Making a hobby horse

Step one

Pack the sock tightly up to the heel with unspun sheep's wool. Sand both ends of the pole. Insert one end into the stuffed sock, ensuring the top of the pole is well padded.

Step two

Finish stuffing the back of the head and neck area tightly and tie the neck of the sock around the pole. Screw through the padding and into the top of the pole to stop it slipping about. Bend the sock at the neck area (the heel) and stitch where the head and neck meet to bend the sock into shape.

Step three

Tie a thread or elastic band around the nose area (the sock toe) to give it shape. Pull in at the mouth and stitch to secure.

Step four

Draw an ear outline on tracing paper, pin to the darker leather or felt offcuts and cut out two. Then pin to the lighter-coloured offcuts and cut out two more. Cut two more shapes from the thin fabric padding.

Step five

Layer each ear, with the darker colour first, then the padding, then the lighter piece, and stitch together using blanket stitch and embroidery thread.

Step six

Bring the two bottom corners of each ear together and stitch to hold in place.

Step seven

To make the horse's mane, wind a length of knitting yarn loosely around three fingers a few times to make a bundle of loops. You will need several of these. Sew each bundle tightly and securely to the head, starting at the front between the future ear positions and working backwards down the neck towards the pole. Cut the loops and fluff up.

Step eight

Pin the ears in position and sew them securely to the head before trimming the mane to neaten.

Step nine

Draw an eye outline on tracing paper, pin to felt offcuts and cut out two felt eyes. Cut out two felt circles in a contrasting colour for the pupils. Pin in position on the horse and stitch in place.

Step ten

To make the harness, cut a length of braid to fit across the nose from one side of the mouth to the other, and a second length to fit under the chin. Sew each section onto a curtain ring.