Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Do you actually hang fabric quilts on barns? No, that wouldn’t work for a lot of reasons including the deterioration of the fabric due to weather.
  2. What is a Barn Quilt? A barn quilt is really a short name for a quilt block pattern painted on thin, coated aluminum sign material and mounted with screws on a barn.
  3. What does it cost to have a barn quilt? The costs of our barn quilts are listed on our “Get Involved” page. Depending on the size of the barn and how far away it is from a public road, the block may be smaller or larger. The locations committee will make a site visit and determine the appropriate size for the barn.
  4. How long will the block last? We use both a high quality outdoor sign material and outdoor paint that should last at least 10 years.
  5. How can I have a barn quilt if I don’t have a barn? You can sponsor (pay) for a block and we will try to match the block pattern to a barn owner in the County.
  6. Why would someone want to sponsor a quilt block if they don’t have a barn? People sponsor blocks for many reasons including in memory or honor of someone, as a gift, or just because they love and want to support this project.
  7. What if I have a barn but don’t want to pay for a block, can I still have one? Your barn may be a candidate for a sponsored block that needs a home. We’ll make every effort to match you up with a sponsor of a block.
  8. How do I know if my barn will qualify for a quilt block? We have the criteria on this web site for you to see prior to filling out an application. If our Locations Committee sees any possible problem during their site visit, you will be contacted to try to work that out.
  9. Do I have to put the block up myself? No, though you can. If you would like to help that would be great but we have experience putting them on barns and want to make sure it is mounted safely and securely.
  10. Who owns the blocks? The Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County owns the blocks.
  11. What happens to the block if I sell my farm or the barn? The new owner must agree with our criteria and want to keep the block. We will write a new agreement with the new owner. Otherwise, the block will be removed and stored until a new home can be found.
  12. Who chooses the block pattern? The sponsor chooses. The sponsor could also be the barn owner. Most barn owner sponsors use a pattern that is a favorite quilt pattern of the family or one that has a theme that fits the farm.
  13. What if I don’t know what pattern I should have? We have a Block Committee who will gladly help you find a pattern. They have access to thousands of quilt blocks and can search by color, theme, or type of pattern such as pieced or appliquéd. Just tell us you want help and we’ll make some suggestions for you to choose from.
  14. Who paints the blocks? A group of volunteers paint the blocks based on an approved design.
  15. What if I don’t like it after it’s painted? We certainly don’t want that to happen, so you will first see an electronic and/or paper sample of the pattern and paint chips for the colors. Once you say ok, it will then be painted by the volunteers.
  16. How long does it take to get a block? There isn’t a quick answer to that question. We have a process to go through which all takes a little time. You can find that process on the “Our Process” page of this web site.
  17. Can any pattern be used? Yes, as long as it is not copyrighted or legally protected in some way. That’s part of our process – to make sure the pattern is freely available to use.

Have a question that wasn’t answered here?  Contact us.