This cute sock toy has been loved by both children and adults for a long time. To make your own sock doll, follow these steps.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Making the Doll's Feet
Step 1. Prepare two used socks
Choose a sock with a heel and toe color that contrasts with the rest. One of the socks will be used for the doll's body, legs, and head, while the other will be used to make the doll's arms, tail, face, and ears.
Traditionally, these dolls are made with “Rockford Red Heel Socks” (brown socks with red heels). If the end of your sock is hemmed in, be sure to carefully open the seams in this area. You'll need the entire sock to be made into a stuffed monkey
Step 2. Flip the sock inside out
Step 3. Place one sock so that the heel is flat
You may have to press the sock against its natural crease to even out the heel. If you find it difficult to flatten the heel, use an iron to press it briefly.
Step 4. Draw a center line on the sock from the toe to about 2.5 cm from the colored heel
This line will be used as a marker for the doll's leg. Again, note that the heel in this step is still hidden in the bottom of the sock, so you may need to flip it slightly to confirm where the line is.
The best stationery option for drawing lines is an erasable fabric marker. Make sure the line you draw is really centered. A stuffed monkey with a bigger leg on the other side would look weird
Step 5. Sew the front and back layers of the sock together on one side of the line
Leave about 0.6 cm of space in the line between your two stitches.
You can use a sewing machine or sew by hand. Use a walking foot if you are using a sewing machine
Step 6. Cut the section between your two stitches
The monkey's colored feet and paws will now be clearly visible.
Part 2 of 4: Making the Head and Body of the Doll
Step 1. Turn the sock over again, and add the stuffing to the doll
Polyfill fillers are available at all craft supply stores. The top of the sock will become the upper body and head of the sock.
You can add filler to your liking and how hard you want the doll to be. However, on thin socks you may need to reduce the amount of filler added, as too much of this will stretch the sock
Step 2. Sew the head and/or hat
If the color of the sock hole is the same as the rest, you can make a round head and then sew it tightly together. However, if the colors are different, you'll need to decide whether to cut it (shortening the doll's body) and then make the head as usual, or use the part of a different color as the doll's "cap". To make this hat, leave 2 inches (5-5 cm) of the tip of the sock empty, then tie the section to form a cone.
To make the doll's head: make a 0.6 cm long seam around the doll's neck. Use a strong thread such as embroidery floss. Pull the stitches until you get to the neck size you want and tie a knot at the end. Fill the filling into the head as desired, then sew the hole at the top until it's tight
Step 3. Open the seam at the end of the sock if you are making a doll hat
Tie the ends of the sock together with a wide seam, then tie tightly. Fold the end of the sock into the center and tuck it in. Next, sew the holes tightly. The winter monkey doll is ready!
Part 3 of 4: Making the Doll's Arms, Tail and Ears
Step 1. Cut the second sock into several pieces as shown in the picture
Even if the pattern is only drawn on the top layer, make sure to cut both layers of the sock. For more detailed patterns, see the links in the resources section.
Step 2. Fold the two sleeves in half the same length
Then, sew the open side in a slight arc around the darker colored end. The darker end will be the palm, and the other end will be the hole where the filler is inserted and then sewn to the doll's body.
Keep the ends of the arms open. Also, be sure to sew it after turning it over. Otherwise, the seam edges will appear very rough
Step 3. Fold the tail in 2 equal lengths
Then, sew the open side in a slight arc around the darker end, the same as for the sleeve. The darker end will be the tail end, and the other end will be the hole where the filler is inserted and then sewn to the doll's body.
Step 4. Fold each ear in half, then cut
Next, sew in a slight arc following the rounded side. Leave the flat side exposed. The remaining hole will be where the filler material is inserted and attached to the doll's body. Can you understand the pattern?
If you like, you can fold the doll's ears "one more time", vertically in the middle (so the doll's ears look like real ears). You basically just need to bring the two corners of the doll's ears together. Join the two by sewing a slip stitch
Step 5. For now, do nothing to the muzzle of the doll (formerly the heel of the sock)
This section will be used in the next step.
