What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

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 ...

2020 is the year of staying home. It’s the year of sweatpants and old t-shirts and not knowing if I even own makeup anymore. There’s nowhere to go and no one to impress.

But sometimes I just want to feel fancy. I long for sequins and heels and sparkling diamond earrings. I want to see my husband in a well-tailored tux with patent leather shoes and a dapper bow tie. Is that too extreme for ANOTHER movie night at home? I think not! 

This week Jenny is whipping up a quick and easy Bow Tie Party quilt using ...

Do you remember your first cartwheel? It was probably a little wobbly. Maybe you didn’t land on your feet. But chances are, before the recess bell rang, you could cartwheel your way across the playground without stopping!

Jenny is not turning cartwheels this week. (Wouldn’t that be a sight!) But … she IS turning quilt blocks, and that’s even easier! The Simple Squares method of setting quilt blocks on point is so quick and painless, you’ll be turning blocks like a pro in no time!

The Half Hexagon template is no one-trick pony. (Great templates never are!)

Jenny’s Design

For our newest Triple Play tutorial, we’re using that trapezoidal wonder to create sailboats, links, and whirligigs.

Misty’s Design

We’re tackling y-seams and whipping up a friendship braid border.

Natalie’s Design

And at the end of it all, we’ll have 3 unique quilts AND a bonus table runner! I’d say that’s pretty good for a simple hexi ruler! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Have you ever made a disappearing pinwheel block? It’s easy! Simply stitch up a basic pinwheel, slice it to smithereens, rearrange the pieces, and sew it back together!

This week, Jenny is taking things one step further by spreading those lil’ pieces all across the quilt! The Deconstructed Disappearing Pinwheel is an intricate sea of half square triangles, bar blocks, and itty bitty pinwheels—and it all starts with easy-as-pie pinwheels! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

If I asked you to draw a cactus, you’d probably choose the most cactus-y cactus of all, the saguaro. (You know, the tall fella with upstretched arms.) But let’s not forget, there are nearly 2,000 different types of cactus, and we love ‘em all!

This week Jenny is stitching up a desert garden out of 10 inch squares. She’s using several of our favorite templates – orange peels, tumblers, and a cute little petal – to create a dazzling variety of spiny beauties! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Jenny wasn’t always a quilter; she was a costume seamstress! But when she took a class to learn the log cabin block, it was love at first stitch! Before the class was over, she had completed 12 quilts—and she hasn’t slowed down yet!

During those early years, there was one pattern that always seemed too daunting: the dresden.  She finally gave it a try, and guess what? It was an instant favorite! Click HERE to learn how to make a fun variation, Dresden Blooms!

Gardening and quilting are the perfect pair, both producing an amazing result with a little time, effort and patience. Traditionally quilters have always incorporated their surroundings in their blocks, so it’s no wonder as to why so many vintage quilts feature flowers! Check out these five incredible patterns featuring flowers and traditional garden elements!

English Garden

Developing from English landscaping techniques of the 18th century, the style of an English garden is both elegant and structured. The English Garden quilt captures the feel of a beautiful ...

This month’s Triple Play tutorial is a mathematical delight: 3 gals + 3 yards = 3 gorgeous quilts! 

Jenny’s Design

It’s true! Jenny, Misty, and Natalie are whipping up 3 quick and easy quilts.

Misty’s Design

Each of these patterns is from “Modern Views with 3-Yard Quilts” by Donna Robertson for Fabric Cafe.

Natalie’s Design

Click HERE to learn how to make the Jacob’s Ladder, Dominique, and Jigsaw quilts—each from just 3 yards of fabric!

When Henry Ford implemented the assembly line, he cut the production time of the Model T from twelve hours to just two and a half! The car was the same. The parts were the same. But putting it together assembly-style was so much faster!

The same is true in quilting! The Diamond Terrace quilt is made of dozens of little pieces, but they come together lickety-split with chain piecing! Click HERE to learn how to make this quick and easy strip quilt!

Your sewing machine is probably capable of oodles of decorative stitches…but have you ever used them? Now is your chance to take those flowers, hearts, and loop de loos for a spin!

