Big Spools Quilt

Big Spools Quilt by Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company.

Jenny Doan’s family tree is stitched with needle and thread. 

Look back two generations, and you’ll find a pair of great aunts, master seamstresses who traveled from Sweden to work for the acclaimed New York artist, George Inness. 

They stitched and saved to pay passage to America for the entire family–including Jenny’s grandmother, who was just seven years old at the time. 

Big Spools Quilt by Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company.

Jenny says, “When I see these spools, I am reminded that sewing is part of my genetic makeup; it changed our family forever!” 

This week, Jenny is stitching up a beautiful Big Spools quilt in honor of all who truly love sewing. And you guessed it: This quilt is quick, easy, and “sew” de-light-ful! 

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

Exploding Heart Kit Quilt Tutorial

The Exploding Heart Kit Quilt Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Life is a whirlwind of extremes. Happy times; hard times. Miracles and loss. But as our hearts are stretched in a thousand directions, they sure do grow! 

If you’re anything like me, you pour your emotions into your quilts. And this week’s quilt is bursting with love!

The Exploding Heart Kit Quilt Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Watch Jenny stitch up the wildly popular Exploding Hearts quilt by Laura Piland for Slice of Pi Quilts. This stunning heart quilt is a triumph of triangles with half-square triangles, hourglass blocks, and quarter-square triangles, too. (We love Exploding Hearts SO MUCH, we created a kit with the pattern and beautiful Kaffe Fassett fabrics!)

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

Vintage Jenny | Chevron Block

It doesn’t get easier than this classic quilt block! Using Layer Cakes cut into half-square triangles, the chevron quilt block is the perfect project for a new beginner quilter! Even if you’ve been stitching up quilts for awhile now, this simple pattern offers a unique opportunity to quilt in a hurry (not like any of us would EVER wait until the last minute to make a handmade gift).

To make this into a full quilt, all you’ll need is a solid layer cake and a printed layer cake – but the good news is you can truly make this pattern with any size of precut fabric and any colors. To make your first block, take a square from each of your color selections and put them right sides together, then sew along the outer edge with a quarter inch seam allowance. Then all you need to do is cut them diagonally corner to corner in both directions! Just like that you already have four half-square triangles that are ready to be pressed flat, arranged into a chevron pattern and stitched together – talk about simple sewing!

Needing some more inspiration to create this beautiful block? While the Vintage Jenny tutorial fabrics are no longer in production (just like a classic quilt they’re a product of their time) check out our suggestions below for five current lines of fabric that make this quilt come together with ease!

Buzzworthy 10″ Squares by Kanvas Studio for Kanvas Studio

See what all the buzz is about with these elegant black and yellow 10″ squares of honeybees, chamomile, crowns, and more.

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Kaffe Fassett Collective August 2021 Dark 10″ Squares by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics

Dive into Kaffe with this 10″ square pack! You can have all the Kaffe Fassett prints your creative heart desires with the new Kaffe Fassett Collective collection, especially if your project calls for dark colors.

Learn More >

Happy Chance 10″ Squares by Laura Heine for Windham Fabrics

Take a chance with this 10” square pack! The odds are in your favor with the Happy Chance collection by Laura Heine for Windham Fabrics! These fanciful fabrics are full of multicolor florals, paper mache collages, and dressmaking motifs.

Learn More >

Tula Pink’s True Colors 10″ Squares by Tula Pink for FreeSpirit Fabrics

Let your true colors shine through with Tula Pink’s new collection! It features some of her most popular prints in fresh colors to accent and enhance her existing fabric collections. These vibrant colors are so beautiful, they’re sure to add life to your next project.

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Baskets & Butterflies Quilt

The Baskets & Butterflies quilt tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Every year when the weather turns cold, the peacock butterfly finds a cozy bed inside a hollow tree. There she naps for months at a time, with her wings wrapped around her body like a quilt. 

At the first sign of spring she emerges, wonderfully refreshed and ready to flutter!  (Add a tiny sewing machine and a stack of pretty precuts, and I’d call that the perfect winter!)

The Baskets & Butterflies quilt tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

This week Jenny is stitching up a new butterfly quilt using a border print and layer cake from the beautiful Elysian collection by Jason Yenter for In the Beginning Fabrics. 

She starts with pieced basket blocks and adds easy applique handles. The quilt is finished with a sprinkling of butterfly blocks, a cheater cloth backing, and that gorgeous butterfly border. 

No matter the weather, these butterflies will keep you snug as a bug for many years to come!

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

Vintage Jenny | Colorado Quilt

Have you ever heard of a Colorado block? Many quilters know this quilt classic by another name, the Dutch Windmill. Using layer cakes, this traditional half-square triangle quilt block comes together in a flash creating a unique and vintage design that has been loved for many years. How many years to be exact? While Jenny couldn’t find much information on the original of the name Dutch Windmill, the Colorado quilt block can be traced back to 1941 where it was published in the Kansas City Star!

To stitch up this classic you’ll need two layers cakes, one of prints and one of solids. You’ll need to whip up a handful of half-square triangles to begin this pattern, which you’ll be able to lay out in a pinwheel design with all lines going to the center in a light, dark, light, dark pattern. Next you’ll need to make the legs of each triangle a bit longer by placing a matching block next to each end, and then build the square out on each side with the points going towards the same end. (We promise it’s SEW much easier than it sounds, check out Jenny’s tutorial above for a little more visual assistance!)

Needing some more inspiration to create this beautiful block? While the Vintage Jenny tutorial fabrics are no longer in production (just like a classic quilt they’re a product of their time) check out our suggestions below for five current lines of fabric that make this quilt come together with ease!

Between Friends by Shannon Christensen for Windham Fabrics

The Between Friends fabric collection by Shannon Christensen is about friendships that flourish, the heartwarming ones that bind us. The cheerful color palette, happy florals and sweet textures of Between Friends is sure to bring warmth and harmony to your creative world.

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Gingham Foundry by My Mind’s Eye for Riley Blake

Navy, grey, and yellow 10″ squares in lovely florals and geometric prints. These classic prints are sure to elevate your quilting and sewing projects with a tasteful palette of navy, honey gold, grey, and cream.

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A Groovy Garden by Jason Yenter for In The Beginning Fabrics

Get groovy with this 10” square pack! These floral and geometric fabrics blend fancy florals and psychedelic patterns and colors into a funky addition to your next quilt.

Learn More >

Happy Chance by Laura Heine for Windham Fabrics

Take a chance with this 10” square pack! These fanciful fabrics are full of multicolor florals, paper mache collages, and dressmaking motifs.

Learn More >

Kaffe Fassett Collective Contrast by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics

Dive into Kaffe with this 10″ square pack! You can have all the Kaffe Fassett prints your creative heart desires with the new Kaffe Fassett Collective collection, especially if your project calls for high-contrast colors.

Learn More >