This hobby horse is modeled after one I made as a schoolgirl in 1969 as a lesson in sock knitting. The version I made back then was knitted with cotton yarn and the textured patterns were covered with duplicate stitch. Happily, the stitches in this felted version are too obscured for duplicate stitch--they are worked in accent colors instead. Simply knit a large sock out of wool yarn, felt it in the washing machine, add a few details, stuff it with fiberfill, and you’ve got a gift to keep your lil’ cowpoke happy for hours.

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