I recently got my sewing machine up and running. Wondering if anyone sews anything for their horses. I have some old baby pads and thought that If I made covers for them- they could continue to be useful. Not sure what would be the best fabric something thin and soft but also tough. Any ideas welcome. So sewers… what have you made for your ponies? Pictures most welcome!!!
I had a Shire mare who wore a 109" blanket. I decided to make her a wool cooler. Off to G-Street Fabrics to buy materials…wool cloth and edging. In the leftover sale bin I found Ralph Lauren, Scottish wool beautiful plaid bolt of cloth for $1.50 yard. Grabbed it, had it measured out (the girl measuring it was unhappy, she planned for a friend to get it…too bad). Waiting in line the people were looking at it, oooos and ahhhhs, and choking at the price. Being a guy, standing in line wearing boots and britches, smelling kindve horsey…they had to ask…“what are going to make with that material?” When I said, a cooler for my horse…it was not a happy group. It turned out great, looked great on my mare and people were amazed I made it. Sewing machine scared the willies out of me…all I could see was that needle going in my finger.
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I’ve made coolers and dress sheets, a tack trunk cover and several pairs of breeches for myself.
Yes! My poor sewing machine and serger get abused for horse stuff more than they get used for domestic things like clothing and quilting (though that is changing now that there are as many human babies as horses in my extended family).
I’ve dabbled in making saddle pads and find it’s not worth it – by the time you source high quality materials and put the time in you might as well just buy a high quality pad (or modify one if what you’re after is a different fit). If you want to sew new fabric on the padding of an existing pad I’d probably stick with cotton twill if you’re going to quilt it. You could branch out into decorator fabrics if you’re willing to spend more and want something fancy (but you’ll likely lose the thin factor if you go that route).
If the sewists of CoTH end up flocking to this thread, I’d be interested in any recommendations for sourcing good material for breeches full seats. I’ve been using stretch faux suede lined with performance knit but am not totally happy with that combo and find that it’s hard to find truly grippy synthetic suede that is tough enough to stand up to full seat type wear.
I haven’t yet, but I’m thinking about making my guy an elf hat as a Christmas photo prop/fun thing to have him wear around the holidays. I’m also thinking about doing a crochet fly bonnet.
Wow that’s impressive. I don’t think I’m talented enough to make breeches. Where did you get a pattern or did you make the pattern yourself? I would love to be able to make a coat with technical fabrics because I’d like to do either deep purple or burgundy (green too). But I think I’m a long ways away from being able to do that.
I am about to start using my new machine to repair a whole pile of stuff, including a just-ripped knit cooler. I have a formerly waterproof blanket with a huge rip right down the spine that I’m trying to come up with ideas for too. Maybe it will just end up as spare parts for other blanket repairs, but maybe there’s some other good way to use most of the material (dog coats? trunk/bench cushion?)
A few years ago, I repurposed an old quilted fitted AP pad into a half-pad with thinline shims inside. I’m going to re-do that this winter using better materials and open pockets so I can take the shims out to wash the pad. I have a handful of other old saddle pads that should be retired from their regular rotation, but aren’t totally rubbish yet. I’m sure there’s something crafty I could do with them for barn/stall/tack trunk decorations, especially if I learn how to monogram or do decorative stitching.
My main sewing project coming up, other than repairs, is saddle covers. I’m a big fan of the sale bin - if there’s enough fabric, I’d consider trying a cooler or quarter sheet too.
I’d love to be able to make breeches and alter show jackets. That’s a down-the-road idea though. I’m definitely not good enough at sewing to try anything like that yet!
Probably the most ambitious thing I’ve made in the past was a kind-of gear/duffle bag in the past that fit my helmet and boots (among other things) and fit well on the back of my bicycle. It was outside my skill set to do this, made with left-over materials from crafty projects a decade prior, and made without any pattern. So, it looked a fright up close, but was very serviceable (and exactly what I needed) for the two years I used it!
I use an existing pattern that already had the euro seat and mesh calves, but hacked the waistband a little bit for belt loops and added a faux fly self drafted. I don’t love button front pants but I have made those as well.
I’ve made them out of a good quality poly rayon ponte knit as well as a number of performance knits, with circular knit being the best. The supplier I use has it in white, ivory, and tan as well as any number of other colors.
