LARNED — For any artist, there is no greater feeling than nailing a masterpiece, whether it’s to the side of the barn or the house, a local restaurant, sports venue or any other large surface area. 

In that thread of thought, aspiring quilt makers are invited to participate in a barn quilt workshop on Saturday, Jan. 30, sponsored by the Pawnee County Extension Office.

So, what exactly is a barn quilt? First, forget the notion of throwing this kind of quilt on the bed or sofa in the living room or den. Think harder. A barn quilt is a fabric quilt pattern painted on exterior grade board material, large enough and bright enough to be seen from a distance.

“It’s a unique piece of artwork you can place on the side of your barn, your house or even on your garage or inside your home,” said Jennifer Webster, Pawnee County family and community wellness agent. “By using straight lines, you can design some very interesting patterns that will grab people’s attention and can make for some interesting conversation pieces. 

“This workshop will focus on the introductory steps of making a barn quilt,” Webster said. “The two-by-two boards will already be primed and participants will be able to pick one of three different patterns for their quilt.”

Webster added that participants will learn how to draw a grid and then add the details from their chosen pattern. “They will then tape off the necessary sections and begin the painting process,” she said.

The Haas Building can fit up to 200 individuals but only a fraction of that number will be able to attend in person, which will make for a smoother effort in practicing social distancing, according to Webster.

“People will be able to have their own workstations since we have a 10-person limit and we will also provide hand-washing stations,” she said, noting that each work station will be sanitized throughout the workshop. “We will also provide a Zoom link in the coming weeks and will also have a board distribution method for those who will not attend the workshop in person.” 

In her time of instructing people in the craft of barn quilt making, Webster has come across some interesting quilt designs.

“Some folks have their barn quilts attached to their barns outside. Others have designed their family logo or their favorite sports teams while others take a more nature-driven approach to their design. There’s really no end to the creativity.”

Webster said the January workshop is not intended to be a competition but more of a beginner’s guide for those who have an interest in making barn quilts but don’t know where or how to start. “Although a future competition event would be interesting,” said Webster. “It could possibly be one of the highlights of our county fair or other community events.”

During the ongoing pandemic, Webster said the barn quilt workshop provides an outlet for people to express themselves creatively in a safe manner.

“I’m really excited to be able to host this workshop, especially during a time when other events have been postponed or canceled,” she said. “Everyone needs a little ‘pick-me-up’ during this time and I hope this will spark some interest and creativity in people who are ready to get out and do some things.” She also said that because of the low number of individuals who will be allowed to attend, it will encourage people to participate and interact with others. 

Her favorite part of hosting the workshop is seeing community members embarking on a new hobby.

“It think this will provide an opportunity for people to try something new,” said Webster. “Doing something new like this can feel a little intimidating at first because these projects take a some time to complete. But I think a lot of folks like to be challenged and that should spark some interest.”

Barn quilts originated in Adams County, Ohio in 2001 when Donna Sue Groves set out to honor her mother, Maxine, and her quilt art by painting a quilt block on her tobacco barn. The craft became an instant hit and spread to other regions in the Midwest.

“It really started as a way to memorialize deceased loved ones,” said Webster. “But it began to evolve and expand into a hobby that grew into something more than just honoring family members.”

She said the fun and difficulty of a project depends largely on the complexity of a chosen pattern. “I created a barn quilt a few months ago and it involved six different colors. From start to finish, it took about four to five hours to complete. But again, this workshop is for beginners so we are encouraging folks not to use more than four colors. The more colors you have, the more taping and dry time is required.”