CHOOSING YOUR DESIGN
Considerations for your barn quilt design:
- Location
- Size
- Pattern
- Color
Considerations for your barn quilt design:
- Location
- Size
- Pattern
- Color
LOCATION
To be on Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail, your barn quilt needs to be visible from a public road within the towns of Berne, Knox, Rensselaerville, or Westerlo. Your barn quilt can be installed on a barn, farm building, house, garage, business, fence, or post. Be sure the structure will support the weight of the barn quilt, which can be in excess of 100 pounds. This barn quilt is mounted on pressure-treated 2x4s , with one end buried three feet in the ground.
To be on Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail, your barn quilt needs to be visible from a public road within the towns of Berne, Knox, Rensselaerville, or Westerlo. Your barn quilt can be installed on a barn, farm building, house, garage, business, fence, or post. Be sure the structure will support the weight of the barn quilt, which can be in excess of 100 pounds. This barn quilt is mounted on pressure-treated 2x4s , with one end buried three feet in the ground.
SIZE
Your location may determine the size of your barn quilt. Most barn quilts are square, from 3'x3' to 8'x8'. If you want to hang your barn quilt diagonally, or "on point," be sure to allow for the extra length needed. An 8'x8' square is almost 11+1/2' from corner to corner. The barn quilt on this garage is 4'x4' and just fits in the space above the door. The owner preferred placing it on point so the diagonal lines of the frame mimic the sloping roof lines.
Your location may determine the size of your barn quilt. Most barn quilts are square, from 3'x3' to 8'x8'. If you want to hang your barn quilt diagonally, or "on point," be sure to allow for the extra length needed. An 8'x8' square is almost 11+1/2' from corner to corner. The barn quilt on this garage is 4'x4' and just fits in the space above the door. The owner preferred placing it on point so the diagonal lines of the frame mimic the sloping roof lines.
PATTERN
Consider these points when choosing your pattern:
[a] Each color usually needs three coats of paint, so an intricate design like dots or swirls will be challenging to paint.
[b] Straight lines and 45-degree or 90-degree angles are much easier to paint than curves or sharp angles.
Barn quilt patterns come from three sources:
[1] Fabric quilts
[2] Traditional quilt patterns
[3] Original designs
Consider these points when choosing your pattern:
[a] Each color usually needs three coats of paint, so an intricate design like dots or swirls will be challenging to paint.
[b] Straight lines and 45-degree or 90-degree angles are much easier to paint than curves or sharp angles.
Barn quilt patterns come from three sources:
[1] Fabric quilts
[2] Traditional quilt patterns
[3] Original designs
Fabric Quilts
Many of us are fortunate to have family quilts, or memories of family quilts. If you have a photo of a favorite quilt, you may be able to reproduce the pattern of one section or block. If it's a complicated pattern, you may need a barn quilt artist to paint it for you.
This section of Grandmother's Flower Garden features hand quilting and soft blue colors. However, the hexagonal shapes aren't recommended for beginners, as you would need to do a lot of taping. Also, you would want more contrast in colors between the center and the first circle of hexagons, and between the first and second circles of hexagons. Otherwise, from the road, the similar blue colors would "read" like a blue blob.
Many of us are fortunate to have family quilts, or memories of family quilts. If you have a photo of a favorite quilt, you may be able to reproduce the pattern of one section or block. If it's a complicated pattern, you may need a barn quilt artist to paint it for you.
This section of Grandmother's Flower Garden features hand quilting and soft blue colors. However, the hexagonal shapes aren't recommended for beginners, as you would need to do a lot of taping. Also, you would want more contrast in colors between the center and the first circle of hexagons, and between the first and second circles of hexagons. Otherwise, from the road, the similar blue colors would "read" like a blue blob.
Traditional Quilt Patterns
You can find traditional quilt patterns in books at the library, at quilt shows, in quilt shops, from quilters, and in online searches of quilt patterns. Pick a pattern that appeals to you, or pick a pattern for its title or theme. For example, Patterns from History has biblical themes, such as Dove at the Window and Jacob's Ladder. Your design can reflect your work or business, such as Corn and Beans for a farm, but avoid using wording. That turns your barn quilt into a sign, which may be regulated by your municipality.
The above traditional quilt pattern, Storm at Sea, is made of straight lines, but the colors are arranged so that you "see" curves or waves. Click on it and scroll down to see Wilma Lee's Storm at Sea barn quilt.
Learn more about the geometry of quilt design at Quilt Geometry.
You can find traditional quilt patterns in books at the library, at quilt shows, in quilt shops, from quilters, and in online searches of quilt patterns. Pick a pattern that appeals to you, or pick a pattern for its title or theme. For example, Patterns from History has biblical themes, such as Dove at the Window and Jacob's Ladder. Your design can reflect your work or business, such as Corn and Beans for a farm, but avoid using wording. That turns your barn quilt into a sign, which may be regulated by your municipality.
The above traditional quilt pattern, Storm at Sea, is made of straight lines, but the colors are arranged so that you "see" curves or waves. Click on it and scroll down to see Wilma Lee's Storm at Sea barn quilt.
Learn more about the geometry of quilt design at Quilt Geometry.
Original Designs
You may make up your own design. Print out our grids and play with patterns and colors. Barn quilts generally look better with a border to frame the design. Remember, if you choose an intricate or complicated design, you may need help from an artist. Every color needs three coats of paint, and small details require a steady hand and a small paintbrush. Do your best to avoid copyrighted designs.
This original barn quilt shows the owners' barn with some of the animals they raise. Click on it and scroll down to see it installed on the barn.
You may make up your own design. Print out our grids and play with patterns and colors. Barn quilts generally look better with a border to frame the design. Remember, if you choose an intricate or complicated design, you may need help from an artist. Every color needs three coats of paint, and small details require a steady hand and a small paintbrush. Do your best to avoid copyrighted designs.
This original barn quilt shows the owners' barn with some of the animals they raise. Click on it and scroll down to see it installed on the barn.
COLOR
Colors should have high contrast so the design of your barn quilt can be seen by people driving by. It's better to use a light green and a dark green than two medium greens beside each other. And it's better to break up dark colors with light colors. We strongly suggest that you try out colors with markers, crayons, big paint chips, or a computer drawing program. Step back 20 feet and look at the colors--do they contrast well, or do they seem to blend together?
The Double Star above uses a light orange and a darker orange to form the inner star. Notice how the darker orange is on the burgundy star point, while the lighter orange is on the gray (or green) star point. What would this star look like if the owner had reversed the colors?
Colors should have high contrast so the design of your barn quilt can be seen by people driving by. It's better to use a light green and a dark green than two medium greens beside each other. And it's better to break up dark colors with light colors. We strongly suggest that you try out colors with markers, crayons, big paint chips, or a computer drawing program. Step back 20 feet and look at the colors--do they contrast well, or do they seem to blend together?
The Double Star above uses a light orange and a darker orange to form the inner star. Notice how the darker orange is on the burgundy star point, while the lighter orange is on the gray (or green) star point. What would this star look like if the owner had reversed the colors?
Barn Quilt Samples
Below are samples of barn quilts to give you some ideas. Notice the Windmill (second row, third over) reflects light. It was painted with high-gloss paint, which makes it somewhat hard to see on a sunny day. The artist has since switched to a semi-gloss paint. Live and learn.
Below are samples of barn quilts to give you some ideas. Notice the Windmill (second row, third over) reflects light. It was painted with high-gloss paint, which makes it somewhat hard to see on a sunny day. The artist has since switched to a semi-gloss paint. Live and learn.