The Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn pattern produces some of the most creative Funky Friends Factory toys. While the unicorn sewing pattern includes instructions on how to make a fabric ruffle for a mane, I’ve seen lots of other materials used to make majestic manes. 

 

If you’d like some examples of materials you can use, you’re in the right place because this post is ALL about ways to make MAGNIFICENT manes!

 

BUT first, let’s introduce…

the Funky Friends Factory Unicorn patterns:

This is the Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn pattern which is a favourite for keepsake makers  – I guess because it is always a hit with little girls?

Click HERE to buy the Keepsake Unicorn pattern.

 

AND the other Funky Friends Factory unicorn pattern is the Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse Pattern. This pattern includes a combo – all of the pieces are there for you to create a horse or soft toy unicorn – and it’s a favourite with boys and girls of ALL ages!

Click HERE to buy the Horse & Unicorn Pattern

 

This post includes LOTS of examples of lovely manes posted by Funky Friends Factory makers, for both of these unicorn patterns! Keep reading for example photos of lots of materials, from dangling ribbons and fabulous felt to fluffy netting and yarn.

BONUS FEATURE:

Scroll to the end of the post for a photo tutorial on how to use yarn or fleece for a mane. This tutorial was created from Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse Pattern, but you can also use it for Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn.👍

 

 

Let’s take a look…

 

1. Upcycled from Clothing: Great for Keepsakes

If you’re making a clothing keepsake from a child’s dress, there may be a ruffle you can remove and add as the mane. If the ruffle is the same color as other fabric on the unicorn, this option has the added benefit of keeping a cohesive look for the toy. Otherwise, you can use some of the actual clothing as the mane. Test any fabric for fraying before using it for a mane.

This sweet Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn sewn by Mary Elizabeth looks perfectly coordinated because the mane and body are from the same set of baby clothes.

 

This is a “behind the scenes” photo showing Mary’s clever use of baby clothes for the mane! You must test this first (of course!) but I have found that most baby clothes are made of knit fabrics which makes them easy to work with for making a unicorn mane. These types of fabrics don’t fray so you won’t need to add an edging stich like a zig zag or over lock stitch – too easy! 

 

This cute Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn was sewn by Jenny Taylor Beardmore who used the knit fabric from the baby clothes to create a soft pretty mane.

 

Let’s dance!!!💃🕺

Dance costumes can provide lots of glitzy upcycle options. Here’s a Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn sewn by Mellissa Klumpp with a mane made from a dance tutu that was trimmed in sequins.

 

WOW! Look at that fancy mane!

 

Here’s another AMAZING  Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn made of dance costumes, with ribbons used for the mane, Sewn by Gill Riersen. There are more examples of ribbons in a separate section on ribbons below, in this post! 

 

Dance ribbons are
great for a unicorn mane!

 

TIP: How to attach the ribbons: 🪡🧵👍

Here is a close up of how Gill attached the ribbons: She sewed them on first, behind the horn and cover the ends with a decorative button! Easy!🪡🧵👍

 

2. Tulle/netting: Glamorous Manes!

For a fantastically fluffy mane, you can use the same tulle/netting material you’d use to make Kelsey’s tutu for the mane, too. Multiple layers of netting make a fuller mane, and you can add layers of different colors, too. Caroline Jones made a super shiny Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn with sparkle tulle.

 

Tulle has a certain “wow” factor as you can see with this cute colour-coordinated green and blue Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn sewn by Melissa Klumpp.

 

This cutie was sewn by Isoline Sophie using Tulle (also called netting) for a mane on Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn.

 

This cheerful Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn was created by Carla Quintana Rodriguez. The brightly coloured tulle looks wonderful – I just want to smile when I look at this happy pic!

 

Laura Peters Cartoscelli wanted a super puffy mane. I think she succeeded with her rainbow-maned Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn!!!

 

3. Yarn of many Types: Easy to Braid:  

If your child likes to style a toy’s hair, then you can use yarn to provide hours of styling fun. (To learn how to use yarn/wool for a mane, see the tutorial at the bottom of the page.)

Here’s a pretty Horsey Horse made using the Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse Pattern was sewn with yarn mane by Natalie Booysen. 

