Bluegrass Pastures: A Horse Quilt Pattern Inspired by Kentucky
If you’ve been searching for a unique horse quilt pattern with a classic Americana feel, the Bluegrass Pastures Quilt Pattern may be just what you’re looking for. Inspired by Kentucky horse farms and rolling countryside, this quilt combines charming horse appliqué blocks with horse fence blocks for a design that feels both traditional and fresh.
Every month in the pattern shop, we offer one of our sewing or quilt patterns at a special price. This month, I’m excited to share that the Bluegrass Pastures Quilt is our May pattern of the month!
One of my favorite things about this quilt design is the combination of techniques included in the pattern. The horse fence blocks can be created using either foundation paper piecing or traditional piecing methods, giving quilters flexibility based on their preferred sewing style and experience level.
The horses themselves are created using raw-edge appliqué, which lets you add a bit of personality and texture to each block while keeping the construction simple.
To help walk you through the process, I’ve also shared step-by-step video tutorials on my YouTube channel. There’s a video demonstrating the fence foundation paper-piecing technique, as well as a tutorial on the horse appliqué process. Whether you’re new to FPP or just want extra guidance while sewing, the videos are designed to make the construction process easier to follow.
About the Bluegrass Pastures Quilt & Where to Buy
The Bluegrass Pastures Quilt was inspired by the beautiful horse farms found throughout Kentucky. I wanted the quilt to capture the feeling of long wood fences stretching across green pastures with horses grazing in the fields.
Details:
- Purchase in our Shop or on Etsy (if you are outside of the USA)
- Fat Quarter Friendly!
- Fabric: Bluegrass Charm by Riley Blake Designs
- Long Arm Quilt Pantograph: Amethyst Cloud
- Size: 49″ x 63″
The pattern is available in both print and PDF formats, so you can choose the version that works best for you.
The quilt is created from my Bluegrass Charm collection of fabrics, but it also looks great with other fabric lines! If you’re still looking for Bluegrass Charm fabrics, several Etsy sellers still have some in stock!
Foundation Paper Piecing or Traditional Piecing
The fence blocks are one of the signature details in this quilt. If you enjoy precision piecing and crisp points, you can sew the fence sections using foundation paper piecing (FPP).
When I quilt for myself, I mostly use traditional piecing methods. However, for this quilt, I prefer to use FPP. The fence posts are 1/2″ finished width, and sometimes it’s hard to get straight lines when you’re piecing with smaller fabric pieces. For this type of project, FPP is the way to go in my opinion.
If you prefer more traditional quilt construction methods, the pattern also includes instructions for traditionally pieced fence blocks.
Because both methods are included, the pattern works well for quilters who may want to try foundation paper piecing for the first time without committing to an entirely FPP quilt.
The video tutorial on my YouTube channel walks through the fence construction process step by step, making the technique easier to understand.
Note: the video refers to my Bluegrass Sampler quilt pattern, but the fence blocks are identical in both quilts.
Raw Edge Appliqué Horse Blocks
The horse blocks are created using raw-edge appliqué. Raw-edge appliqué is a wonderful way to showcase favorite fabrics and add texture to a quilt design. It also allows you to create a quilt with unique shapes!
In the horse appliqué video tutorial, I share tips for preparing the appliqué pieces and stitching them down cleanly and securely. Even if you’re new to appliqué, the process is very manageable when broken down into steps.
Whether you’re drawn to the horse quilt theme, interested in trying foundation paper piecing, or simply looking for a quilt inspired by classic countryside style, Bluegrass Pastures is a fun and rewarding project to sew.
