Three real patterns, pick your monkey

The Patterns

Modern or vintage sock monkey, plus a sock elephant that started life as an accident. All free, all hand-sewing friendly.

Most popular

Modern Sock Monkey

Shorter tail, wider arms — the version most people picture when they think "sock monkey." The best starting point if this is your first one.

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Classic

Vintage Sock Monkey

Longer tail, narrower arms — the original silhouette, and the one to use if you want a cap cut from the same two socks.

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Bonus animal

Sock Elephant

Same two socks, a different cut. Fair warning: my first one looked like an aardvark. Yours might too, and that's fine.

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Pattern 01 · Modern

Modern Sock Monkey

You'll need: one pair of socks (Original Rockford Red Heel or any sturdy sock), stuffing (6–8oz polyester fiberfill or eco craft), red knitting yarn (optional), sewing thread, embroidery thread, 2 buttons (optional).

  1. Body: turn both socks inside out. Sew a seam on both sides of the center of one sock, starting three inches from the heel, curving across the top. Cut between seams to within 1½" of the heel — this leaves the stuffing opening.
  2. Turn & stuff: turn the sock right-side out through the opening and stuff the head, body and legs. Hand-stitch the gap closed.
  3. Arms: cut the upper part of the second sock into two pieces, seam and stuff each, then attach by hand.
  4. Mouth: cut the heel from the second sock, leaving a brown edge around the white — that's the mouth. Stuff lightly and stitch around the bottom, finishing around the top.
Download the PDF pattern
A hand-stitched sock monkey doll with a red heel patch, propped against a stack of folded colorful socks
Pattern 02 · Vintage

Vintage Sock Monkey

The original silhouette — longer tail, narrower arms than the modern cut. This is the pattern to reach for if you want a matching knit cap: the vintage cut lets you take the cap from the same second sock, where the modern pattern needs a third.

The construction order is the same as the modern pattern (body, turn, stuff, arms, mouth) — only the cutting lines for the tail and arm width change. If you're brand new, sew the modern pattern first so the shapes feel familiar, then try vintage next.

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Pattern 03 · Bonus animal

Sock Elephant

Use Rockford Red Heel socks for a classic look, or elephant-print socks if you can find them. Vary the ear pattern for larger (African) or smaller (Indian) ears.

  1. Cut 3½" off the rib of the sock. Starting 3" from the heel, sew a ⅛" seam on each side of the center line and across the end of the ribbing.
  2. Cut between the seams and about 1½" further to open for stuffing, then turn right-side out.
  3. Head & body: stuff the foot of the sock plump and tie off loosely at the neck. Insert small cardboard circles in the feet before stuffing for stability.
  4. Legs: cut the second sock as shown, about 5" long, turn inside out, seam one side and across the foot, insert cardboard, stuff, and attach.
  5. Mouth: cut the complete heel off the second sock.

Fair warning: my very first attempt looked more like an aardvark than an elephant. I made it into a happy accident instead of starting over — yours can be too.

A handmade sock elephant toy sewn from a red heel sock, sitting on a wooden table next to a ball of yarn and a needle