Before the birth of Ava I had already concluded that my soon to be 5-year-old daughter should have a proper birthday party — no excuses. For months and months she’d been talking about a ‘pony’ birthday (probably secretly hoping we would get her a real horse), which is not an easy theme for a party, especially if you don’t want to end up with loads of plastic trash!! So, 9 days after giving birth, my husband (still on paternity leave — this is Europe!) and my mother-in-law and I spent a whole evening making 7 stick horses for my daughter’s party. I got some rough instructions from This Vintage Chica, went to the market to get broomsticks, stuffing, and decoration, and to HEMA for some groovy socks, biggest size. We worked hard and stayed up late, but the result was a HUGE success! Part of the party was about personalising the horses with letters and glitters, and part was a horse racetrack, and of course all the girls got to take their own stick horse home. The kids absolutely loved their horses and are still playing with them today.
If you feel like making your own stick horse — it’s pretty easy, you don’t need a sewing machine at all. An (old) broomstick and an (old) sock will do. Here’s the how-to:
First, cut the broomstick to the appropriate length for your child’s height, and use a hand saw to make a ridge in the sticks, about 30 cm / 1 foot from the top.
Fill the socks with stuffing.
Use buttons for the eyes, and wool for the manes.
We used 2 colours felt for the ears — we cut it in 1/4 circle shapes…
… and wrinkled it to get ear shapes.
Attach the ears with needle and thread — messy is ok.
Attach the horse heads to the sticks (stick should go all the way up to the sock’s heel), and add more padding around the stick. Tightly secure the sock around the groove in the wood using a piece of twine.
We used leather strips, bells and curtain cords to make bridles.
At the party, we let the children personalise their horses.
And built a track in our garden for a proper horse race…
Have fun!!! And please do share pictures of your horses, if you get around to make them!!
xxx Esther
Comments (20)
Wow I love these! Great idea! I will definitely try to make one
I still can not believe you made those horses right after your baby was born! You crazy mama!
But those horses are so stinken’ cute. I’m so impressed! I will definitely copy this idea.
Esther, you are superwoman. Except, really, really creative. Wow 🙂
cool and great idea, really love this!!!
i am surprised you mention the european paternity leave in The Netherlands you get officially 2 days!!!
My husband is working for a great company and got 4 weeks in April for No2 – lucky us and we all really enjoyed it!
xxx
The photos are beautiful and the idea is so cute!!! I seriously need to step it up over here in the “crafts” department – I am so lazy sometimes. This is the kind of project that a kid will always remember….
Fab idea Esther!
When my brother waas born my grandparents made horses like these for my sister and I (there is at least one still stabled in a cupboard at my parents house) and this brought back fantastic memories of riding round on them – what a great project.
I can’t wait to make some for my children – I might have to wait a while as numbers one and two are boys and, based on current behaviour, are more likely to use them as swords than steeds…
Esther..you are one clever mama! They are gorgeous – if only I had the craft know how! I’m going to suggest it to my girlfriend who would love this for her 4 year old son’s party.
Check out this cute stick horse Marga made for her little girl — adorable!!! http://margaconde.blogspot.com/2010/07/el-caballo-calcetin.html
Love this idea – know the kids in South Africa will love it too!!!
this really looks great. hope I remember when Nils is old enough
Check out these stick horses, that Belinda made for her girls Lucy (that called hers Sunshine Flower) and Sophia (that named hers Sunshine Butterfly). So cute!!!
here and here and here!!
[…] more detailed info and pics hop on over to Esther’s post on the very lovely Babyccino […]
Check out these beautiful stick-horses Hetty made for her daughter’s birthday: http://lightbluegrey.blogspot.com/2011/01/work-in-progress.html
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE these stick horses. I would really like to feature them on our website on our horse theme birthday page. Let me know what you think. 🙂
Lovely stick horses..
WOW! Doing a toy story theme for my daughter’s 3rd birthday at her school. Couldn’t figure out what to do for giveaways and after seeing this I think i’ll just make 20, one for each kid! WOW…thank u!
[…] I didn’t have anything to do with her styling. (Coincidentally she’s playing with the stick horse we made for Sara’s 5th birthday party years ago — do you remember that sweet project?) […]