“Purl’s Yarn Emporium”, Wall Street, Asheville, NC
Simple sock monkeys made of men’s red-heeled work socks were popular when I was little. Everybody had a grandma who made them. But look closely at the details of these. This window display takes sock monkeys to a whole new level!
I had no idea such a humble toy would be controversial, but get this:
In 1953, Helen Cooke received the patent for sock monkeys and then sued a man named Stanley Levy because he was selling sock monkeys that were not the same design as hers. He contacted the Nelson Knitting Company hoping that they would declare her patent invalid. One of the most important pieces of evidence the company uncovered was a doll made by a lady named Grace Wingent for her grandson in 1951. Helen caved and settled the case against Levy when she was shown the evidence against her. She sold her sock monkey patent to the Nelson Knitting Company for $750.
“The Impossible Dream” from “Man of LaMancha”
My impossible dream is truly impossible. A world without bigotry, a world without hate, a world without war and a restoration of the biosphere we have trashed so much.
ReplyDeleteDavid , you have the right idea. Our world would be much better if people took a much kinder view to many things.
DeleteNever heard of the sock monkey until now.
ReplyDeleteInteresting piece of history on it.
Who knew there could be so much controversy about a sock monkey. I dream of World peace and living in harmony with our surroundings. I like to think it is not an mipossible dream...
ReplyDeleteMy impossible dream is to visit Siberia
ReplyDeleteYour grandma was lucky not to be sued for copyright infringement!
ReplyDeleteMy impossible dream was to find the perfect woman. I found her too...... but she was looking for the perfect man.
Looks like a charming shop. And the detail of the display is really something!
ReplyDeletewhat a cute shop! I love the way the decorate the exterior, what's your impossible dream?
ReplyDeletewhat a cute shop! I love the way the decorate the exterior, what's your impossible dream?
ReplyDeleteI never knew that about sock monkeys. I never had a sock monkey... being that my childhood was in the late '30s and early '40s I guess maybe no one had figured out how to make them then.
ReplyDeleteThey are clever monkeys. I wish I could read their signs but I can't zoom on them. I don't like to label any of my dreams as impossible -"You gotta have a dream - if you don't have a dream, how are you gonna have a dream come true" (or something like that)
ReplyDeleteLoved the sock monkeys. I don't know what my impossible dream is. There are several, perhaps. I did knit a pullover sweater with sock monkey colors in wool and loved it. I still have it. Cheery for cold MN winters.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd had a granny who made me a sock monkey! My impossible dream is.... hang on can I get back to you on that!
ReplyDeleteWren x