Step 6. Turn the stitched part back into its original position, and insert the filling material into it
You should now have two arms, two ears, a tail, and a nose that haven't been stitched and filled in.
The tail may be a little tricky to make. You can fill it with a regular polyfill, and push it with a pencil. Or you can also use an aquarium filter net or fiber. Both the net and the fiber have a harder texture, so the tail shape will remain flat in the long run
Step 7. Attach the tail to the doll's bottom
Place it properly and sew around it with a slip stitch.
Step 8. Attach the doll's arms to both sides of the body
You should put your arms higher than your desired natural look. That way, the resulting doll will look more like a monkey.
Part 4 of 4: Composing the Face and Ears
Step 1. Cut off the heel tip if necessary
This part will be made into the muzzle of the doll, so make sure to choose the same colored part. Note that the outer edge of this section will eventually be hidden, so you don't need to cut it perfectly.
Step 2. Fold the bottom of the muzzle and sew it to the base of the doll's chin
Make sure that the rough edges are not visible along the base of the snout, and leave the top open for a while.
Step 3. Add filler to make the doll's muzzle appear bulging
You may need to look at a picture of a stuffed monkey to learn how it looks. The best stuffed monkeys generally have a snout that swells up to almost a 90º angle.
Step 4. Fold the rough edges inward, then sew the top of the muzzle toward the face
The muzzle of the doll should appear wide enough on its head. You don't have to worry about laying other parts.
- Continue by giving the doll a mouth. Embroider a contrasting colored thread along the toe line on the muzzle (it should be right in the middle).
- If you want to add nostrils, all you need to do is embroider two small rectangles 2.5 cm apart above the mouth.
Step 5. Fold the rough edges of the doll's ears inward and sew them together
Sew the finished ears to both sides of the doll's head. Place the ears at eye level of the doll, just above the muzzle. Make sure the doll's ears are sticking out towards the front.
Step 6. Attach the buttons as doll eyes
You can glue or sew buttons on a white felt to create the whites of the eyes. Then, using a contrasting colored thread, sew this felt just above the muzzle of the doll. Now, your cute monkey doll is ready!
To avoid a scary look, use black buttons. The size of the buttons depends on the size of the doll. Also, avoid using buttons altogether (unless they are sewn very well) for children's dolls
Tips
- Important: use small filler while filling the stuffed monkey. Adding a large amount of filler may speed up your work, but the resulting doll will feel uneven and ugly. Smaller pieces of filler will give a smoother finish. You may be able to use the "eraser" end of the pencil to insert the filler into the doll.
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Next idea:
- Sew a small red vest with buttons on the front for a monkey mask doll look.
- Embroider wrinkles on the nose or eyebrows to strengthen the expression.
- Sew the elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles in the same technique as for the neck.
- Add pom poms to a winter monkey doll hat, or flowers to a spring monkey doll, etc.
- Sew a cloth bandana to the doll's head.
- Sew a small red heart on the doll's chest.
- Knit a scarf to complete the winter look on the doll.
- For a personal touch, cut a red heart shape and attach it to the monkey's chest before sewing.
- Use fabric glue to attach the eyes instead of sewing them.
- If you don't have stuffed toy filling, use sprigs of pine needles, dried flower petals, dryer sheets, tissue, knitting yarn, grass, or rice instead.
- If you don't have buttons, you can use doll eyes instead.
- Brightly colored socks, polka dot patterns, or stripes work great.
Warning
- Do not use buttons as doll eyes to give to children under 3 years of age. If it comes off, the buttons can get into the mouths of children. So you should simply embroider the eye shapes, use child-safe doll eyes, paint them with non-toxic paint, or make doll eyes out of cloth.
- Only use socks that you are allowed to cut.
- Scissors and needles are sharp objects. Be careful when using it.