We’re working on a project inspired by Jenny’s favorite antique crazy quilt. And like a traditional crazy quilt, Stars and Stitches is just begging for some fancy stitchin’! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Quilts are an incredible thing. Whether they’re hanging on the wall or tucked safely upon a bed, they add an artistic flair to the room. Clean, colorful quilts with plenty of white space can brighten up the room, but sometimes a darker touch can really add a comfortable and cozy ambiance.

Quilts that utilize bold color choices complimented by black and dark space aren’t just for the Fall season! These beautiful quilts draw attention and focus to the complimenting colors, creating a wonderful effect that makes the designs pop. Check out these five darker quilts and find some ...

The periwinkle plant is so resilient, it can survive extreme heat, drought, pests, you name it! Those pretty little flowers just bloom and bloom—even when life isn’t perfect!

So here’s my new motto: be like a periwinkle! Don’t give up if your stitching isn’t straight! Don’t despair if the seams don’t match up perfectly! Just do your best, and have fun creating your own Stretched Periwinkles with Jenny! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

(Psst! Watch all the way to the end for two bonus projects that are made from the scraps!) 

Have you heard? Once a month, Jenny, Misty, and Natalie combine forces to demonstrate 3 new projects using classic MSQC blocks.

Jenny’s Design

These new Triple Play tutorials are packed with 3x the fun!

Misty’s Design

This week our talented trio is working their magic with the 3D Pinwheel.

Natalie’s Design

Click HERE to learn how to create a texture-rich wall hanging, a colorful pillow, and a patriotic table runner—all with easy 3D Pinwheels!

The tippy tops of the Rocky Mountains are covered with ten feet of snow right now!  But underneath that blanket of white, wildflower seeds wait patiently. And when summer arrives, those mountain peaks will be bursting with blooms!

If you’re like me, you can’t wait till summer; we need flowers today! Click HERE to learn how to create your own Mountain Lily blocks out of 2.5” strips!

February is the perfect time to start dreaming of warm summer days in the sun. When the cabin fever of being cooped up indoors starts to really set it, take that opportunity to begin planning your summer projects! With summer months right around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to begin work on wedding quilts, graduation gifts and those fun projects that make us wish for warmer weather!

Needing some inspiration? Here are some great summer quilting projects that will have you stitching up sunnier days in no time!

The Road Trip Quilt

Document your summer travels and never ...

Andromeda, our next-door-neighbor galaxy, is named after a mythological Greek princess known for incredible beauty. It’s made of 1 trillion stars dancing through space in a massive, brilliant swirl.

While our Brilliant Swirl isn’t quite so epic, it sure is pretty! Learn how to make this quick and easy quilt using your favorite 2.5 inch strips! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Sometimes after the hustle and bustle of holiday clean up and moving directly into Valentine’s Day, we forget to take the time to appreciate ourselves. Quilters are a giving community, we often will move mountains in order to complete a gift for a friend or a donation for a stranger before we take the time to make something for ourselves. No more however! Take a peek at these five great ideas and create something for yourself! Each project is designed to be filled with love to make a special and super comfy addition to your home!

Chunky Knit Cuddle ...

Jenny demonstrates how to make a beautiful Summer Stars picnic quilt using 2.5 inch strips of precut fabric. For this project, Jenny chose “Queen Bee” Batiks 40 Karat Jewels by Wilmington Batiks.

This quilt combines two of our favorite patterns, Summer in the Park and Wonky Stars, and it comes together in a flash with quick and easy strip sets. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

We’re starting a new tradition here at Missouri Star: Triple Play! Once a month, Jenny, Misty, and Natalie will each demonstrate their own, unique take on a classic MSQC pattern.

Jenny’s Design

First up? Wonky Stars! Jenny incorporates those whimsical stars into a tiny-house table runner.

Misty’s Design

Misty goes country-cozy with a big, traditional quilt featuring 4-patch star centers.

Natalie’s Design

Natalie leans modern with a non-block layout featuring big Wonky Stars!

As always, each of these projects is quick, easy, and fun! Click HERE to choose a favorite!