Stitching the Southwest: Horse Block Add-On

Sewing a horse instead of the longhorn? Absolutely!

The Southwest Trails Quilt Along is getting a new star! Every quilt along comes with a few surprises… but this one truly made me happy.

As you know, in the original #SouthwestQAL we sew a striking longhorn skull that sits at the very center of the quilt. Rustic, wild, absolutely iconic,  and perfect for capturing that campfire-in-the-desert feeling.

I spent months on it: sketching, designing, sewing, testing, photographing, and carefully writing out every single step of the instructions.

And then I received a message from a lovely customer (Annegret 😉👋):

“I love the pattern! But… could I put a horse in the center instead of the longhorn?”

I had to smile. That’s exactly what I love about our quilting community: always creative, always individual, always full of new ideas. And I thought: why not?

So I designed a horse, sewed it, adjusted lines, and tested angles. And what can I say? The result was gorgeous, a little wild, a little tousled, perfectly matching the style of the quilt, but much softer than the longhorn skull. I quietly uploaded the horse block as an option… and then things got very interesting.

The Horse Stampede

Just a few days later, I noticed: many, really many of you were ordering the horse block. Not occasionally… but like a full-on horse fan festival. So of course, I wanted to know what was going on. I launched a survey in my newsletter: Longhorn or Horse… which do you prefer?

Some surveys are close and exciting. This one… absolutely wasn’t! The horse didn’t just win, it crushed the longhorn. So much so that I thought: “Wow, these are entirely new dimensions of love for horses!” I’m now convinced: quilters secretly dream of wild mustangs in the evening sun! 😉

What Does This Mean for the Quilt Along?

Many asked whether they could now officially replace the longhorn with the horse in the Southwest Trails pattern.

Short answer: Absolutely yes!

I would have loved to offer a second complete quilt pattern, really, I would! But realistically:

• The pattern is extensive and full of illustrations
• Months of work have gone into it
• Most importantly: the fabric kits are organized and ready

That’s not something you can casually redesign. BUT, here comes the good news:

Sewing the Horse as an Official Add-On

You can easily sew your Southwest Trails Quilt with a horse in the center. Just download the add-on block, sew it, and use it in place of the longhorn.

No extra size calculations and no re-planning of the quilt needed. Simply use the 24″ x 24″ block from the horse pattern for the center, super easy. If you sew the horse version, you can also take part in the big #SouthwestQAL final giveaway. And as you can see for yourself, the quilt gets a completely different character with the horse. Softer, more lively, almost like a fairytale western. Thanks to Photoshop, I can even show you a realistic version 😃:

The Fabrics for the Horse Block

Elli from Mojave Farms Quilting Co. is happy to help and will put together a small add-on fabric bundle for the horse if you’d like. The background fabric stays exactly the same.

You can also simply use your own fabric stash for the mane and head. One fat quarter is more than enough for the head.

And the Best Part: The Horse Works Beautifully on Its Own!

During testing this block, I discovered:

• As a pillow cover, the horse block is an absolute eye-catcher. Add some piping, quilt it, done.
• It also looks fantastic on a tote bag, elegant equestrian chic.
• Or as a small wall hanging, perfect for horse lovers.

The block is truly a little star all by itself.

Individual Pattern Links:

👉 Southwest Trails Original
👉 Southwest Trails with Horse Add-On
👉 Horse Quilt Block on Its Own (available in 3 sizes)

Use code SOUTHWEST for 20% off all Southwest patterns for BERNINA readers.

Are You Joining In?

Which version will you sew? Whether Team Longhorn or Team Horse… you are all an important part of this quilting adventure. Your creativity, fabric choices, and personal ideas make this QAL so special. I can’t wait to see your versions.

Are you joining? Then be sure to enter the kickoff giveaway! All information can be found here: Enter the Kickoff Giveaway

The quilt along instructions will appear on the BERNINA WeAllSew blog starting in January. You can find all posts for the #SouthwestQAL here.

So saddle up…. we’re riding on along our Southwest Trails. The adventure continues!

See you soon,
Ingrid