Texas QAL

Welcome to the Fort Worth Fabric Studio blog!  

Today we are going to show you how to make this Texas Longhorn block, but before we get to that, we thought we would share some things about Fort Worth, Texas! 

It's our turn to showcase Fort Worth on the great Texas Quilt Along!    We'd love to share some great points of interest about our fabulous city - part of the "metroplex" (Dallas-Fort Worth)!   All the information below was taken directly from the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Stockyards National Historic District 

A visit to Fort Worth is not complete without seeing the famed Stockyards National Historic District. It looks much the same today as it did 100 years ago. In fact, the entire 15-block area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Catch the Fort Worth Herd, the world’s only daily cattle drive, on its twice-daily trip down Exchange Avenue. 

The authentically restored Grapevine Vintage Railroad carries visitors into Stockyards Station, the former hog-and-sheep pens turned shopping-entertainment-and-dining marketplace.

The Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Fort Worth Convention Center, which recently underwent a $75-million expansion, occupy what was once Hell’s Half Acre, a brothel- and saloon-packed district where cowhands had their last bit of fun before heading out on the Chisholm Trail.  (image courtesy of James Brandon Photography).

The Fort Worth Zoo, ranked as a top five zoo in the nation, is known worldwide for its collection and natural habitat exhibits that replicate animals’ homes in the wild. The popular Texas Wild! exhibit, a major addition to the Zoo that showcases the diversity of Texas wildlife and terrain.

Major-league auto racing has captivated Fort Worth with Texas Motor Speedway (TMS), the second-largest sports and entertainment facility in the country. Throughout the year, the superspeedway plays host to NASCAR and IRL IndyCar races, plus other major forms of American auto racing. The 1.5-mile oval track is set within a stadium that accommodates more than 200,000 fans. Come April 2014, fans will receive an up-close-and-personal view from any seat in the house as TMS reveals the world’s largest high-definition video board nicknamed Big Hoss. The board is 79 percent larger than the Dallas Cowboys screen at AT&T Stadium.  (image courtesy of Have Retirement. Will Travel. Blog)

Now, on to the inspiration of our Longhorn Quilt Block!  

The Texas Longhorn and the American cowboy are two of the most enduring symbols of the Old West. They're a big reason why Fort Worth earned the nickname "Cowtown." And they formed the core of the great cattle drives of the late nineteenth century.

Let's get started on the block! 

Supplies needed:

PDF Longhorn template HERE
1-- 8.5" x 8.5" square in background fabric
Small scraps for longhorn pieces
10" x 10" square of fusible web

 Step 1: Start by printing off your PDF template.  Cut out template then trace onto a thicker material to make your template.  I just used a piece of card stock.  

Step 2:  Iron your fusible web onto your scraps of fabric for your longhorn and star.  Make sure your pieces are big enough for the templates you cut out:

Step 3:  Trace your template onto the back of your fusible web. 

Step 4: Carefully cut our your pieces:

Step 5:  Place pieces onto your background fabric, make sure you leave a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around.  Once you have them in the correct positions, remove the paper backing and iron them in place.  

Step 6:  Stitch around your pieces.  You can hand stitch, or machine stitch around your longhorn now,  or you can wait to stitch until you are ready to quilt your entire quilt. 

This longhorn block was inspired by this image.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about Fort Worth!