Featured Bedding Collection: Sock Monkey
With all of our modern toys and gadgets, it is easy to forget how simple things can put a smile on your little one’s face. Even more amazing, is how something so simple can evolve into a popular toy. For example, our lead designer, Rose, researched the origination of the cute little Sock Monkey and look what she found …
The history of the Sock Monkey goes back to when the stuffed animal craze swept across Europe and the United States during the Great Depression. Money was scarce and people could not afford “luxury” items such as stuffed animals. So American moms, being creative and resourceful, started making stuffed monkey dolls out of socks, filling them with whatever was available in the house – paper, rice, even old pantyhose.
In 1932, the Nelson Knitting Company in Rockford, IL, invented a work sock with a trademarked red heel. These socks became known as “Rockfords.” Not only were they the most popular work sock of their time, they became the basis for one of the most popular and long-lasting toys. When made into a doll, the red sock heel created a distinctive red mouth.
The Nelson Knitting Company soon became aware that their socks were being used to create this extremely popular stuffed toy. They decided to patent the pattern for the Sock Monkey doll and use it in their advertising and promotional campaigns. They even included the Sock Monkey pattern with each pair of “Rockford” socks sold!
In 1992, Fox River Mills acquired the Nelson Knitting Company. And while the Rockford sock is still in production today, the red heel design has undergone a noteworthy change. The red heel pattern that gave the Sock Monkey its famous smile has been replaced by a more oval pattern.
The Sock Monkey theme has seen a new growth in popularity in the 21st Century. While it has taken on many new forms and faces, the original remains steadfast. A yearly Sock Monkey Festival is held in Rockford, IL, where visitors can also enjoy a museum honoring this wonderful fuzzy fella that brought smiles to so many faces for over 100 years.
Funny how something as basic as a sock with a red swatch on it turned into a national phenomenon. To honor such American ingenuity, this month we are featuring our fun and playful Sock Monkey Crib Bedding set – and of course giving one away! All you have to do to win is tell us about an everyday item that became your child’s favorite plaything - an appliance box that became a fortress, or a Tupperware container that became a pirate hat. You tell us how you, or you little one, created something special out of something ordinary. Leave a comment on our blog to enter; we’ll pick our favorite and the grand prize will be, of course, a 4-piece Sock Monkey Crib Bedding set! We think you’ll love this classic gender-neutral bedding collection.
Important: You must leave your comment on our blog to be eligible to win! The deadline to enter is Sunday, November 20, 2011 (midnight EDT). Good luck!
Tags: sock monkey
November 16th, 2011 at 10:58 am
My child just loved a big old roasting pot. He would climb in and out, put stuff and just play with it all day.
November 16th, 2011 at 11:10 am
they love boxes, once when we bought new cabinets they made a whole city out of them
November 16th, 2011 at 11:41 am
There is a Nursery Rhyme 5 Little Monkeys that I would sing to my son while he was in the NICU and not knowing that song would grow to be my best friend ..When I sing it or ask him what did he do with the Monkeys his attitude totally changes for the better ..So I make sure that I keep Monkeys around and we watch animal planet and he see monkeys he gets starts to sing in baby language .. Forever in debt to the Monkeys !
November 16th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
When my son was little he had his own drawer in our Kitchen where he could play pretend he had Tupperware, pots and pans, spoons and other things. He would do the funniest things, pots and pans on his head, try to put spoons in his ears, or make "music" for us, build towers, etc. From the time he was in my belly we called him our little monkey.5 years later he still is, well now he's a big monkey. And we have another little monkey on the way!
November 16th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
My dad loved his sock monkey that he had growing up. I remember him telling me a story once when he was younger riding in the backseat of his parents car. The windows were rolled down and he was pretending that his sock monkey was flying through the air outside of the window. He had this idea that if he threw the monkey forward the car would eventually catch up to the monkey and he would catch it before it landed on the ground. He threw it, but soon realized that his "theory" was not going to work the way he thought it would. He was sad, but never asked his parents to turn around. Every time I see a sock monkey it reminds me of that story. I would LOVE to win this giveaway to use for my next baby.
November 18th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
who knew a monkey could be so special! I would love to win this from the giveaway to pass down my love for the sock monkey to my baby would be a great way to start!
