My Sweet Pony

a Gingermelon design

Michelle Down © 2016

✼ 6 x 9 inch felt for main body, head and ears ✼ 4.5 x 6 inch felt for gussets - head and body
✼ Pair of 7.5mm or 8mm safety eyes ✼ Scraps of felt for inner ears
✼ Embroidery thread to match felts ✼ Disappearing ink marker and ruler
✼ Polyfil ✼ Pink coloured pencil
✼ Basic sewing supplies such as scissors, pins and needles
✼ Stuffing tools such as wooden spoon and orange stick or chopstick

Mane and Tail Options:

Curvy Main:

✼ 4 x 6 inch for mane only, or 6 x 9 inch if you’re planning on making the tail in the same colour
✼ Scraps of felt for appliqued hearts

Mane Locks (Rainbow Pony):

✼ Small 1 x 1 inch scraps of assorted coloured felt – 16 pieces in total

Faux Fur:

✼ 2 x 4 inch faux fur – this will be enough for both the Mane and Tail
✼ 3 inch pipe cleaner for tail
✼ Fray Check

Optional:

✼ 1.5 x 2 inch felt for Pegasus wings ✼ 2 x 3 inch felt for Flutterby wings
✼ 1 x 2 inch felt for Unicorn horn ✼ Beads – seed and straight
✼ Assorted trims for neck – ribbon, seam binding, sequins, lace, charms etc.
✼ Scraps of felt for star necklace, bows, appliqued accents
✼ Awl, wire cutters for trimming safety eye posts
✼ Glitter, clear drying craft glue, Q-tips

Stitch Guide

Blanket Stitch Whip Stitch

Straight Stitch Lazy Daisy Stitch

✼ Please read through the instructions carefully before beginning ✼

☛ Please Note:

✼ All seams are sewn by hand. There is no need for you to add a seam allowance or to turn the pieces
inside out after sewing.

✼ Use one strand of embroidery thread/floss for all seams and facial features and try to keep your stitches
small, neat and evenly spaced. This will ensure a nice, clean finish and prevents the stuffing from escaping
from the seams.

Layout and Cutting

: Cut out pattern pieces and pin each piece onto the corresponding felts. Carefully cut around each pattern
piece, using a dressmaking scissors to cut out the larger pieces and a pair of embroidery scissors to cut out
the smaller ones.

: To mark the grid on the Pony’s face, keep the Head pattern piece pinned in place and gently lift the outer
edges, using your disappearing ink marker to mark the beginning of the lines onto the felt. Then remove the
pattern piece and use the ruler to connect the lines. The grid will help with the placement of the safety eyes
and facial features in later steps.

: Use the same technique to transfer the line markings onto the Head Gusset if you’re making the pony with
the individual Mane Locks (Rainbow Pony).
: Using the Head pattern pieces as a guide, transfer the facial markings (eyebrows, eyelashes, nostrils) onto
each Head felt piece with your disappearing ink marker.
: Transfer the flower markings onto one side of the Body felt piece if you’d like your pony to have the
beaded flank.

Preparing the Faux Fur Mane and Tail

✼ Please take note of the little arrows marked on the faux fur Mane and Tail pattern pieces. The arrows
show in which direction the fur should be laying.

A. With your disappearing ink marker, trace each pattern piece onto the BACK fabric side of the fur as
shown, positioning the arrows in the same direction of the fur pile.

B. Using a small, sharp pair of scissors, cut out the mane and tail, making sure to cut through the fabric only,
keeping the nose of the scissors underneath the fur as this will prevent you from cutting into the fur.

C. Run a bead of Fray Check along the edges of each piece and allow to dry thoroughly.
Head Sides (all ponies)

: Before beginning, make sure that your Head Sides are facing the correct way – one facing to the right and
the other to the left. Being very careful, make two tiny holes for the eyes at the center of the 'X' where the
vertical and horizontal lines meet with the tip of your embroidery scissors or awl.

: Insert safety eyes and connectors at the back, sliding the washer (connector) down firmly onto the post as
far as it will go.

