Making your own rugs

[zoeshiloh]

Does anyone do it? I have been trying to buy fleece rugs amd hoods for my show horses, but every over the counter one that I buy comes up too tight or too baggy. Was wondering whether anyone has attempted to make their own, whether they used a pattern or just did a bit of trial and error?

 

[Persephone]

Snuggy hoods alter hoods so they are in effect made to measure.

Might be worth a look.

I guess if you have a hood already you could use it as a rough patter and fine tune as you go.

Good luck! I don't envy you lol!

 

[Bugly]

About fifteen years ago there used to be a company who advertised rug patterns in the back of the horsey mags- I wonder if they are still going?

When we were all horsey mad teenagers we made a summer sheet and an exercise rug in our textiles class at school. Cant recall that the summer sheet lasted long but I still use the exercise rug!

 

[gothdolly]

yes, I have and do. I tend to keep old fittings from wrecked rugs (have been known to pull other people's out of bins at the yard for straps and buckles). Im always trying to do things on a budget plus I enjoy sewing and have an old 1950s singer sewing machine which is actually an industrial machine so I can sew rugs etc.
Large amounts of money can be saved if you are clever with a sewing machine but I have not tried to make a turn out rug as I dont know if it would be water proof.

 

[zoeshiloh]

I have loads of rug fittings (bought a job lot last year off of ebay for £3.48!!)

I have a pretty good sewing machine as well. I might try and experiment with some tesco value sheets before buying nice material!

 

[gothdolly]

good luck

Take your time and use an old rug as a pattern if you have one that fits well. You can make paper patterns out of newspaper (sellotaped together to make big enough sheet). And post a picture when you are finished

 

[Rainbowrider]

There's probably a good reason for this, but I have always wondered why rug manufacturers don't make a rug you can take the cover off, and wash? Kind of like a duvet cover round a duvet....just an idea....

 

[alsxx]

I made a foal rug when I first had Ellie, as I couldn't get anything small enough.

I still have it now...the front fastening is now buggered, but it fitted her quite well, the shoulder was lined with fleece and I filled it with wadding and then quilted it...wasn't bad for a first attempt BUT I can imagine buying all the fabric etc would actually work out quite pricey and for the effort its easier to buy one!

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

I made my old pony's night time rug from quilted material, I measured her from chest to tail, then from withers to tail, marked the material and cut from withers to chest in a curve, then bound it with tape.

I'm doing the same thing again for Don, I got a king-sized quilt - using my club card vouchers so it was free - and I'm letting him have the cotton bedspread off my bed. You can buy belly and leg straps to attach to rugs, and I've a surcingle. I shall post pix when he's all kitted out!