November 18th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
My oldest daughter loved playing with water, but she used it in so many different ways. My favorite outdoors was with our big faded redwood fence in our backyard. She found an old paintbrush & a bucket of water & would paint & draw on the fence. As it dried it would disappear & she would start allover with a new picture. Indoors, she had a squirt bottle & a washcloth & would spray and wipe the kitchen cupboards over & over while I cooked or did dishes. She thought it was a hoot & I was happy because it kept my cabinets doors clean!
November 18th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
If we can post twice I have to tell you a family story that wasn't my own child. My Aunt (who rests in peace) to amuse my cousin, took a clear plastic tube, filled it with liquid & beads & glitter & sealed it. The 1st "Spacetube" was born that day. For those of you that remember playing with spacetubes when we were kids or see the knockoffs around the world today.. I'm proud to say that that came from my Auntie amusing her little girl. What an inspiration from a creative woman.
November 18th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
My youngest son has an incredible imagination!! He loves to turn boxes in to forts and castles. We usually have an abundance of boxes around our house and we enjoy spending hours taping 4-5 boxes together, gluing on art and of course coloring and painting the inside and outside. His forts get so big both he and I can sit in them and play. The best part about this playtime together is that even though my son is 5 years old, he attempts to include his older brother in with us. My oldest son is disabled and unable to talk or walk. What we do is gather all of our materials together and go into big brothers room; build our fort, and make sure that we are close enough to brothers bed so he is able to reach it {he is immobile- but enjoys banging his hand against Hayden's forts and 'beating it up' as we say.} I will cut windows into the boxes so that we can play peek-a boo with Tate as well. Its time with my boys that I will always cherish and hope that when little brother comes {I'm due in March} , that we will carry this play time over for all of us to enjoy! =)
November 18th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
My little one's favorite everyday item is my $4 EOS lip balm sphere I purchased from Walmart. She randomly fetched it out of my diaper bag months ago and has been playing with it everyday since. Kiera uses imaginary play by pretending it is food and taking bites from it. She'll even share a bite or two with me! She also signs ball, picking and dropping the lip balm repeatedly. Of course, she also attempt to use it on her lips haha as lip balm itself. We've played hide and seek with it, or she will carry it around with her when we leave the house.
November 18th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
I am blessed to say that I became a fan of Carousel Design's by being able to purchase the Wild West bedding for my second little boy. It truly was a joy to decorate our second little boy's room after my husband and I lost our first little boy on our day of delivery. Bringing home a 2nd boy was such a gift and we LOVE his Wild West bedroom…all the bright colors and the happy motif make that room such a bright place to be now! Now, praise God, we have a 4 month old (another boy, our 3rd). It has been so fun to see what children can create out of nothing. A hard hat has been turned into a "Steelers helmet" and is worn with Mommys pink Puma shoes (I am told they are football shoes) and a football jersey (and a diaper LOL) to be a "real Steeler". Use the same hard hat and throw on a pair of rubber rain boots and he becomes a "pollen Jock" from the Bee Movie. We'd be so thankful to be chosen as the winners! If we are not though, we still want you to know how much we enjoyed adding more life to our home with your great designs!
November 18th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I was given a handmade sock monkey as a child by a lovely nun in the hospital who knew I was there for an extended time. I had more fun with my new companion that I nearly forgot what a terrible place I was in. I always think back to it as the most perfect toy/friend. However, nowadays my little one can't think of anything more exciting than a giant empty box. Sometimes the simplest things are the best!
November 20th, 2011 at 9:34 am
My little girl has always loved the laundry hamper…she likes to turn it upside down and say it is her turtle shell, but she also pretends it's anything from a house to a stage for her dancing performances!
November 20th, 2011 at 9:51 am
When I was a baby I had these sterling silver teething rings. My mom recently found them and now my 5 month old plays with them and loves them! They stay naturally cold and make the best clinking noise that keeps him entertained for a long time!
November 20th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I just recently found out that I'm expecting our first child. I fell in love with sock monkeys years ago when a good friend of mine bought me one as a gift. I can't wait to pass it on to my little one so that he/she can enjoy it as much as I did. This bedding set would be such a great addition to what I hope will be one of my LO's favorite hand me down toys.
November 20th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
My daughter loved pots and pans…she was a premie and small and we kept one end of the cabinet clear and she would get in the cabinet and play for hours..