✼✼ Optional: Once you've connected the eye parts, trim the back plastic posts of the safety eyes with your
wire cutters, leaving about 1/8 of an inch of post beyond the washers.

: Using straight stitches, embroider the eyelashes at the outer corners of the eyes and eye brows just above
the eyes. Embroider the little nostril on each side using one petal of the Lazy Daisy stitch.

: Whip stitch darts at the top of each head piece, stitching them from the wrong side of the felt.

✼✼ If you are making the Faux Fur or Curvy Maned Pony, please skip through the sections for the Rainbow
Ponies and go directly to: ♥♥ Assembling the Head (all Ponies) ♥♥

Preparing Head Gusset for the Rainbow Pony

✼ Please refer to the templates below as a guide for the Lock placement.

: The diagram on the left is an enlarged copy of the Head Gusset. Using the Rainbow Pony Head Gusset
pattern piece, mark the grid on the felt gusset, keeping the pattern piece pinned in place and gently lifting
the outer edges, using your disappearing ink marker to mark the beginning of the lines onto the felt. Then
remove the pattern piece and use the ruler to connect the lines. Mark dots on the 3 lines in the center of
the gusset.

: The photo on the right is a reference for the placement of the different sized locks (labelled A, B, C, and D).
Please note the direction that the locks are facing – at the front of the head, the curved tips of the locks
point forward. The 6 locks at the crown are doubled, and behind the crown, the locks point backwards
towards the back of head. I found it helpful to position the locks as they are shown in the photo so that the
tips were alternating before sewing them onto the gusset.

: Beginning with the 6 Crown Locks - (C), position one lock on top of another so that the curved tips are
alternating (one facing left and the other facing right) and blanket stitch the top edges together. Repeat
with the remaining locks so that you end up with 3 stacks. Do not end off thread as this will be used to sew
each lock onto the head gusset later on.
Attaching Locks to Head Gusset for the Rainbow Pony

: Open up one of the Crown lock stacks and place the center area directly onto the middle dotted line
marked C x 2. Stitch the center area of the locks onto the line using small stitches.

: Repeat with the remaining 2 stacks, placing one on the dotted line directly in front of the center one and
the other one the dotted line directly behind it. Stitch center of the locks onto each line as before.
: Beginning at the front of the head gusset, position lock A onto first line, tip facing towards the marked dot
on gusset. Applique wide edge onto the line.

: Repeat process with the four B locks, appliqueing one onto each line. You should now have all the front
lines covered in locks.

: Turn the gusset around so that the back end is closest to you. Position lock D on the first line (smallest
line) and applique in place. Then applique the two A locks onto the next two lines, and finally the two B
locks on the last two lines.
♥♥ Assembling the Head (all Ponies) ♥♥

: To insert the gusset, align the dot at A. on the left-facing side of the head with the dot at A. on the head
gusset, making sure that the edges of the felt are even.

: Begin blanket stitches and stitch up to the first curve of the nose area (about 4 stitches). Do not end off
thread.

: Now repeat the process with the right-facing side of the head, blanket stitching up to the same area as the
left facing side of the head.

: Alternate the stitching on either side of the head, taking about 5 – 7 stitches on either side at a time and
pining the gusset to the head to keep the edges aligned. This ensures that the gusset stays centered as you
work your way around the head.
: Continue blanket stitching the gusset to the sides of the head pieces until you reach the dot at B. End off
thread on one side of the head, the other will be used later to close the hole after stuffing.

: Begin by stuffing the top area of the head first, making sure it’s full and rounded. Then gently push the
stuffing up into the snout area, filling it out. Add more stuffing to the lower area of the head before blanket
stitching the opening closed.

✼ Don’t pull the stitches too tight as you blanket stitch the hole closed as the seam will look more even if it
is the same width as the narrow end of the gusset.

: As you close the hole, add more stuffing if needed. The head should be full and rounded and quite firm,
but not to the point of bursting at the seams.
Body

: There are a couple of options for personalizing your little pony’s flank. You can either leave it plain or add
some appliqued details such as a flower, butterfly, stars or hearts, or sew on some beads to add a bit of
sparkle.

