History of Sock Monkeys

John Nelson immigrated to the United States from Sweden John Nelson immigrated to the United States from Sweden. He patented the sock-knitting machine in 1868. = Start of the Nelson Knitting company 1970 started selling seamless socks. Saving time & Labor. Seamless socks (known as “Rockfords”) became so popular imitator companies flooded the market with similar socks.

1932 Rockford added red heels to their socks therefore customers would know the “original Rockford” socks. During the Great Depression (1930’s) No one had money and sock monkeys became very popular as a child’s toy. Toys were made out of worn-out Rockford Red Heel Socks.

Red heels gave a distinctive mouth and tushy to the monkey. After a bit of battles for the monkey patent the Nelson Knitting Company acquired the patent for the doll and Rockford Illinois became the “home of the sock monkey.” “Vintage” homemade red-heel sock monkeys /dolls usually have unique faces and body characterisitics and considered unique.

Sock Monkey remain popular today! In 2015 trends started to create sock monkey dolls from colorful striped or polka dot socks, even mismatched socks. Sock Monkeys are also known to be Good Luck Charms. Rockford, Illinois embraces the doll as a part of its history, In 2005 started the “Sock Monkey Madness Fesitval.”