Barn Quilts Appearing Through the County

On Oct. 22, volunteers hung Washington Island’s first barn quilt on the barn of Irvin Goodlet.

Barn quilt projects have spread to 27 states across America. Seven Wisconsin counties, including most recently Door County, feature the installations that grew from a simple concept to honor quilters and agriculture while highlighting the beauty of rural areas.

In the first round of Door County’s project, ten 8’ x 8’ plywood squares were painted with colorful quilt block patterns. The patterns were selected by barn owners, who often selected colors that have personal meaning or significance, sometimes representing their cultural heritage. Volunteers (4-H youth and leaders, quilt guild members, FFA volunteers, and others) drafted, painted, and installed the quilt blocks at no cost to the owner.

On October 22, with a lift truck donated by Tom Jordan and operated by Tim Ervin, volunteers hung Washington Island’s first barn quilt on the barn of Irvin Goodlet.

Volunteers hope to hang ten more barn quilts this fall on barns in Sister Bay, Jacksonport, rural Sturgeon Bay, and Southern Door.

Volunteers plan to create a “Door County Barn Quilt Calendar” for 2012, along with postcards, to support the project.

For more information contact Pam Peterson at the Door County UW-Extension office at 920.746.2260.