PDF sewing instructions for a beautiful hobby horse plus matching accessories like rope halters or lead ropes. With variations for hairdressing head, wall decoration and buckle-on horse.
With the purchase of this product you will receive two PDF files, one for our hobby horse “HOLLY” including the stick horse sewing pattern and one for creating matching halters and lead ropes. After purchase and payment you can download the pattern as a PDF file and print it out.
About the stick horse sewing pattern
Hobby horsing is a sport from Finland with gymnastics elements, in which show jumping and dressage are simulated on a stick horse. But a real finnish hobby horse is anything but a dusty horse on a stick from grandma’s attic! Because the modern hobby horses inspire young and old with their realistic appearance! This is due to the detailed shape, the way its mane blows in the wind, and the different shades which can turn them into small pieces of art. Our hobby horse “HOLLY” can even do a lot more, because the pattern includes options for modifying it to a hairdressing head, a wall decoration or a buckle-on horse! There are even possibilities to sew a unicorn hobby horse or a donkey. We have a full video tutorial for sewing the stick horse version of HOLLY on our Youtube channel:
In the second PDF you will find instructions for simple rope halters and headcollars made of bag webbing. In addition, the instructions explain two braiding techniques for decorating the halters. The lead rope DIY tutorials explain the hangman’s knot to make a simple lead rope as well as how a round braided lead rope is created.
Do you need an embroidery machine?
NO, you don’t need an embroidery machine to sew the hobby horse! You can do the appliqués with a simple sewing machine and a double-sided iron-on adhesive webbing like Heat’n Bond. We explain how to do this in great detail in the sewing instructions. You can also find video instructions for doing appliqués with a sewing machine on our Youtube channel. However, if you are the lucky owner of an embroidery machine, you can purchase the embroidery patterns for the eyes and nostrils of the hobby horse separately or as a set with the PDF files contained in this product!
Sewing time: 2-4 hours
Difficulty level: intermediate
What’s included with this product:
Illustrated sewing instructions and pattern for hobby horse “HOLLY” (PDF file, US letter size)
Illustrated DIY and sewing instructions for the accessories (PDF file, US letter size)
The sewing pattern hobby horse “HOLLY” is for private use only. However, you can buy a license extension for commercial use here in our shop if you want to use the pattern to sell handmade hobby horses! The instructions for the halters and lead ropes can be used to manufacture handicraft products for commercial resale. So you don’t need a commercial license extension for this!
Materials for sewing a Hobby Horse
✄ Materials & tools
Materials needed to sew the hobby horse pattern:
Fabric for head side, gussets, bottom and ears, approx. 30x30" (75x75 cm) or 18x51" (45x130 cm)
For an optional separated mouth: fabric for mouth, upper and lower mouth gusset as well as inner mouth part, approx. 6x30" (15x50 cm)
Fabric for the blaze, approx. 3x8" (7x20 cm)
Black felt for eyes and nostrils, approx. 2x8" (4x12 cm)
White hand embroidery floss for the eye twinkles, approx. 8" (20 cm)
For the mane: Ball of wool, hair extensions (at least 8" / 20 cm long) or jersey straps
Medium weight fusible interfacing to reinforce ears & inner mouth part, 6x18" (15x45 cm), or to stabilize ALL fabric pieces 18x51" (45x130 cm)
Short-pile plush fabrics (like minky, cuddle or velboa fabric) are best, but you can also use other fabrics such as fleece, velour, sweat or woven fabric. A long-pile plush fabric or teddy plush is also suitable if you want a particularly fluffy horse.
Optionally required:
Fabric paint for painting eyes & nostrils and for shading the fur
We recommend fabric finger paint as these are mostly permanent and non-toxic, but you could also use other fabric paint or acrylic paint pens. You can do most of the shadings with black and white, possibly pink or red to paint “fur-free” areas on the mouth.
Additionally only for hobby horse variant:
Stick with a maximum diameter of 1.2" (3 cm) and a minimum length of 24" (60 cm )
Wool, cord or rope to wrap around the fabric at the stick opening, approx. 20" (50 cm)
Additionally only for buckle-on horse variant:
Bag webbing 1 1/5" (3 cm) width, 13 ft (4 m)
2x strap buckles for 1 1/5" (3 cm) bag webbing
6x square rings for 1 1/5" (3 cm) bag webbing
4x strap adjuster for 1 1/5" (3 cm) bag webbing
2x dog hooks 1 1/5" (3 cm) for reins (optional)
Additionally only for wall decoration variant:
Ribbon or cord for hanging, approx. 4" (10 cm)
Additionally only for hairdressing head variant:
Granules, 2.5 - 3.5 lbs (1.2 - 1.5 kg)
Fabric for sachets, 8x55" (20x140 cm)
Tools & appliances
For sewing
Sewing machine
Sewing needles and pins
Washable fabric marker / tailor’s chalk
Scissors
Iron
For painting and shading
Brush
Small sponge
Water tank
Paint palette or small bowls
For attaching the stick to the hobby horse
Saw to shorten the broomstick
Liquid glue or hot glue
Drill to fix thick rope on the stick
Materials needed for a rope halter:
PP rope or paracord with a diameter of 4 mm (1/6”), approx. 3 m (3.3 y)
For decorating the noseband: PP rope or paracord with a diameter of 4 mm (1/6”), at least 2 colours of 1 m each (1.1 y)
Materials needed for a headcollar made from bag webbing:
Bag webbing 15 mm (3/5“) wide, 1.5 m (60“)
O-rings with 25 mm (1“) inner diameter, 5 pieces
Snap hook for 15 mm (3/5“) wide webbing, 1 piece
Optional: woven ribbon with 1 cm (2/5“) width or less to decorate the noseband, approx. 10 cm (4“)
For decorating the noseband: PP rope or paracord with a diameter of 4 mm (1/6”), two colours with approx. 70 cm each (27 1/2“) or one double length rope (140 cm or 55“)
Materials needed a simple lead rope:
PP rope or paracord with a diameter of 4 mm (1/6”), approx. 1 m (1 y)
Snap hook preferably with a round eye, 1 piece
Materials needed for a round braided lead rope:
PP rope or paracord with a diameter of 4 mm (1/6”), at least 2 colours of approx. 2 m each (2 y)
This pattern worked out really well, the hobby horse came out perfectly. I did find it a little confusing at times going between the different options within the pattern but it was still good. I did manage to find a video on Youtube to go along with it but would recommend an English version if possible, I had to watch it a few times to read the subtitles and then watch what the lady was doing. But I would highly recommend this pattern, my daughter loves her hobby horse.
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
I love thé look of this hobby horse! The pattern is easy to follow and the details are amazing!
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
Wonderful pattern with extremely detailed instructions! A beginner could make this with how good it’s written.
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
This pattern worked out really well, the hobby horse came out perfectly. I did find it a little confusing at times going between the different options within the pattern but it was still good. I did manage to find a video on Youtube to go along with it but would recommend an English version if possible, I had to watch it a few times to read the subtitles and then watch what the lady was doing. But I would highly recommend this pattern, my daughter loves her hobby horse.
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
Was so helpful to watch all the videos!! Fun project!! Made with my 10 year old Granddaughter! Had a lot of fun
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
Clear instructions. Delivered immediately by email.
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
I recommend this pattern. She also has a video on YouTube that can be followed. I’ve already made 3 hobby horses for my granddaughter.
Etsy customer View on Etsy |
Great pattern, easy to follow. My 10yo daughter made a hobby horse from this pattern with my help. Going to make another soon!