Since Selena was nice enough to email me a pattern for the felt horsies I'm trying to get a couple done for the kids' Easter baskets (actually Callan's is going to be a unicorn!)

I'm to the point of attatching the mane to Callans' and it is driving me nuts trying to figure out the best method. SO what works so the yarn doesn't come out? I'm using wool yarn BTW.

TIA

This is how I did it...

For the mane, I took a piece of thin ribbon that was a little more than twice as long (from top of head to back) as I wanted the mane. I spread glue on it, and then layed out my yarn on it, one piece at a time, so the yarn was perpendicular to the ribbon. I folded over the rest of the ribbon and let it dry. This held the yarn together, and made it easier for me to sew it into the body of the horse. Hmmmm, not sure if I am describing it well or not??

For the tail, I cut my pieces of yarn a little more than twice as long as I wanted the actual tail. When I had about 6 or 7 pieces cut, I tied them together so there was a knot in the middle. When sewing the rump of the horse, the knot held the yarn together and acted as a way to keep the yarn from pulling out.

Hope this helps. I know I am not the best at describing this sort of thing... :)

Thank you that does help. I started out cutting individual peices for the mane a quicly decided it would take too long to sew each one in place. I'm inpatient and made a a bunch of loops twice as long as I wanted and sewed down the middle with the sewing machine to hold them together and then used teh machine agiin to sew them in the horse. LOL SO much for all hands sewn horses. Oh wel the kids don't know any different and they wiill be done. THat's what matters.

I will use the knot in the tail idea. I had thought of that too. I'm glad to know it works.:)

I crochet manes as I would a cut-loop cap for boy dolls...only in a straight line.

Originally posted by Dannielle
I crochet manes as I would a cut-loop cap for boy dolls...only in a straight line.

OM! I would lose my mind! Crocheting is my nemisis. I have given up on doll making for awhile because I can not crochet a wig to save my life and believe me I have tried. I wasted a whole skein of mohair trying to crochet a wig for ds's Chirstmas doll. Thank gooodness for Joy and her wigs! I'm so sad though I love to make dolls.

Maybe I can mange to crochet long loops in striaght lines. I'll try it for ds's horse.

1.) When I made some felt horses, I cut pieces of yarn double the length I wanted the mane to be.

2.) Then I folded each in half and threaded one at a time (folded end first for about 2") through a large-eye needle.

3.) I sewed partway through the spot (in and immediately out, just until the folded loop came through) on the neck where I wanted the yarn to go, removed the needle from the folded yarn and drew the two cut ends through the loop and pulled tight.

Basically, what I was doing is creating a slip knot with each yarn piece, kind of like rug hooking. It worked well for the mane.

The tail can be done in the same way, if you don't have too many yarn pieces, otherwise the slip knots are too bunched up and look messy. When I made mine, I created a tail by measuring about 6-8 pieces of yarn (double the length of my desired finished tail) and laying them atop each other, then tying an overhand knot in the center. I sewed the tail in place in the seam when I was putting the body together, making sure the knot was inside and sewn securely. The knot keeps it from being pulled out later.

Your projects sound great, especially the unicorn! I know you're kids will love them. :)

~ Kathryn

can this be put in the FAQ's section of the boards. There are some great ideas and hints?


Tawnya