tie off your thread.

The monkey is all sewn together!

Stuff the body

Now that you've cut out the body, arms, tail, and ears of your sock monkey, it's time to stuff the body!

First, turn the body right side out. You can use a long corner turner to get into the feet and make sure they are all poked out. Alternatively, you can use the blunt end of a knitting needle, being careful not to poke through the fabric.

Next, fill the monkey body with polyfill. Start by filling the feet and then move up the monkey's legs, followed by the main body. Be sure to get into the legs and feet as much as possible. You can use the eraser-end of a pencil to push the polyfill down.

Slip stitch the opening closed. It is recommended to use double thread for this. Take a little stitch and loop your needle through the loop with the knot. This secures the knot and prevents it from slipping through the sock. Stitch the opening closed.

Now that the body is stuffed and closed, you can make and attach the rest of the body parts (arms, tail, and ears).

For the arms, start sewing at the fold along the hand, leaving the tops open so you can stuff them later. Sew the tail in the same way, starting at the tip and sewing up the side, leaving the top open. Finally, sew the ears, sewing around the curved edge and leaving the straight edge open.

Turn the arms, tail, and ears right side out. Use a corner turner to help poke out all the corners. Now, stuff each of the monkey's body parts with toy stuffing from the open end. Don't put too much filling in the ears—just enough to make them stand out.

Now, let's work on the monkey's head and give it a neck. Knot your thread and then wrap it around the neck several times. Pull the thread tight and tie a knot. Add a dab of Fray-Check to the knot to keep it secure.

Next, sew on the tail piece. Sew the open edge closed, and then use a whip stitch to sew along one edge and turn to sew the other edge. Then, using the same technique, sew on the arms and ears. Place the arms close to the indent for the neck.

Your sock monkey's body is now stuffed and ready to be decorated with a face!

Sew and stuff the rest

Now, let's sew and stuff the rest of the monkey!

Sewing the Body

First, sew the sock for the body and legs. Cut between the two leg seams and trim around the curves. Cut an extra 1/2”/ 1 1/2 cm past the top of the sewn seam lines to create a larger opening between the legs for turning. Now, turn the monkey body inside out. You can use a long corner turner to get into the feet and make sure they are all poked out, or the blunt end of a knitting needle.

Stuffing the Body

Next, fill the monkey body with polyfill. Start by filling the feet and then move up the monkey's legs, followed by the main body.

Closing the Body

Slip stitch the opening closed. Use double thread and knot the end. Take a little stitch and loop your needle through the loop with the knot. This will secure the knot and prevent it from slipping through the sock.

Sewing the Rest of the Parts

Now, sew the rest of the body parts: the arms, tail, and ears. With right sides together, start sewing at the fold along the hand for the arms, and leave the tops open for stuffing. For the tail, start at the tip and sew up the side, leaving the top open. Finally, sew the ears with right sides together, and sew around the curved edge, leaving the straight edge open.

Turning the Parts Right Side Out

Turn the sewn parts right side out. Use a corner turner to help poke out all the corners.

Stuffing the Rest of the Parts

Now, stuff each of the monkey's body parts with toy stuffing from the open end. Don't put too much filling in the ears—just enough to make them stand out.

Sewing the Mouth

Pin the mouth piece in place before whip-stitching it to the face. Add a little bit of polyfill, and then begin sewing and add more as you go along. When the mouth is almost attached, but you still have a small opening, add a little more stuffing to fill it out. Stitch the opening closed and tie off your thread.

Attaching the Rest of the Parts

Finally, let's attach the arms, tail, and ears to the body. Place the arms close to the indent for the neck. Using a whip stitch, sew on the tail, arms, and ears.

Frequently asked questions