#QUILTBLOCKMANIA - Barn Quilts

Written By Emily Maxwell

Barn Quilts! If you have ever seen one, you know what I am talking about.

Geometric designs, many times traditional quilt blocks, painted on wood (or directly on the barn/building) to add some artistic character. Just how did this get started?

American Barn Quilts can be traced back almost 300 years. They are believed to have started with the arrival of immigrants from central Europe to Pennsylvania. While originally being an artistic display, barn quilts quickly became used as landmarks as well. Locals used the different barn quilts as directional points to guide travelers to their intended destination.

During the 20th century, the display of barn quilts decreased as the opportunity for advertisement was realized. Have you “SEEN ROCK CITY?” Haha. Being from Tennessee, the “See Rock City” barns were a staple!

In recent years, the barn quilts have become more popular again, with many states starting “trails” - a map with all the different barn quilts in a relatively close proximity to drive around and see. A few trails in in Tennessee are the Appalachian Quilt Trail; the Appalachian RC&D Trail and the Southern Middle Tennessee RC&D Trail.

I love that this month’s theme was barn quilts, as I have always had a love for barn quilts. I chose a traditional style block highlighting pinwheels, which I call Prairie Winds. The block is 12” x 12” when finished. I have also written a new quilt pattern called Milan that uses a larger 24” x 24” version of the same block. Watch for it to release in my shop a little later this month.

Make sure you check out all the other great blocks this month. This would truly make a fantastic sampler quilt!! And remember, all the blocks are FREE this month!!

Follow along here:

Emily Maxwell
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