What do you need?
Dala horse pattern (PDF)
Scissors
Pins
Orange wool felt
White wool felt
Wool filling
Matching embroidery thread
Embroidery needle
The Swedish Dala (Dalarna) Horse is world famous! For those who missed it: it is a hand-painted souvenir wooden horse. The original color is red (more like orange-red) but nowadays these cute horses are available in all colors and sizes. If you google them you will be amazed! But today we are making one ourselves, out of felt.
How to make a Dala horse
Print the pattern and cut it out
Pin the pattern onto the felt.
Cut out the little horse.
Pin and cut out a second horse.
Pin on the loose parts.
Cut out the loose parts too.
Now we start with embroidery, first the bridle.
We embroider with running stitches, back and forth.
We keep the embroidery stitches simple so everyone can join in.
On the horse we embroider the bridle, mane and eyes, decide for yourself whether you want to embroider your horse on 2 sides or just 1
After the bridle you embroider the mane.
When the mane is done you embroider the eye.
Stick a thread through the bridle and tie knots at the ends.
If embroidering both sides start on the opposite side!
when embroidering both sides is done you sew the horse together
Pin both sides together.
Tie the thread firmly on.
Sew closed using the blanket stitch.
Let the belly open to stuff it.
- close the belly and put your horse aside for a moment
- now embroider the blanket and the straps with different colours of yarn
- look carefully at the horses in the video, but keep it simple and as you like it!
Embroider the sadle strap.
The horse blanket.
And embroither the saddle girth.
Sew the blanket and straps onto your horse.
You can find your Dala horse in a nice spot or hang it on a loop.