Comprehensive Guide to Crafting a Happy Sock Monkey: Knitting Pattern and Tutorial

HAPPY SOCK MONKEY an adaptation of a classic pattern

By Rebecca Zelt

Reasons you should make a Sock Monkey:

1.Sock Monkeys are adorable. 2.Sock Monkeys love to hug. 3. Sock Monkeys won't mess on your rug or eat your shoes. 4. Sock Monkeys won't judge you if you make a jerk of yourself at a family function. 5. Sock Monkeys LovE to hear all about you and never want to talk about themselves.

materials:

Yarn: Main Color (MC): Approx. 7oz worsted weight (medium #4) shown: Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian highland wool); 220 yds (201 meters)/100gm; 9403, 2 skeins Contrast Color #1 (CC#1): Approx. 3.5oz worsted weight (medium #4) shown: Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian highland wool); 220 yds (201 meters)/100gm; 8505,1 skein Contrast Color #2 (CC#2): Approx. 1.5oz worsted weight(medium #4) shown: Cascade 220(100%Peruvianhighland wool); 220 yds (201 meters)/100gm; 8414,1 skein Needles: US4 knitter's standard kit of tricks stuffing about3x3"blackfelt

HAPPY SOCK MONKEY

This pattern is designed to teach the basic construction techniques used in making socks on a small scale. If you encounter new stitches or techniques, don't be afraid to search for the unknown term on the internet, ask a friend, or visit your local yarn store. Use your resources! This pattern is also a great way to get familiar with knitting "two-at-a-time on circular needles. It isn't necessary to use this technique, but it is a good practice tool. Many patterns do not spell out every round or include check-off boxes, but I find that crossing off rows, or marking off rounds using boxes or tick marks, can greatly assist a knitter in learning how to count stitches and rows.

stitches and techiniques used

legs (make two)

In CC#1, CO 12 sts using Judy's Magic Cast-on. Rnd 1: kall Rnd 2: [k2, kfb] 4 times (16 sts) Rnd 3: kall Rnd 4: [k3, kfb] 4 times (20 sts) Rnd 5: kall Rnd 6: [k4, kfb] 4 times (24 sts) Rnds 7-16: k all

Check off these boxes as you knit to help track what round you're on!

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Switch to MC. Knit 48 rounds.

leg junction

Rnd49: Increase 4 sts on the inner thigh of each leg as follows: Right Leg: k10, [kfb] 4 times, k10. Break yarn on left leg leaving a 6" tail. Left Leg: [kfb] 2 times, k20, [kfb] 2 times Rnd 50: Join legs and begin torso by knitting around (56 sts)

set-up for rotund backside as follows:

needle (26 sts on front, 30 sts on back) (at this point you have only worked the sts on the front of the monkey. Row 1in Rotund Backside section is the back half of these sts)

rotund backside:

Row 1 (rs): k30, turn Row 2 (ws): sIR, p28, yb, slR, sll, turn Row 3 (rs): k28, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 4 (ws): p26, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 5 (rs): k25, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 4 (ws): p24, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 5 (rs): k23, yf, slR, yb, slL, turn Row 6 (ws): p22, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn

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Change to CC#2

Row 7 (rs): k21, yf, slR, yb, slL, turn Row 8 (ws): p20, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 9 (rs): k19, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 10 (ws): p18, yb, slR, yf, sll, turn Row 11 (rs): k17, yf, slR, yb, slL, turn Row 12 (ws): p16, yb, slR, yf, sll, turn Row 13 (rs): k16, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 14 (ws): p16, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, slL, turn Row 15 (rs): Row 16 (ws): p18, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 17 (rs): k19, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 18 (ws): p20, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn

Change to CC#1

Row 19 (rs): k21, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 20 (ws): p22, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, slL, turn Row 21 (rs): k23, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row22(ws): p24, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 23 (rs): k25, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row24(ws): p26, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 25 (rs): k28, slL, turn Row26(ws): p29, turn

continuing up the trunk

Change to MC. Knit 72 Rounds.

