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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
 
Location: TN | I'd like to have a fleece cooler for barrel races this winter but don't really want to pay big money for one. Have any of you made your own before? If so, how much fleece do I need and how do I do it?
Edited by KatieMac88 2013-11-23 12:08 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
 
Location: Texas! | Hmm...I'm sure you could make one pretty easily with a good sewing machine! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1229
Location: Royal J Performance Horses, AZ | This is an answer to a question u definitely did not ask. BUT I LOVE fleece coolers! They work like magic! Throw them on a sopping wet horse and no matter how cold it is(which in arizona is like 40 degree mind you but hah) The horse will be dry in 30 mins to an hour! and it seems as though all the moitsure comes through the top of the blanket and makes it look like dew drops. I simply love it!
I know I know I'm easily fascinated!  
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | I love using a cooler in the cold months. I use to buy polar fleece material and make mine own until I found these at Jeffers. Unless you just absolutely prefer one to cover the neck these work great and hold up. They are also cheaper than making them even finding the fleece at a discount.
http://www.jefferspet.com/amigo-mio-fleece-cooler/camid/EQU/cp/0040... |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I have bought them from Horse.com for like $30, which in my experience would be cheaper than buying the fleece to make it yourself. My guess is you'd need 3 1/2 to 4 yards of fleece and it's usually $8-10 a yard. Not worth the couple dollars savings to me. I think Chicks Saddlery has some cheap prices and so does Horseloverz.com. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN |
Awesome! I definitely want one then! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Ok thanks everyone!  I'll look into those places to see if I can just buy one cheaper than making it.It would certainly be easier. |
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  Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820
Location: Oklahoma | A cooler is 84" x 90" (generally). A bolt of fabric is anywhere from 32 to 60 inches in width, but most of the fleece I see is 60 inches wide. Using that measurement, you would need about 5 1/4 yards. That doesn't count the binding, if you you want additional durability, which would be about 7 1/2 yards of nylon webbing. You can find great deals on fleece, but it is more difficult to find the heavy duty fleece most coolers are made of. It would be neat to have a personalized cooler in your own fabric, though :)
http://fabric-calculator.com/tarps.aspx |
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 Bye-Bye Jiggle
Posts: 1691
Location: Where ever there's sunshine! | Morab76 - 2013-11-23 8:21 PM
A cooler is 84" x 90" (generally ). A bolt of fabric is anywhere from 32 to 60 inches in width, but most of the fleece I see is 60 inches wide. Using that measurement, you would need about 5 1/4 yards. That doesn't count the binding, if you you want additional durability, which would be about 7 1/2 yards of nylon webbing. You can find great deals on fleece, but it is more difficult to find the heavy duty fleece most coolers are made of. It would be neat to have a personalized cooler in your own fabric, though : )
http://fabric-calculator.com/tarps.aspx
Do you know where to find the heavier fleeces? |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| Check SUITABLITY patterns it you want ot make one. I read the reviews for the Jeffers cooler and one said they were cheaply made. SUITABILITY can also recommend where to get fabrics. All of their patterns are horse related and easy to make. I have used them for years. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1552
Location: Texas | I made three myself. I put a draw string around the back so that I could close down around a bit. Not quite so floppy. Love em but I also bought 5 on ebay that were brand new for way cheaper than I made mine!
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Expert
Posts: 1552
Location: Texas | BleuIdGrl - 2013-11-23 9:28 PM Morab76 - 2013-11-23 8:21 PM A cooler is 84" x 90" (generally ). A bolt of fabric is anywhere from 32 to 60 inches in width, but most of the fleece I see is 60 inches wide. Using that measurement, you would need about 5 1/4 yards. That doesn't count the binding, if you you want additional durability, which would be about 7 1/2 yards of nylon webbing. You can find great deals on fleece, but it is more difficult to find the heavy duty fleece most coolers are made of. It would be neat to have a personalized cooler in your own fabric, though : ) http://fabric-calculator.com/tarps.aspx Do you know where to find the heavier fleeces?
I didn't bind mine with webbing. Run a hem with a zigzag stitch so it will have some give. I put two large velcro closures on the chest, a halter loop, and a drawstring (runs side of hip to top of hip and then to side) so I could make is fit snug and secure. Bought my fleece at a fabric store (Hobby Lobby). Very easy: buy the length you need stitch down the center, run a hem, apply the closures, and runa casing for th draw string in the but area.
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