: To applique, just choose a design and position on one side of the body and applique in place. Sew on
seed beads if desired. See examples below.

: Alternatively, use your disappearing marker to draw the markings onto one side of the body, using the
Body pattern piece as a guide for placement. Stitch beads onto markings.
Gusset

: You’ll notice on the body gussets that there are two small oblong holes at the top of each leg, just below
the rounded curve at the top of each piece. Once sewn, these are tiny darts that will help give the leg some
shape.

: Beginning with one, fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together, so that the two long edges match. Whip
stitch along the curved edge of each opening, working from the wrong side of the felt.

: Repeat so that all four are sewn.

: Place gusset pieces together, right sides facing and blanket stitch the top curved edge together, beginning
at the dot at A and working to the dot at B.
: Position one side of gusset onto the corresponding side of the body, wrong sides facing as shown and pin
in place.

: Beginning at the dot at A, blanket stitch all the way around the chest area, front leg, underbelly, back leg
and then up to the dot at B. Do not end off thread yet.
: Position opposite side of gusset onto the opposite side of the body, wrong sides facing and pin.

: This time, begin at the dot at B, and blanket stitch all the way around to the dot at A. Continuing from the
dot at A, blanket stitch both sides of the body together all the way up the front of the chest to the edge of
the neck. Secure your last stitch with a knot, but do not end off your thread yet.
: Now blanket stitch both sides of the rear body together, starting at the dot at B and working up and
around the curve of the rump a little ways. Do not end off thread.

: Stuff each leg all the way up to the opening, using your orange stick to push the stuffing down firmly.
Then add more stuffing to fill up the lower area of the body. As you fill the body up with stuffing, continue
blanket stitching as you go until the top area of the body is completely stitched all the way up to the neck
edge. Continue adding stuffing to fill up the entire area.

: Run a tiny gathering stitch just below the top edge of the neck edge. Gently tighten the thread to close the
hole, adding more stuffing as you do to firm up the neck area. It's best to stuff the neck area as firmly as
possible as it will provide a good base for supporting the head.

: Once you've closed the hole, hand stitch the top area closed. You should end up with a tight, rounded nub.
Do not end off thread as it will be used to attach the head later on.
Attaching Head to Body

: Position head onto the rounded nub of the neck, centering it and matching seams. Pin the head to the
neck.

: Beginning at the center front, ladder stitch around the head and neck once, then on the next few rows, take
the ladder stitches a teeny bit lower down on the neck and a teeny bit higher on the face. This will bring the
head closer onto the neck and will ensure that the head is anchored on securely.

✼ Tip: Keep your ladder stitches very tiny and straight as you go around as this will give a nice finish to the
seam.

.
Ears

: Place ears together, inner ear onto outer ear. Beginning at the dot at A, blanket stitch all the way around
till you reach the dot at A again.

: Pinch the ear from behind so that it’s folded in half and the dot at A is touching the dot at B. Blanket stitch
the bottom edge between the two dots. Leave thread attached for sewing onto head.

: Pin ears onto head, just below the dart, making sure they’re even from the front and back. Ladder stitch
front and backs of ear onto head.

Curvy Mane

: If you’d like to add the little appliqued hearts to your pony’s mane, position them as shown below or
create a design layout of your own and applique in place.
: Place mane sides together, wrong sides facing and beginning at the dot at A, blanket stitch around the
outer curve of the mane to the dot at B. Add some stuffing, lightly filling up each rounded curve, and then
continue blanket stitching around the inner curve, adding more stuffing if needed. Leave thread attached.

: Fit mane onto the head gusset, centering down in the middle. Pin in place.

: Ladder stitch each side of the mane onto the head gusset.
Fur Mane

: Position fur mane onto head gusset, centering it down the middle. The ‘hair’ should be flowing towards
the back of the head. Pin in place.

: Stitch the edges down onto the gusset, using a whip stitch.

Felt Tail

: If you’d like to add an appliqued detail to your pony’s tail, position chosen design onto tail sides and
applique in place.
: Place tail sides together, wrong sides facing and blanket stitch around beginning at the dot at A and
working around to the dot at B. Add a few pinches of stuffing to fill up the tip of the tail and then continue
on, blanket stitching up to the dot at C. Stuff.

