What is a Barn Quilt Trail?
How Barn Quilts Began
Donna Sue Groves, in an effort to honor her mother, Maxine, as well as her Appalachian heritage, developed the concept of a Barn Quilt. She painted a quilt square onto a wood board and hung it on her barn in Adams County, Ohio. She did a lot of idea sharing for a long while until the idea finally became a reality. The first “Barn Quilt” was hung in 2001 in Ohio…now, you can find barn quilts in at least 48 states and Canada.
What is a Barn Quilt?
You will find “Barn Quilts” hanging on barns, but you will also find them hanging on people’s homes, businesses, garages, government buildings, and more. As a part of our Newberry Country Quilt Trail, we have plans to include them at Historical Sites around our County that have no buildings. You will have to check back for how that plays out.
The majority of Barn Quilts are made from a large piece of painted wood. Here in Newberry, our group agreed that they may also be made of other materials like metal or plastic. You will find quilts that measure 2’x2’, 3’x3’, 4’x4’, and even some smaller hanging from mailboxes. The size is designed to fit the location and make them easy to see from a distance.
Do you have to be a quilter?
While Barn Quilts usually include a traditional quilt block design, they don’t have to. For our Newberry County Quilt Trail, we intentionally decided that our quilts may fit in four categories.
Traditional: A traditional quilt square that has been around for years. It may be done in more modern colors, however.
Modern: There is a modern movement in quilting that started with the Modern Quilt Guild. A modern quilt block is still a shape found in a quilt, but a modern quilt.
Art: Art quilts are a form of quilting that allows for a different type of expression. They use a number of quilting techniques including, traditional piecing, foundation paper piecing, and raw edge applique. In an Art Quilt, the viewer may also find paint and webbing, or other materials to help the artist express their design. Often “thread painting” is used to help provide texture.
Cultural: The Newberry County Quilt Trail group recognizes that while we all live in the same county, we all have a rich history, diversity, and culture as individuals. We also recognize that different cultures have different forms of fiber and thread art that are custom to them. In an effort to lift up this diversity and honor the many cultures in Newberry County, we have also created a category specifically for cultural barn quilts for our trail.
While knowing a quilter is helpful for determining what you want on your own barn quilt, it isn’t necessary to be a quilter to have your own. If you would like to have a barn quilt to tell your story or honor someone you love, first think about the quilts in your own home or in their home. What memories do you have of being wrapped up with your grandmother on a winter day reading a book? Let your memories and your story be your guide to determining the barn quilt that is right for your location.
Some Well Known Quilt Trails in the Southeast
As a Quilt Trail in the Southeast, we want to share some other popular Quilt Trails so you can make a vacation of it.
South Carolina: The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail
North Carolina: The Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina
Georgia: The Southern Quilt Trail
Tennessee: The Upper Cumberland Quilt Trail
Mississippi: The Oktibbeha County Barn Trail
Kentucky: The Boone County Quilt Trail
Some Well Known Quilt Trails Outside the Southeast
Missouri: The Boonslick Area Quilt Trail
Texas: The Terry County Quilt Trail
Colorado: The Colorado Classic Quilt Trail
Visit Newberry County Quilt Trail
As of today, October 25th, 2021, we are working to get our first quilts made and hung. If you are as excited as we are, subscribe below to learn more. If you live in Newberry County, South Carolina, and you’d like to submit your own barn quilt, click the link here. We look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead.