The humble Sock monkey owes its birth to the Victorians who had a great fascination for stuffed animals. Nannies and Mothers took to sewing stuffed animals as toys to comfort their children. As tales of Africa improved the public's knowledge of exotic species, monkey toys very quickly became everyday toys with many nurseries. However, these early stuffed monkeys were not always made from socks, they also lacked the characteristic red lips of today's sock monkeys.
John Nelson patented the sock-knitting machine in 1869 and began manufacturing work socks in Rockford, Illinois in 1890. The iconic sock monkeys made from red-heeled socks emerged in 1932, the year the Nelson Knitting Company added the trademarked red heel to its product. It was the red heel that gave the monkeys their distinctive mouth.
All the sock monkeys pictured below are available for embellishment onto premature baby, tiny baby, early baby, neonatal baby, special care baby and newborn baby clothes purchased from our main site. Please note we do not sell embroidery designs only the finished garment. To see our extensive range of baby clothes suitable for embellishment please visit Prem2Pram our online premature baby store at www.prem2pram.co.uk. If you don't see a sock monkey design that meets your requirements then please contact us as we have a large collection of designs, too many to display. It is almost certain we have a design that would appeal to you and add a really personal touch to any babies wardrobe. These cheeky chum sock monkeys are almost guaranteed to become a conversation point amongst friends or relatives. With their bright and cheerful colours they will become a treasured memory of the babies tender years long after they have outgrown the garment many times over!
© 2009, 2010 Cheeky Chums