 

Crystal Huia sewed this colourful version of the Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse Pattern from baby wrap scraps and used multiple yarn colors in segments for a rainbow look.

 

You can use longer lengths of yarn to give Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn some luxurious locks like Andrea Raw did!

 

If you know how to crochet, you can make some yarn curls for Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn like Joan Kawano did here for her granddaughter.

 

It also works for the Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse Pattern! Sewn by Martina Starc.

 

4. Ribbons: Ruffles or Fringe-style

The Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn pattern includes info on how to gather a wide ribbon to make a ruffled mane, and but you can also leave ribbons long and dangling like a fringe, too (see the tutorial on using yarn at the bottom on this post for instructions). Ribbon is relatively inexpensive and comes in unlimited colors, so you’re likely to find one that matches your toy.

A wide ribbon is easy to gather because the edges are already finished. You can use a plain colored ribbon, one with stripes, polka dots, or any pattern you like. Ribbon gathering instructions are included in the Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn pattern. Here’s an example of a patterned ribbon mane sewn by Amy Jerome.

 

And here’s the lucky recipient!!!

 

I love this pretty pair of Kelsey Keepsake Unicorns sewn by Laura Peters Cartoscelli – the ruffled pink sating ribbon is adorable.💖💖

 

Here’s a lovely example of a solid color ribbon mane for Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn , sewn by Orsilya Czili. Isn’t she beautiful?! ❤️

 

5. Fleece: FUN versatile material for Manes!

You can use fleece several ways to make a mane. Gather it into a ruffle like felt, or cut it into strips like a fringe. If you’ve made the rest of your toy from fleece, this is an easy way to make sure the color of the mane matches! (To learn how to use fleece cut into strips for a mane, see the tutorial at the bottom of the page.)

With all the detail in these Kelsey Keepsake Unicorns sewn by Simone van Drunen, the solid color of the gathered fleece mane provides a nice contrast.

 

The following example of a fleece mane for Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse is sewn by Lynne Verrier for her granddaughter.  – this shiny unicorn is called “Sparkles”!

 

And this Unix Unicorn was sewn by Sue Falzon of Little Luckies who has cleverly added fleece in rainbow colours to match the striped fabric!

 

6. Felt: An Easy option!

In the cute Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn, Debbie Burton matched the felt flowers with the mane.

 

The vibrant felt highlights the colors in the clothing, sewn by Patricia Vis-van Lier in her very pretty pink Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn.

 

If you’ve got lots of craft supplies in your sewing room, take a look through them and see what might look good as a mane on your toy. Funky fans have often used faux fur, which you can see in some examples below. Upholstery fringe and feather boas make a dramatic statement, but be prepared to experiment in attaching these more unusual materials.

7. Leather: Real or Faux

Rebecca Laneway used a leather fringe for her Horsey Horse. (I wonder if this was repurposed from clothing or bought specifically as a fancy trim for her horse?)

 

8. Feathers: Difficult to attach but look amazing!

Tracey Carter Davies used feathers for the mane and matched the bright colours from the fabrics used for this fun Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn. 

 

9. Unusual Upholstery & haberdashery Trims:

I love this sweet Horsey Horse with a multi-coloured trim mane sewn by Stephanie Bammann.

 

10. Doll Hair: Who knew!!!😂

Pam Hansen bought some wavy dolls hair from a thrift shop and it looks amazing as a Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn mane!💜

 

Photo Tutorial for Yarn and Fleece Manes!

Fake fur wasn’t as widely available as it is now when I designed the Unix Unicorn/Horsey Horse pattern, a looooooooooong time ago! This is why I created this tutorial to give people extra options. You can easily attach a yarn or fleece mane to Unix/Horsey using these techniques, which also work for Kelsey Keepsake Unicorn! 

CLICK HERE to go to
the MANE TUTORIAL!

 

I hope you’ve had as much browsing through these fun feedback photos of FANTASTIC manes as I did and GOT lots of ideas for your next unicorn toy!🦄

Let me know in the comments if you’ve used something for a unicorn mane that I haven’t included!

.
Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline
xxx