41 page

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monkey's melon

Change to CC#1 Knit 10 Rounds Rnd 11: Knit all Rnd 12: [k5, k2tog] 8 times Rnd 13: Knit all Rnd 14: [k4, k2tog] 8 times Rnd 15: Knit all Rnd 16: [k3, k2tog] 8 times Rnd 17: Knit all Rnd 18: [k2, k2tog] 8 times Break yarn with 6 inch tail. Stuff your monkey. Run yarn tail through remaining loops, cinch tight and tie off. Weave in all ends.

arms (make two)

In CC#1, CO 12 sts using Judy's Magic Cast-on. Rnd 1: k all Rnd 2: [k2, kfb] 4 times (16 sts) Rnd 3: k all Rnd 4: [k3, kfb] 4 times (20 sts) Rnd 5: k all Rnd 6: [k4, kfb] 4 times (24 sts) Rnds 7-16: k all

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Switch to MC. Knit 68 rounds.

Stuff to desired density and close as follows: [knit 1 st from front and 1 st from back needle together] seven times. Turn, bind off. Explanation: By following the aforementioned closing technique, yi are effectively making a "hinge” to attach to the body. These may look strange now,but when attached this will keep the monkey from eternally begging for a hug.

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mouth

CO 30 sts with MC Row 1 (rs): k all Row 2 (ws): pall Row 1 (rs): k30, turn Row 2 (ws): slR, p28, yb, slR, slL, turn Row 3 (rs): k28, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 4 (ws): p26, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 5 (rs): k25, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 4 (ws): p24, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 5 (rs): k23, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 6 (ws): p22, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn

Change to CC#2

Row 7 (rs): k21, yf, slR, yb, sll, turn Row 8 (ws): p20, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 9 (rs): k19, yf, slR, yb, slL, turn Row 10 (ws): p18, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 11 (rs): k17, yf, slR, yb, slL, turn Row 12 (ws): p16, yb, slR, yf, slL, turn Row 13 (rs): k16, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 14 (ws): p16, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 15 (rs): k17, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 16 (ws): p18, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sllL, turn Row 17 (rs): k19, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 18 (ws): p20, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, slL, turn Row 19 (rs): k21, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 20 (ws): p22, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 21 (rs): k23, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, slL, turn Row 22 (ws): p24, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row 23 (rs): k25, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, slL, turn Row24(ws): p26, sl wrapped st over (to the private side) of next st and k2tog, sll, turn Row25 (rs): k28, slL, turn Row26(ws): p29, turn Change to MiC Row1 (rs): kall Row 2 (ws):Bind off Bind off, stuff to desired density and stitch onto trunk (sort of near the melon). When sewing on your monkey's mouth, be certain to pin it prior to sewing. A good portion of its personality is expressed through

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placement of its mouth. You can sew it on very round for a classic look (as is my preference), elongate it horizontally or vertically, or affix it at an angle for a quizzical or blasé look.

tail

In CC#1, CO 8 sts using Judy's Magic Cast-on. Rnd 1: k all Rnd 2: [k1, kfb] 4 times (12 sts) Rnd 3: k all Rnd 4: [k2, kfb] 4 times (16 sts) Rnd 5: k all Rnd 6: [k3, kfb] 4 times (20 sts) Rnds 7-16: k all Switch to MC and knit 78 rounds.

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ears (make two)

In MC, CO 14 sts using Judy's Magic Cast-on Rnd 1: k all Rnd 2: [kfb, k4, kfb, k1] 2 times (18 sts) Rnd 3: k all Rnd 4: [kfb, k6, kfb, k1] 2 times (22 sts) Rnd 5: k all Rnd 6: [kfb, k8, kfb, k1] 2 times (26 sts) Rnd 7: k all Rnd 8: [kfb, k10, kfb, k1] 2 times (30 sts) Rnd 9: k all Rnd 10: [k2tog, k11, ssk] 2 times (26 sts) Rnd 11: k all Rnd 12: [k2tog, k9, ssk] 2 times (22 sts) Rnd 13: k all Rnd 14: [k2tog, k7, ssk] 2 times (18 sts) Rnd 15: k all Rnd 16: [k2tog, k5, ssk] 2 times (14 sts) Rnd 17: k all Stuff loosely and close as follows: [knit 1 st from front and 1 st from back needle together] seven times. Turn, bind off. (This same technique will be employed for the arms.) After binding off, you may wish to add definition to the ears by stitching “ear marks" to denote the "inner ear". That's all there is to it. To ensure your sock monkey is happy, make certain to name him/her and give it lots of hugs. An occasional foot rub also helps.

eyes

Cut one of the following shapes, enlarged to desired size, for eyes out of black felt - or create your own shape. Stitch onto monkey's melon slightly above mouth.