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DIY: Dragon Rocker

Children of all ages are attracted to rocking horses and most would appreciate how unusual and unique a dragon rocker is in comparison. Your child's imagination can be stimulated into creating cardboard box castles, aluminum foil crowns and more as a result of receiving this special gift. Making a DIY dragon rocker only requires implementing a few minor adjustments to a standard rocking horse pattern.

Things You'll Need

  • Rocking horse pattern
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Hardwood sheet
  • Jigsaw
  • Palm sander
  • Sand paper
  • Drill
  • Wood screws
  • Wood glue
  • Stain
  • Paint brushes
  • Paint
  • Tape measure
  • Tissue paper
  • Iridescent upholstery velvet
  • Straight pins
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Thread
  • Polyester stuffing
  • Hammer
  • Upholstery tacks
  • Elastic
  • Shoe laces
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a rocking horse pattern with the horse's snout running vertically. Elongate the mouth by continuing it upward, stopping one inch below the level of the eye. Open the mouth wider by making the horse's upper snout thinner. Hold a ruler from the new top point of the horse's mouth opening across the inner-most point of the horse's nostril and draw a light reference line. Replace the reference line and the other inside mouth line with jagged lines by drawing peaks and scallops. Draw a larger ball on the nostril of the silhouette. Change the shape of the eye by making the top flat and the bottom a half circle.

    • 2

      Choose a hardwood such as black walnut or red oak, which will age beautifully. Cut the pattern out and place it on the wood. Lay the pattern for the seat so that the grain of the wood runs from front to back on the seat. Trace the patterns onto the wood. Cut out the wood pieces with a jigsaw. Sand the pieces with a palm sander, being careful to round all of the edges. Drill pilot holes and counter sinks for wood screws. Apply wood glue as you assemble the pieces together with wood screws. Stain the dragon rocker and paint on the eyes and other face details with a small artist's brush. Add scroll designs to the face, if desired. Apply a glossy clear coat for protection and shine.

    • 3

      Measure across the front and side of the seat back piece with a tape measure and add two inches to that measurement. Measure and mark that length on to the edge of a piece of tissue paper to designate the opening of the dragon's tail. Place the tape measure running up from the bottom mark at a 45-degree angle. Measure and mark a dot at 20 inches. Draw a large curve from the bottom of the tail opening to the tip of the dragon's tail at the 20-inch mark. Place the tape measure running from the top of the dragon tail opening to the tip of the tail. Make marks by placing a dot along the tape measure at 5, 10, and 15 inches. Draw a series of curves from the top of the opening of the tail to each of the dots in succession to create the pattern for the top of the tail.

    • 4

      Cut out the pattern and pin it to a double thickness, or folded, piece of iridescent upholstery velvet. Cut out the pattern and remove the pins. Place the fabric pieces right-sides together and sew, on a sewing machine, a half-inch seam around the top and bottom of the dragon tail. Fold a 1-inch double hem around the opening of the dragon tail and pin. Sew the hem on the sewing machine, removing the pins as you reach them. Turn the tail right-side out and fill it with stuffing. Place the top of the dragon tail opening at the front and center of the seat back and lightly hammer in an upholstery tack to attach it. Continue attaching the dragon tail to the seat back, placing upholstery tacks every 2 inches.

    • 5

      Place your right hand on a piece of tissue paper, with your wrist over the bottom of the paper, with fingers spread, and trace the outline. Trace your left hand directly on top of that outline, matching up digits. Each of the ring fingers should create a unique shape between the thumb and index finger of the opposite hand. Take the measurement from mouth opening to mouth opening across the top of the head. Center that measurement under the drawing of your hands, along the bottom of the paper, and mark a dot at each end. Draw lines from the tip of each end digit to their respective dot below. Cut out the pattern for the dragon crown. Sew, stuff and attach the crown in the same manner as the tail, but sew the opening shut, inserting the end of a 2-inch piece of elastic into each end, and place the hem toward the front for tacking. The elastic should fit inside the dragon's mouth. Sew or tie strips of fabric or shoe laces to the elastic for a fire-breathing dragon.


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