What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Mastering a new quilt block is like learning to ride a bike. You may feel a bit intimidated. Your uncertainty might cause a few wobbly stitches. 

Then, just like magic, you’re soaring across the fabric without a care in the world, cranking out quilt blocks like a pro! 

This week, Jenny is working on a modern black and white asterisk quilt, and just you wait and see! Once you’ve conquered those first few seams, you can ride off into the sunset with a trail of beautiful quilt blocks in your wake! 

Click HERE to watch the Ditto quilt ...

You probably know John Adams as a Founding Father of the United States. But did you know he was also a fantastic party planner? It’s true! (Well, kinda…)

When independence was officially declared, John Adams wrote: “[This day] will be the most memorable in the history of America. It ought to be [celebrated] with pomp and parade, games, sports, and [fireworks] forever more.” His 4th of July plans were so much fun, we’ve celebrated John Adams-style for 245 years! 

But there’s just one thing Mr. Adams forgot: Quilts! Every good holiday needs quilts!

This week, Jenny is ...

The first time Jenny Doan made a self-binding baby quilt, her husband was skeptical. “I’m pretty sure this isn’t going to work, dear…”

Undaunted, Jenny replied, “Just you watch!” And guess what? It did work, and it was fab-u-lous!

Over the years, Jenny’s Self-Binding Baby Blanket tutorial has been watched millions of times. (Imagine all the babies who have been wrapped in those sweet little quilts ...

Did you know today is National Walnut Day? Of course you did, who could ever forget such a major holiday! We here at Missouri Star Quilt Co. are big fans of this special day because walnuts can be your new best friend when it comes to quilting and sewing! Crushed walnut shells are often used as stuffing material for pincushions because, not only do they hold their shape and make a great pincushion, the oil from the walnut shells has restorative properties that keep our needles sharp.

So grab some fabric from ...

The night sky is an ocean of glittering stars. Have you ever tried to count them? In our galaxy alone, there are 100 billion, and we plan to quilt at least that many! 

Over the years, Jenny has stitched up stars galore. This week, she’s adding one more to the bunch.

The Outstanding Star is a quick and easy layer cake pattern made in a patriotic palette of red, white and blue batiks.

Does your family have football traditions? Here in Hamilton, Missouri we love to celebrate our favorite Kansas City football team and we are so excited to see them bringing more attention to the great state of Missouri once again. Whether your family goes to the backyard to throw around the pig skin or serves up an incredible halftime meal, we hope that you have a chance to enjoy your festivities of choice safely!

For those of us looking to make changes this year and celebrate smaller, there are still ...

In the “olden days”, little girls learned to sew at a very young age. Their tiny hands were trained to stitch up four patches, hourglasses, and shooflies—all without rulers, rotary cutters, or even sewing machines!

This week, Jenny is using those same old-fashioned beginner blocks to whip up a dazzling Sunshine Shoofly quilt. And like all our favorite patterns, this super-simple layer cake quilt looks SO much trickier than it really is! Click HERE to watch the video! 

I’ll always remember 2020 as the year we stayed home. We wore stretchy pants. We watched movies. We sewed and sewed and sewed (and sewed). And, we baked A LOT of banana bread. 

Jenny’s Design

Some days were boring; some were lonely. But through it all, I’ve felt grateful for the peace and safety of these four old walls. Dorothy was right, there’s no place like home.

Natalie’s Design

For this month’s Triple Play tutorial, Jenny and the gals used Daisy & Grace’s tiny house quilt-as-you-go templates to make a garland, a pillow, and ...

Can you imagine enduring winter in ancient Scandinavia? No electricity. No furnace. No corner grocery store. Just weeks and weeks of darkness, cold, and scarcity. 

During the darkest part of winter, my own Swedish ancestors adorned evergreen wreaths with white candles to celebrate Yule, or midwinter. The evergreen boughs symbolized resilience in harsh conditions; the candles, hope for the warmth and light of spring. 

3,000 years later, I think we can all use a touch of hope, so we’re whipping up a quick and easy Hourglass Wreath quilt. This simple layer cake pattern comes together in a jiffy ...

With May right around the corner, there’s no better time to create a beautiful Mother’s Day quilt than the present! Many of us learned to sew from our mothers and grandmothers, but even if you didn’t, take some time this spring to celebrate those who helped raise us. Mothers and quilters are an incredible and caring people. Wrap mom in love this season with one of our five favorite Mother’s Day quilts!

May Day Baskets

The month of May starts off strong with the celebration of May Day! Traditionally, May Day baskets are full of freshly ...

A pixel quilt is just a charm quilt, really. The only trick is planning the layout. Luckily, Robert Kaufman did all the figuring for the Pixelated Heart Quilt, and you can download the pattern for free! 

Watch Jenny whip up this pretty project. It’s so quick and easy, she finishes the entire top during the video! (Bonus: You’ll also get a quick lesson on perfecting your ¼” seam!)

Getting organized to start your new year off fresh is an important step in making the most out of your quilting. A clear work space promotes not only creativity, but motivation to finish that UFO that’s been sitting in the corner since last New Year’s! After your room is tidy and all your fabrics are neatly labeled, what can be done with the stash of scraps that you’ve been stockpiling?

Here are some great quilt ideas to utilize that growing pile of scraps:

String Quilt

Piece together all those extra scraps to make a String Quilt. In ...

My favorite bouquet wasn’t roses or orchids; it was a tiny bunch of clover blossoms gathered by a very special four-year-old. (Oh, how I wished those flowers could last forever!)

This week Jenny is stitching up a bouquet that will bloom for years to come. She starts with simple 9-patches made of half-square triangles—nothing too fancy. But just wait! The real magic happens when they’re set on point! Click HERE to watch!