How to Make Horse Sheets

Owning horses is an expensive endeavor. Making your horse a sheet, instead of buying one, helps to reduce the cost of owning an equine. It's not without some setbacks. You need to know how to insert the thread and bobbin as well as guide the machine for a straight line. You might even have to rip out some seams and start again to achieve the perfect seam. Once you've mastered making a horse sheet, you can move on to making horse blankets. This will save you even more money while keeping your horse in luxury.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse sheet pattern
  • 2 leg straps
  • 1 belly strap
  • Binding
  • Thread
  • Fabric
  • Pins
  • Sewing Machine
  • Scissors
  • Front buckles (optional)
  • Nylon webbing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the horse with a fabric tape measure.

      Place one end on the center of the horse's chest and have a helper draw the tape measure along the side of the horse to the center of the horse's tail. This number is the length of the sheet.

    • 2

      Place two pieces of fabric right side out on top of each other.

      Pin and sew. If you did it correctly, the excess fabric of the seam will be on the exterior of the blanket along with the glossy side of the fabric. This allows the sheet to lie flat on the horse's back without the seam irritating the horse.

    • 3

      Find a horse sheet pattern or make one by placing a horse sheet onto tracing paper and tracing the outline.

      Adjust the horse pattern to the correct length by cutting off the excess inches, or adding to the length.

    • 4

      Attach the pattern to the fabric with pins and cut away excess fabric.

    • 5

      Try it on the horse.

      Use safety pins to hold the front together. Remove from horse and make any adjustments.

    • 6

      Sew the front of the blanket closed or sew on buckles for an open-front blanket

    • 7

      Cut four 2 by 2 by 3-inch triangles, four 4 by 6-inch rectangles and four 3 by 4-inch rectangles from heavy leather or vinyl.

      These will keep the straps from tearing when the horse plays.

    • 8

      Place a 4 by 6-inch rectangle on a piece of cardboard in front of you.

      The 6-inch side is horizontal. Slice a 2-inch long gash at an 60 degree angle about an inch from the bottom-left corner with an exacto knife. Repeat on a second rectangle. On all four rectangles, make a second two-inch gash about an inch from the top-right corner. Widen it by an half inch to be able to fit the leg strap through.

    • 9

      Cut a two-inch gash about two inches from the bottom of the 3 by 4-inch rectangles.

      The 3-inch side is horizontal. The gash leaves about 1/2 inch of leather on both sides of the gash.

    • 10

      Fold the sheet in half and place it upside down, exterior side up on a flat surface.

      Pin one triangle on the underside of rear top corner. Lay the fabric down and place one of the leg straps at a vertical 90 degree angle. Place a second triangle on top of the strap. Pin and sew the perimeter of the triangle. Remove pins. Sew a second triangle in the center to secure the strap. Repeat on the other side. These straps are the rear leg straps.

    • 11

      Pin one 4 by 6-inch rectangle with only one slice on the interior of the sheet about 1 1/2 feet from the triangle, flush to the edge. On the exterior of the blanket, place a second triangle with two gashes. Align the 1/2 inch gashes. Pin and sew around the perimeter, including the 1/2-inch wide gash of the leather or vinyl. Then, insert the catch for the rear leg strap into the gash in the bottom-left corner. Sew. Remove pins. Repeat for the other side.

    • 12

      Place the 3 by 4-inch rectangles about a quarter of the way down the sheet from the front. Pin one of the unsliced rectangles on the interior. Take the belly strap and thread the top two-inches into the gash. Place the rectangle with the strap facing way from you on top of the other rectangle. Pin and sew. Sew a box shape then an "X" in the interior of the box over the strap. This secures the strap. Repeat using the strap with the catch for the belly strap on the other side.

    • 13

      Sew binding to the edge of the sheet.

      Place nylon webbing -- similar to nylon used for seat belts -- over exposed seams, such as the seam that runs along the middle of the horse's back.