Patchwork Pony Sustainable Sew Along!

Get ready for exciting news about a brand new ‘sew along with a difference’ that I’m launching today!

The Patchwork Pony Sustainable Sew Along will start in February and run for a month. In this post I will be sharing all the info you need and answering all those questions you have.

First off, what’s sustainable about it?

There are so many fantastic QAL and BOM starting at the moment (and of course our own Thread House Free Bird BOM is ongoing) but I wanted to offer an alternative to making a whole quilt. I wanted something that would encourage creativity and be fun to make but that wouldn’t involve buying new materials.  This sew along is all about encouraging you to use up the stuff you already have!

Of course we do need to support our LQS and precious craft industry but we also need to protect out planet, so let’s take a moment away from fabric shopping and dig into all that fabulous stuff we’ve been hoarding. You can read more about what we’ll be using to create our ponies below but the other reason I’m calling this a Sustainable Sew Along is that I’m going to be donating a portion of the pattern price to Create and Sustain.

£1 of each pattern sold (even those sold at the introductory discount price) will be donated to this wonderful non-profit organisation that I am very happy to support and endorse, read more about Create and Sustain here. And this will be ongoing for the patterns lifetime not just for the sew along.

Why Patchwork Pony?

I originally designed this pattern for a Dala Horse back in 2014 (wow 8 years ago!!). It was a commission for Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I also taught this as a class at myBearpaw and made a second version but the pattern has never been published other than in the magazine.  I’ve always loved this large boxy horse shape as it doubles up as both cushion and adorable friend and appeals to adults and children alike.

Last year when I started bag and quilt making using old clothes I ended up with a lot of small scraps. I decided to trim these to 2″ (1.5″ finished) squares. My two dala horses are displayed on a high shelf in my Schoolhouse Studio and as I glanced over at them I got the idea to make a new version using these (mainly denim) squares. I love a bit of alliteration so Patchwork Pony was irrestible to me and had to be made!

I ended up using him as the basis for my blogpost about the new Hand Embroidery Dictionary, read this here. The idea for a new pattern and this SAL was born then!

What size is the pony?

H14” x W13″ x D2½”

Will the pattern include the original Dala Horse?

Yes it will! The pattern will give instructions for the new simpler horse and the original ornate version complete with EPP saddle and embroidered mane.

What else can I use to make my Patchwork Pony

Between now and the start of the SAL I will be making and sharing a whole stable worth of different ponies to inspire you! I’ve kicked this off with my first Orphan Block Pony made using class samples from my Tiny Improv Streetscape workshop (on demand video workshop available to buy from here). I’m halfway through another one which uses old furnishing / home decor fabric that I’ve hoarded since I ran an Interior Design section of a previous business (at least 15 years ago!).

Here’s a list of some future ideas, including the first 3, to kick things off, but I bet you guys are going to come up with tons more!

• Patchwork using vintage embroidered linen and/or vintage sheeting
• Patchwork squares using furnishing / home decor fabric swatch books
• Scrappy patchwork
• Improv patchwork
• Old curtain fabric
• Old clothes
• Orphan blocks

Don’t have anything suitable? Of course please do buy fabrics if you really need to but first consider a visit to your local charity shop, flea market or thrift store – who knows what treasures you will unearth!

The first blog post on 2nd February (I was going to start this on the 1st but when I saw the next day was 2/2/22 I couldn’t resist moving it!!) and the pattern will cover putting together your outer panels. Right now just start thinking and gathering.

To be extra sustainable I’m going to be encouraging you to use scraps of wadding/batting for stuffing (quilt trimmings work really well for this!). The new ponies actually feel much better stuffed with scrap wadding then the initial Dala Horses which were stuffed with polyester toy filling).

I’m also going to be researching and reporting on alternative green stuffing products for those of you who don’t have spare wadding.

And finally for the mane and tail I have been using up my large stash or yarn ends and wool that I’m simply hoarding and not using!  Again for those of you that have never done yarn crafts this might be more problematic but maybe you have a knitting friend or relative that has excess yarn they could part with? More on stuffing and yarn in future posts.

When will the Pattern be published?

The pattern will be published on Friday 28th January. You may feel that doesn’t give you much time to get supplies ready before the SAL begins the following week, but as well as well as using stuff up you will have a few weeks before you need anything other than the initial outer panel fabric (see above) giving plenty of time to gather any other supplies that you don’t already own!

Let’s have a look at the schedule…

How much will the pattern be and where can I buy it?

The pattern will be priced at £9 . It will be available at a special introductory price for the launch weekend (deets TBA) and availble to buy as a PDF pattern only (no hard copies I’m afraid) from my website here.

What is a Sew Along?

A Sew Along, or SAL, is a way for crafters from all over the world to work on the same project at the same time through the wonders of social media. Social media gets a bad rap these days (and rightly so!) but it is a wonderful way for our crafting communities to connect and help, support and inspire each other.

So that you have a choice of SM platforms I will be opening a private Facebook group (in a few weeks time) where you can share images of your WIP, or finished pony, ask for advice and share tips etc. On Instagram we will be using the hashtag #patchworkponysustainablesewalong to connect with each other and by following my account you will be kept up to date of all the news.

I will also be posting here on my blog at each of the 3 stages of the SAL and for a round up post at the end. As the Linky Party I hosted for the Bedding Plants QAL last year had very mixed results I’m not going to be doing that again. These SAL blog posts will give extra tips and advice, possibly including video tutorials and bonus accessory patterns!

Do I need to register to take part in the Sew Along?

No! All you need is a copy of the pattern and an account on either Instagram or Facebook to take part in the SAL. Of course you can just buy a pattern, read my accompanying blog posts and make the pony on your own without taking part in the SAL if you are not keen on any form of Social Media.

Will there be prizes?

Yes! There will be one big prize at the end of the sew along and everyone who has finished a pony and shared it on Instagram using the hashtag #patchworkponysustainablesewalong or in the SAL Facebook Group will be entered to the prize draw. Each finished pony will be an extra entry!

The prize is this fabulous FQ bundle of Elizabeth Hartman’s Berry Season collection from Robert Kaufman (courtesy of Anbo Textiles – thank you!) PLUS A copy of my new book Modern Crewel Embroidery AND a box of my accompanying Aurifil 12wt wool thread collection Stitching With Wool!!

Phew, I think that just about covers everything! But do ask any extra questions in the comments below.

I do hope you’ll be able to join in!