What's This About A Sock Monkey?

 Derby has to wonder [and so do I]

 if I take a white sock with a black heel

could we possibly make a

SOCK WESTIE?

 Just finished sock monkey Pj's.

I'm a sock monkey fan ... are you?

[little secret - my husband [Wilson] never

heard of a sock monkey before ... can you believe this?] 

The little heart bear is almost finished but I'm still not happy

with the way it turned out.  Would it be strange to have a 

bear out of sock monkey fabric?

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON

ON

SOCK MONKEYS

Sock Monkeys are a classic example of American Folk Art.

Though, it’s not known who created the first sock monkey,

whoever it was, I’m sure had no idea their creation

 would delight children & adults into the 21st century.

John Nelson, the proprietor of Nelson Knitting Mills,

Rockford, Illinois, is credited for designing the Rockford Red Heel®

 work sock. The purpose of the red heel was to distinguish his

socks from other manufactures. Later, this red heel became the

Sock Monkey’s signature smile and interesting ‘behind‘.

 LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO

T - H - E     S - O - C - K

THAT STARTED IT ALL!

 Some sources have the Sock Monkey first being made during the

Depression, while others date it in 1950. 

Either way, the Nelson Knitting Mills, recognized that their

Rockford Red Heel® work sock was the foundation

of the Sock Monkey and received a patent in 1953.

Soon after, they began including a Sock Monkey

pattern in every package of their unique work socks. 

In 1992 Fox River® Mills Inc. of Osage, Iowa, took

 over the Nelson Knitting Co. and carries on the red heel tradition.

But Rockford, Illinois remains “The Home of The Sock Monkey“, 

he's proudly represented in the local museum at Midway Village Center. 

The Sock Monkey’s popularity declined in the 60‘s,

but never vanished from the folk art market. 

In 2001, Dee Linder (aka the Sock Monkey Lady) sparked

 a resurgence of interest with her website. 

Today, if you google Sock Monkey, there are over 1 million sites.

KEEPING WITH THE THEME OF MONKEYS

.*.*.*.

This is a bathrobe my sister Debby made for

me to give to my friend Gail.

{Debby is busy working on the matching pj's}

Guess it's time for me to go back and

'monkey around' at my sewing machine!