QA

How To Frame A Barn Quilt

Do you seal barn quilts?

Do not put a sealer or varnish on the barn quilt. Varnish will turn the colors yellow, and a sealer of any kind will prevent retouching, which you may want to do at some point. Mounting: Mounting the barn quilt is not included in this guideline.

What kind of wood do you use for a barn quilt?

Just about any type of plywood can be used for making a barn quilt, but you will get the best results out of working with a smooth surfaced plywood, like signboard. If you can’t get a signboard, then a sanded softwood plywood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) will work almost as good.

What do you seal a barn quilt with?

All my Barn Quilts are finally sealed with a water-based Protective Sealer. This is the final step to making your American Garden Barn Quilt weather resistant. I don’t use any type of polyurethane as this can discolor your barn quilt over time.

Why are quilt patterns painted on barns?

Barn quilts began as a way to honor a loved one with a gorgeous piece of folk art. In Adams County, Ohio, in 2001, Donna Sue Groves set out to honor her mother, Maxine, and her quilt art by painting a quilt block on her tobacco barn. The idea was a hit, and soon friends and neighbors wanted painted quilts of their own.

What does a quilt square mean on a barn?

Some of the squares, like Groves’, are created to honor or remember a quilter. Parron related the story of one woman who created a barn quilt in the Dutch doll design that had special meaning for her mother.

What do you need to make a barn quilt?

Supplies used: pressure treated plywood (cut to 4′ square in store, or whatever size you choose to make your barn quilt) 2×4’s to brace the back for hanging. L-brackets. outdoor marine paint in colors of choice (they’ll tint it in-store for you) paint brushes and rollers in various sizes. painter’s tape (optional).

What size are barn quilts?

Many traditional barn quilts are eight-foot squares, but the space available on my barn wasn’t quite so big. I scaled down so that my quilt was built upon a 4′ x 4′ piece of 1/4” plywood base, and planed 1×8 pine boards.

How do you hang a barn quilt on brick?

For concrete block or brick walls use a concrete drill bit and concrete sleeve anchors. For mounting on a Recreational Vehicle (or mounting a small barn quilt on your porch or gate) attach exterior double stick Velcro on the surface and on the back of the block so the block can be removed when the vehicle is in motion.

Can you use acrylic paint on barn quilts?

Materials. 1 piece Plywood or beadboard cut to 4′ by 4′ Or any size you want, square recommended. Several colors of paint Leftover house paint works, acrylic craft paint also works fine – you will be surprised at how little paint it takes really.

How much do barn quilts cost?

3. What does it cost to have a barn quilt? The average cost is $350 which is for an 8′ X 8′ block. Depending on the size of the barn and distance from a public road, the block may be smaller or larger.

What states have barn quilt trails?

An emerging concept, a U.S. national quilt trail that first spread across Ohio now includes barn quilts in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,.

What is the Appalachian Quilt Trail?

The Appalachian Quilt Trail boasts more than 130 quilt barns. Headquartered in Rutledge, it stretches some 300 miles across 19 counties, piecing together farm stands, art galleries, and small businesses from Englewood in McMinn County to Kyles Ford in Hancock County.

What are the geometric shapes on barns?

Barn Quilts are simple geometric shapes (quilt blocks from quilting patterns) that are painted on wood and hung on buildings. Although most are traditionally displayed on barns, they can be and are hung on various buildings including homes, cabins, yard barns and even stores.

What is the meaning of a star on a barn?

Also known as primitive stars, these metal stars are common in farming settlements with German heritage and they’re believed to bring good luck. Like the superstition of hanging a horseshoe on a barn, the history of the barn star began as an attempt to ward off evil.

Who started the barn quilt?

Barn Quilts Started with Donna Sue Groves in 2001. Contrary to common myth, Donna Sue was not a renown Amish quilter from generations past, but a contemporary quilter in Adams County, Ohio. Donna Sue, being the sweetheart she was, wanted to create a project to honor her mother, Maxine, and her Appalachian heritage.

What is the best size for a barn quilt?

Since a sheet of plywood is 4′ x 8′, the Columbia County barn quilts are primarily 8 feet square, which is a nice size for most barns. For an 8-foot barn quilt, volunteers design a 3-inch border around the outside edge of the quilt.

What kind of paint is best for barn quilts?

Paint – Outdoor house paint works really well for barn quilts. It’s meant to be outdoors and should hold up to the sun, rain, wind and snow. It’s also thick enough to fill in any gaps in the plywood. I had small sample jars made in my colors and I had about half a jar of each left at the end.

Who makes barn quilts in Iowa?

Wayne & Maxine Fitkin Wayne and Maxine Fitkin are the owners of this Century Farm at 6804 Fitkin Road in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Wayne and his sons, Steve and Jim, farm the land and wanted to honor those family members who farmed the land before them by making the three barn quilts.

Where did barn quilts originate?

They can be seen on a few barns in Central Minnesota, but they originated in Pennsylvania, where they are a symbol of Pennsylvania-Dutch farmers. History tells us they were brought from the Rhineland to America by Mennonite and other German farmers in the 17th century.

What is the purpose of a quilt trail?

The purpose of a Quilt Trail is to celebrate the heritage of quilt making and honor the pioneer women who began the long tradition of quilting. The first Quilt Trail was initiated in Ohio in 2001 and there are now Quilt Trails in 43 US states and 3 Canadian provinces.