: Run a tiny gathering stitch just below the top edge of the tail. Gently tighten the thread to close the hole,
adding more stuffing if needed.

: Once you've closed the hole, hand stitch the top area closed. You should end up with a tight, rounded nub.
Do not end off thread as it will be used to attach the tail onto the body later on.
Faux Fur Tail

: Begin by folding the pipe cleaner in half lengthwise. Twist both ends around each other, tucking the tips in
tightly so that you cannot feel the rough edges of the wire.
: Fold the faux fur tail in half lengthwise, wrong sides facing. Pin.

: Beginning at the rounded, narrower end, blanket stitch around the side to the top. Do not end off thread.

: Insert pipe cleaner, pushing it in firmly, all the way to the bottom.

: Run a tiny gathering stitch just below the top edge of the tail. Gently tighten the thread to close the hole,
adding more stuffing if needed.

: Once you've closed the hole, hand stitch the top area closed. Do not end off thread as it will be used to
attach the tail onto the body later on.

: Bend the tail so that it’s shaped like a tiny little walking stick, with the rounded curve closer to the top hand
stitched edge.
Attaching the tail.

: Both the felt tail and faux fur tail are applied in the same manner.

: Pin tail onto the seam just above the area where the gusset ends on the behind. Use the left over thread
to ladder stitch the tail onto the area, working your way around the base of the tail and making sure that it’s
nice and secure.

Unicorn Horn

: Fold the Unicorn horn in half lengthwise, wrong sides facing. Beginning at the rounded end, blanket stitch
up the side. Don’t end off your thread yet.

: Gently stuff with a flat toothpick and position onto the front of the head, pinning in place. Ladder stitch
the base of the horn onto the head.
Pegasus Wings

: Trace the little wing onto your felt, flipping the design if you’re using glitter-backed felt. Cut it out, carefully
cutting around the inner curve as well.

✼ OPTIONAL: If you’re using plain felt to make the Horn or Pegasus wings and would like to add some
sparkle, spread a thin layer of glue onto each piece and lightly sprinkle glitter onto the glue. (Remember to
position your wings so that you have a left and right facing one before you spread the glue on.) Allow to
dry thoroughly and gently tap excess off.

: Pin wings onto the shoulder area, making sure that they’re evenly positioned. To attach, insert needle
underneath one wing and bring it through the body and out through the other wing. Bring the needle
through the wing again, going back and forth a few times and end off under a wing.
Flutterby Wings

: Fold wing in half, right sides facing. Blanket stitch along folded area, keeping thread attached.

: Pin center of wing onto the center seam of the back.

: Ladder stitch the seam of the wing onto the seam of the back.
Star Necklace

: Cut out 8 tiny stars and thread each one onto a single strand of embroidery thread measuring about 9
inches long. Position each star so that it slightly overlaps the one next to it. Center the stars in the middle of
the embroidery strand.

: Place the necklace around the pony’s neck, sliding the stars to fit snuggly around the neck. The ends of
the thread should be at the back of the neck. Tie them securely in a knot and then use the ends to sew tiny
seed beads into the center of each star.
Bow

: Fold bow in half. Blanket stitch the two short ends together.

: Fold bow so that the blanket stitches run down the center.

: Position short edge of Bow Center onto the center of the blanket stitches. Whip stitch short edge onto
center of blanket stitches.

: Wrap the bow center around over the front of the Bow, and overlap the opposite short edge onto the
stitched edge. Stitch in place.

: Position bow where desired and stitch in place.

: Use your pink coloured pencil to add some colour to the little pony’s cheeks.

: Tie a bit of ribbon or stitch a pretty piece of lace or some sequins around the neck, or cut a strip of felt to
fit around. You can then stitch a tiny felt heart on or add a silver charm to complete the look of your little
pony.
♥♥ Congratulations ! You now have a very sweet little pony! I hope you've had fun creating him or her!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, either by email: [email protected] or through
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Gingermelon