The Rebirth of the Sock Monkey

Last year, while searching through holiday gift catalogs to find suitable items for my friends and family members, I noticed the resurgence of the once ubiquitous sock monkey. These charming little creatures had first appeared in the early 1900’s when several very ingenious and talented women started fashioning Rockford Red Heel work socks into monkey dolls for their children. The fad caught on and in short order children around the country began toting their own sock monkey dolls; each with its own personal touches and characteristics.

They were totally charming, soft, cuddly and a favorite of many children – myself included.

And then they disappeared: going the way of Gumby and Pokey, Mr. Bill, and Mr. Potato Head.

Yet there they were again in my gift catalogs, embroidered onto cuddly lap blankets and scarves. They were, indeed, the perfect gift for two of my friends; gals who I knew would enjoy the whimsy of these items and would be able to recall their own sock monkey dolls from their childhood. I thought I had found something extremely special and unique.

Well, they might have been special, but they certainly were not unique. It wasn’t long before I started seeing adults and teens alike wearing not only sock monkey scarves, but gloves and hats, as well. And this year I was able to purchase sock monkey pajamas and slipper-socks for myself, my daughter, Donna, and all of the grandchildren. It was Donna who took it a step further and Googled the Rockford Red Heel site and ordered two pairs of socks with instructions for us to make our own sock monkey dolls. And today, in the Vermont Country Store in Weston, VT, I found a large display of the dolls – all sporting Vermont t-shirts.

And, thus, the sock monkey has been reborn and is bringing great pleasure to yet another generation of children. As are Gumby and Pokey, Mr. Bill and Mr Potato Head, all of whom can be found in many toy stores, gift shops and drugstore toy aisles around the country.

As I’m sitting here and writing this blog I am mulling over the reasons this resurgence has such significance to me. Of course it is fun to revisit my own childhood through a toy that had once brought me such joy. And it is quite amusing to see this affable little fellow sitting atop heads and being wrapped around jackets as he keeps people warm this winter in such a jocular manner.

But mostly, the joy I get from seeing the rebirth of the sock monkey is in sharing a piece of my childhood with my children and grandchildren. They understand that in their sock monkey items they are experiencing a bit of the young girl Grams was so many years ago.  And it brings us just a little closer together.