by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — After Wellington Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Annarose White, attended a fun barn quilt class in Harper County, she came back with ideas. A group formed together and brainstormed and now there are barn quilt classes offered in this area.

“I thought it would be a really fun class,” White said.

Harper County Sunflower RC&D, which is headed up by Dollie Mathes, services an eight county area, and were helping promote the barn quilt initiative.

“Others had seen them in Cowley and other counties,” White said. “We got together and asked Sunflower RC&D if we could host a class. We helped assist people, and Dollie told us how we could put together our own class and have our own supplies. We followed her directions.”

Although its name may imply quilting, barn quilting is actually a painting class. A quilt block is painted on a piece of board, and then attached to a barn, old elevator, etc. for a very unique and classy look. Although sizes vary, they usually average about eight feet tall.

Most barn quilts are made of simple geometric shapes, like squares, rectangles and triangles, which makes them easier to create. Usually, they are painted in solid colors, but once awhile you will see one that looks like printed fabric.

An average class is about 20 people participating, which is a fantastic turn out, White said. White said that a quilt can be made from any quilt block. They also encourage people to draw the barn quilt on graph paper before they start.

“We are actively looking for classroom/workshop space in Mulvane, Conway Springs and Belle Plaine to teach a barn quilt class,” White said.

Sumner County is also now listed on the Kansas Barn Quilt Trail.

There is an upcoming barn quilt class that will be held in Caldwell on Feb. 20 at the Sumner County Fair building at 120 N. Chisholm.

“The pricing for the barn quilt classes are at cost so we can encourage more barn quilts to be made,” White said. “And it’s tricky for people to try and paint a barn quilt on their own, because it can be difficult to find MDO board.”

To set up a class, contact Annarose White at the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce office.

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