I do a silicone seat myself using silcone caulk and a stencil. It’s almost like screenprinting.
I do have an excellent serger, coverstitch machine, and a fair amount of practice.
I have that too. I have also repositioned straps on sheets that were in the wrong place for my horse.
Silicone caulking and a stencil! Yes!!! I was kind of wondering if you could just doodle silicone on all kinds of pants and have sticky seat breeches! Any tips on the best product?
I have made exactly one thing for my horse and just by hand. I made a saddle shim out of a piece of that sticky stuff you put under carpets with Dr Scholls insole handstitched to it.
What material did you use? Silk? Nylon? I’m considering doing the same.
I used polyester satin, shiny side out so the blanket slides over it.
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When I’ve made those (essentially homemade versions of Bossy’s Bibs) I use (synthetic) taffeta, and look for the thicker/stiffer taffetas (since lighter lining-type taffetas are more likely to bunch or stretch out when worn under blankets. Taffeta is a little lighter and more breathable than satin if you need it to work under a fly sheet or light sheet on warmer days, and it holds its shape well. Satin would work too, as @gypsymare has mentioned, especially if the primary use is under cold weather wear.
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Love it!
I started crocheting horse bonnets on international flights a few years ago since I am a bad airplane sleeper/worker and travel a fair bit for work. I like this one, with fabric ears sewn to it, for my dainty-headed horse: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/goose-5
Most of the Ravelry examples are pretty hideous, but I’ve found it works really well and looks a lot better when made with cotton crochet thread instead of yarn.
This one is classic, comes together quickly, is easy to modify to fit your particular horse’s head, and makes a really good everyday summer bonnet: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ohrengarn-fur-pferde-fly-bonnet-for-horses
Any chance you can tell us the name of the breeches pattern and the performance knit supplier you prefer? Always good to know what other sewists have had good success with!
The pattern is from Jalie - I think it is called the “Cora” - with some modifications to delete the waistband pocket, shorten the mesh calves, and add the belt loops/faux fly. If you are very new to knits, it’s not a great pattern for you. I have also used the Rad Patterns Resistance Moto pants pattern, but you need some experience fitting pants for that one.
For materials, you can get supplex athletic fabric a lot of places. My supplier is wholesale so the minimum order of one color is 10 yards. I buy a fair amount from Surge Fabrics or Spandex World. Schoeller Dynamic Extreme is available from a few suppliers, but make sure you use the right pattern for something with less stretch - could not make Coras with it m, for example, they would never fit.
Thanks. Cora is a great pattern - I’ve made a few pairs of riding tights by modifying that pattern too and love how quickly they come together. I’ve been looking for something equally well cut that is more of a traditional riding style and has less negative ease (for a fabric more like that Schoeller) but maybe nicer self made breeches will stay on my back burner until I have more time to use a pair I like to draft a pattern for myself. Many thanks for sharing what has worked for you!
Trakehner, I love that story!!! Made my morning LOL I made my horse a shoulder guard and “spur protector” last winter. I still have material and plan to make another shoulder guard this year as a spare b/c it worked well. The spur protector design needs a little more work.
I am working on modifying a stretch denim jeans pattern to delete the inseam and add the full seat. It shouldn’t be too hard, so if I make that work, I’ll let you know how I did it. The Rad pattern I posted above is for 20% stretch so should work okay, but the less stretch you have, the more fitting adjustments you have to make, so it’s taking more time than I have at the moment, and the schoeller fabric is expensive, so at least for the short term between fabric and fitting waste, it is cheaper to just buy nice breeches. Tights, however, can be made in only about an hour from relatively inexpensive material, so I’ve definitely made a few of those.
Modifying a stretch jeans pattern sounds like a pretty good way to go about it. Keep me posted if you like the result, for sure.
I can’t tell if the Rad pattern would work well for me – in the photos it looks like it might be cut for someone with a straighter figure than mine. Part of why I love the Cora pattern is that it’s cut for athletes and fits a bigger butt/thigh and smaller waist than your average pattern without having to grade across multiple sizes. I worry that to work as breeches for my build without sagging at the knees or gapping at the waist the Moto pattern would need a lot of adjustment…
This thread has made me realize that I don’t have photos of really any of my sewing projects, including many many equestrian projects. I’m a bad DIYer I guess.
