The Missing Link: Socks, Monkeys & Rockford's Industrial Past

I had no idea what a minefield I was about to step into this afternoon...

I've been thinking about all the little knits I could bust out from the stash and in a short time to get the holiday gift stash going, and came back to the sock monkey hat from knitty.  I love it -- it's hideous but hysterical, like all things sock monkeyish.

My sister and brother-in-law seemed to be perfect candidates for such a hat: they live in a cold climate, they're fun and a little bit goofy (my sister refuses to cook the Helly Kitty pasta I once sent her because it's "just for show"), and they live someplace where no one cares about maintaining a dignified, professional air (Rockford, IL).  I thought they would eat it up!

WOW was I wrong.  My sister's immediate response to my "will you wear this if I make it for you?" was, and I quote: "HEY-ALL NO!"  I replied, incredulous at her dismissiveness.  Who knew sock monkeys were such a sensitive subject?!

So she educated me.  Apparently sock monkeys and Rockford have a bit of a history... I'll just cut and paste straight from her e-mail to me, which pretty much says it all  -- ENJOY!:

http://www.midwayvillage.com/default.asp?page=upcomingevents&nav=upcomingevents&neventid=9

http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A4578

http://www.geocities.com/BubbasSockDrawer/SockMuseum.htm

'nuff said? If not, how about...

Cheap Trick star Rick Nielsen clowns with the new Cheap Trick sock monkey statue after he and the artist, Jane Petersson Hooker, unveiled it in Rockford.

A bad boy is coming to town. And he might smell bad. The city's newest sock monkey, inspired by hometown favorite Cheap Trick, will be unveiled today. Unlike other monkeys, this one has a cage, because he totes a 12-string electric guitar taken fresh from Cheap Trick

"And he might smell bad."  Hee!  Why no, I did not know that the sock monkey originated in Rockford, IL, nor that the red-heeled sock that is its signature was known as the "Rockford Sock," and was manufacturered by a sock company started by the inventor of a sock knitting machine.  I don't know why, but I feel like this revelation satisfies a week's worth of "you learn something new every day."

Too good to be made up: the title of this post was the name of an exhibit at the 2006 Sock Monkey Madness Festival.  Not to be missed -- the middle school's sock monkey display and the "Olympic Training Course for Kids & Monkeys" ?!?!