NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

How to make a DIY barn quilt

by

I’ve been planning to make a barn quilt since we first took down the old barn to rebuild on our property (in 2012).

What can I say? It takes a long time to see some of my plans come to fruition.

How to create a modern barn quilt5

But oh … I think it was worth the wait.

How to create a modern barn quilt1

Come ON? I’m doing a happy dance just looking at pictures. It’s like that little barn quilt was meant to live on our barn. I want to make 100 more.

I started doing research on barn quilts late last year. Since I’m a (novice) quilter, I love the idea of hanging a quilt square on our barn. It feels very rural Americana and I love that you can choose a square that tells a story. (Read more about the history of barn quilts at Barn Quilt Info. And check out the interactive barn quilt tour map.)

To decide on the quilt square to use, I checked out a few books on barn quilts from the library last fall. Ryan and I narrowed the options down of quilt patterns and finally settled on the Ohio Star. (This photo is from Lewis Mountain Herb, as shown in the book Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement.)

SCAN0009

We liked the classic look of this square. I choice navy, grey and white to play off the red barn.

How to create a modern barn quilt6

Here’s how I made our version:

  1. Ryan cut a piece of plywood to about 38″x38″. (In my barn quilt research, I found that the standard size is a 8 ft. square. But you can choose any size that works for your space. The world according to Kim.) I painted the square with exterior Behr Premium Plus Ultra in Ultra Pure White as a base. (This is the color I use on all exterior white trim so I had plenty on hand.)

How to make a barn quilt1

2. I wanted to have a frame of white along the edges, so I taped off the sides at about 1 inch with painters tape. (I found it easiest to use a quilter’s ruler for this.)How to make a barn quilt2

3. Then I used a pencil and ruler to split the board into thirds. (Each third was about 12 inches wide.) Using the inspiration photo above as a guide, I created the design. (The Ohio Star is really simple. Big bonus.)How to make a barn quilt3

I created this super fancy, totally to-scale outline of the block with the colors. I know you are probably thinking I should be a graphic designer. Not.

Ohio Block

4. Now it’s just like paint by numbers. I started with the blue – Behr Starless Night. (Instead of bothering with painter’s tape, I just used a detail brush for edges and a larger brush for the center.)
How to make a barn quilt4

5. Then I added the grey – Behr Elephant Skin. After all the painting was done, I just pulled off the painter’s tape around the edges to show the white.How to make a barn quilt5

I thought it would be fun to add our name to the star, since we’re going to make this barn our home soon. I cut it from white vinyl on my Silhouette and applied with transfer tape. Ryan wasn’t sure about adding the vinyl – he thought it wasn’t traditional enough. But, in the end, we both liked the addition.

How to create a modern barn quilt6

After installing the barn quilt, I brought out this old ladder that belonged to Ryan’s grandpa to display near the barn quilt. It’s covered in paint and old and chippy and I adore it. Just the way it is. How to create a modern barn quilt2

The planters are made from cans I upcycled from the DQ. How to create a modern barn quilt3

In the end, the quilt square feels at home on our 100-year-old barn. And it’s modernized and Woodwardized with our monogram.How to create a modern barn quilt5

 

Like it? Put a pin on it.

Comments

  4. How many coats of paint did you use? Some sites say 4 coats of base primer and 4 of each color for exterior use. That’s a lot of paint. Since yours has held up, I would like to know how many coats you used.

    • I just did one base primer coat and a few coats of paint. I figured I could always touch up later since it’s not high. If it was going higher, I may have done more coats and finished with a poly, just because getting up on a ladder to touch up sounds like a nightmare. Best of luck!

  6. Hi Kim,
    I love the addition of the vinyl letters. Are they weather resistant? How do they not fall off after a rain?
    Great job.
    Ann

    • I used permanent outdoor vinyl and it’s held up well for the two years I added it. And we live in a windy, harsh weather area (just part of being out in the middle of nowhere.) So I’d say if they work here, they’d work anywhere.

      Thanks for the comment!

  8. This is such a cool idea! LOVE IT. I don’t have a barn or anywhere to hang one if I did make it….maybe I should consider moving….or building a barn. 🙂 It was wonderful being part of the Elements of Summer tour with you ~ have a fabulous week.

    • Thanks so much, Allison! It’s fun to be part of a bit of a Midwestern Tradition. I’m having to contain myself from making a hundred of them. Too fun.

  10. You learn something new everyday, until today (as I was catching up on my blog reading!!!) I had never heard of a barn quilt. Love it! Well done. And I think the personalization adds such a great touch.

    • I’m so surprised that this is new to so many people. I think it may be a Midwestern thing. According to the Internet (which must be true), it started in Ohio.

  11. This is AWESOME! I’ve never heard of a barn quilt, but what a lovely idea! You chose just the right colors to go with your red barn. You’ve got yourself a wonderful slice of Americana now!

  12. BEAUTIFUL, Kim! LOVE it! Ok… so funny story… my dad’s assistant gave him a barn quilt for their barn for Christmas. My mom was telling me this story and I assuming it was a real quilt that people hung on their barn. (Ummmm can you say #dumbblonde) So I ask my mom, “Geez, that’s neat… but what do you do when it rains?” And she looked at me oddly. Then I realized that all these neat wooden squares with the designs were called barn quilts. LIGHTBULB moment! 🙂

    Love that ladder, too!

  17. I just recently started following barn quilts too. Your “W” and the est. date are wonderful additions. I’m sure it will be loved for generations to come!!

  20. Oh so AMAZING!!!!!! Thanks so much for the tutorial!! I will try and make one for my Dad’s birthday! He’s going to love it!

  25. Such a great idea! It’s traditional but it’s really graphic too which makes it feel so modern to me! I like the addition of the vinyl too. Bravo to you!

  36. What an absolutely delightful idea! We live in the heart of Amish country and I am used to seeing barn signs! I’ll have to make one for our farmhouse too! Thanks for the summer inspiration!!! xo

  37. I am absolutely in love with this. It looks great, can’t wait to see it in person.

  39. Wow- this is such a fun project!! I love it- nice work. I think the vinyl is such a fun addition too. I know many quilters (and non-quilters) who would love this!! 🙂