Just recently joined this site from Iowa...mainly because I would like to have information on how to construct a quilt block to display on a barn or shed. I'm looking for step by step instructions. Anyone out there that can help me? I would appreciate any & all information.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!!
Hopefully someone here can help you.

Welcome!
I am by no means, an expert... but my thought would be to paint it on plywood and then mount it on the barn. I am sure there are experienced people who can guide you better than I.

Greetings from Seattle

Try googling barn quilts. You should get some info or contacts.

We have beeen travelling extensively in the US and Canada and many++++++barns have quilt blocks on them and the majority that I have seen have been painted right on the barn. I did see one that appeared to be on wood and then mounted on the barn.

Here's a whole blog of barn quilt blocks.
http://cre8tivequilter.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Welcome from Kentucky!

Hi, welcome from Minnesota!

Hello and welcome from TN

Welcome! Here is a link to a barn quilt community project in my area ...
http://wardsvillebarnquilts.wordpress.com/learn/how-to/

Hi from Kentucky where it is very cold and snowy right now. :D

Welcome from NC!

Hello and welcome to the board from Florida pab

Welcome from Ohio!

What part of Iowa are you in? I am in SE Iowa.

Welcome from Kentucky! The barn quilt blocks are very popular around here where I live.

One of the quilting shows had a blurb on this subject. Think it was E. Burns. Anyway, they showed someone somewhere making a barn quilt. They used 2 full sheets of plywood to make the bloxk 8' square. It was painted on the ground, then hoisted up into place. They had mounted something on the barn in which to screw the whole thing together. They used a cherry picker to get the boards up.

Sorry I can't be of more hels, but E. Burns has a book out on barn quilts, so maybe there's something in them about these. You could also try to Bing it!

Here's a link to E-how on how to make a barn quilt

http://www.ehow.com/how_5619714_make-barn-quilts.html

Welcome from IN!!

As an amateur wood worker, I'd suggest that you think of weather proof paint, and weather proofing the wood you use first of all.

I'd sand the wood first and put some sort of sealer on the ends all around it, then each time I put some on the front and back I'd add more to the ends, which wick up moisture faster than the flat wood does. Please don't ask how I learned this the hard way and ruined a good project.
First primer, remember that house paint is made just for weathering and would probably last a longer time than inside paints. Sand and fill any holes, like you were doing furniture or walls. If you want to be meticulous about it, then prime it again. My late DH was fussy as all get out, but his work lasted!!
Then you can start in with the marking and painting. But the first thing always is to weather proof it.
I just might make some smaller ones for our closed back yard garage, never thought to do something like that. It'll cheer up the yard in the dull winter time.

HI from Kentucky...We have lots of Barn Quilts here. The county extension offices here sell the barn quilt kits..they are 4- 4x4 panels and last I heard was $75. I am going to make a mini barn quilt for our shed next spring...it's visible from the front and would show our love of quilting.

Hi from Ohio!

Leave it to a Minnesotan to know this. Google barnquilts.com. You can get information there. Also Sac County, Iowa is known for their barn quilts. Hoped that helped. I would like to have one for over the door on our garage. Edie

All the barn quilts that I have seen displayed are painted on plywood, either 6' or 8' square. They are then mounted on the barn. My LQS dealer painted 3 and placed them on the outside of her shop.

Google "barn quilts" and check out the information. Sac County Iowa has an extensive page (barnquilts.com) with information on how to make them as well as lots of ideas.

My sister and I did one for their barn last summer. We used 3/4 inch plywood, primed, painted, stenciled design, painted some more and eventually had a neat quilt block to go on their barn.

You should take a look at Craft Town Fabrics there pre cuts are always 20% off...always

Welcome!

If you mount it on wood, you could do several and change them with the seasons, etc.! Good luck with your project.

I believe that most of those are painted on wood, then mounted...good luck, that is a fun project! And Welcome to the board!

I was at a retreat in Oct. and we had a speaker about Barn Quilts. They used OMD boards, used in making billboards. Painted with Marine (for boats) and Marine varnish to seal them. I would think treated outdoor plywood would work. I have a friend that has one and it is mounted on 2 X 4's then hung on the barn with brackets. I want to make one too. will have to wait for spring. too cold to paint outside right now.

Merry Christmas to all

Welcome! I know you will find just the right info on our board!

Attached is a PDF I found online with all the instructions you will need.

What a great idea!! Thanks for the web site. We just built a 2 car garage with a small door in the peak. I will paint a quilt block on it.

Mim

And a hardy welcome from a fellow Iowan!

I googled this at one time and did find some instructions -- just don't remember where. If I recall correctly, they were using two 4X8 sheets of plywood, mounted side by side, painted with multiple layers of paint. If it were me, I'd also finish off with several coats of some type of clear waterproof finish. You know what the weather in Iowa is like. It will take a beating out there!

Welcome form Arkansas!

Welcome from NH

http://barnquilting.ning.com/

lots of info if you use the search feature at the top of the page here on the board!

WElcome from Michigan. After looking at the web site with the barn quilts, I wish I had a barn.....maybe I could use it to store fabric.