When was sock monkey created

Sock monkeys were originally hand-sewn, and represent a mixture of folk art style and kitsch. They grew in popularity during the Great Depression when money was scarce and worn-out Rockford socks could be repurposed into stuffed animal toys for children. In the early s, the Nelson Knitting Company learned that its socks were being used to make stuffed animal monkeys and began the process for patenting the sock monkey toy.

The firm received the patent in and began to include the sock monkey doll pattern in each package of Red Heel socks. The origin of sock monkeys can be traced back to the late 18th century Victorian era when American mothers began imitating Europeans stuffed animal designs with household items. Nelson Knitting Mills in Rockford, Illinois began manufacturing their famous Rockford Red Heel socks in , which quickly evolved into the most popular sock monkey material.

Nelson Knitting Mills patented their red heeled socks in , and the company renewed the sock monkey craze in the s by including instructions for creating monkeys with ever pair of Red Heel socks they sold. As most trends do, the craze faded for only a few decades before being renewed in the s when the classic Red Heel sock monkeys found their way into storybooks and nurseries around the country. Babies Boomers began sharing their youthful memories with their children.

By , when the United States entered World War I, it had five knitting companies producing up to 15, pairs per day. In , Nelson Knitting incorporated red yarn into the heels of their socks so as to stand out from similar socks that were being churned out.

Collection of sock monkeys. Photos by Kathy Augustine. Because of this distinctive detail, some sources speculate that the sock monkey originated during the Great Depression of the s, thanks to the thrifty, creative resourcefulness of seamstresses at that time. And although this feels like a legitimate assertion, official legal documentation marks February, , as the official birth of the sock monkey. The patent was awarded to Nelson Knitting Mill in The patent expired in , and the design is now in public domain.

The Midway Village Museum in Rockford, Illinois, traces the history of the Nelson Knitting Mill, and also houses a large collection of sock monkeys, including several six-foot-tall fiberglass art monkeys from a village-wide promotion in He stands 7 feet, 2 inches tall, including his tail.