She sifts through stacks of orphan blocks at yard sales and antique shops, imagining the quilters who started – but never finished – so many years ago.
When Jenny spotted a long-forgotten Mother’s Choice block, she fell in love! And then…she used a sprinkling of Missouri Star magic to make that pattern new again!
Mother’s Choice Remake is a beautiful, simplified version of the old-fashioned Mother’s Choice. This pretty jelly roll quilt is made easy with half-square triangles, flying geese, snowballed corners, and – best of all – zero Y-seams!
You may know this block as Dove at the Window, Fringed Square, or Laurel Wreath. But no matter the name, this quilt is an absolute stunner!
The You’re a Grand Old Flag Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. perfectly compliments this garden setting.
Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s time now to start stitching up those beautiful, patriotic quilts for your summer picnics and Independence Day celebrations! Quilting has been an American past-time since the beginning days of our country, so celebrate the history of our craft and nation this year with a red, white and blue color palette!
If you’re needing some inspiration, we’ve gather five of our favorite patriotic quilt projects that would be just perfect for any summer celebration. Pick up one of our new lines of patriotic fabrics and you’ll be ready to kick back on your very own picnic quilt and watch the fireworks. And if you’re still looking for more inspiration, head over to our website for everything patriotic and Americana!
The Stars and Stripes quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
It doesn’t get more Americana than the Stars and Stripes quilt! This simple strip quilt comes together with ease using Jelly Rolls (2.5″ strips of precut quilting fabric) and snowballed corners. The iconic red and white stripes compliment the uniquely blue stars creating the perfect patriotic theme while still capturing the simplicity and beauty of a quilt.
To best capture those stars and stripes, consider using a solid fabric. Sometimes when we think solids, we think of very plain fabric, but that doesn’t have to be the case! Cut up some strips from the Tonga Batiks – Freedom collection to add some depth to your solids and make this quilt pop in subtle ways!
The Old Mill Path quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Old Mill Path quilt is a play on the classic Drunkard’s Path quilt block and has never been easier to create thanks to the use of the Missouri Star Drunkards’ Path Template. Inspired by a 1929 antique quilt called “The Mill Wheel”, this vintage design is full of elements that distinguish it as a slice of yesteryear. Add in a patriotic color palette and this quilt will feel like an vintage creation nearly 100 years in the making!
For this project, you’ll need Layer Cakes (10″ squares of precut quilting fabric). Liberty Lane 10 Karat Crystals by Stephanie Marrott for Wilmington Prints feature weathered patriotic prints that will give this quilt an aged and dated feel; directly complimenting the overall aesthetic created by the design. And while this particular pattern isn’t full of stars or stripes, you’ll have plenty symbols of American culture displayed proudly within the fabric.
The You’re a Grand Old Flag quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
If you prefer more traditional patriotic displays, then the You’re a Grand Old Flag quilt is the choice for you. Created using Charm Packs (5″ squares of precut quilting fabric) and the Missouri Star Small Tumbler Template for 5″ Charm Packs, this fun flag quilt can be created with ease. The outcome is impressive, a simple tumbler flag design that, when the proper color palette is utilized, will be a favorite for many Independence Days to come!
Consider investing a little extra time into cutting your 5″ squares from yardage to take advantage of the America the Beautiful collection from Moda Fabrics. The barn wood yardage from this collection would be absolutely adorable as a red, white and blue flag and we think it’s just the best choice for this design! Whether you go precut or yardage, this quilt will be sure to brighten up any outdoor setting.
The Outstanding Stars quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
What more can be said, this quilt is simply outstanding! These pretty star blocks are framed with a simple sashing and cornerstones. While this quilt would look great in any color, when given a patriotic palette it truly feels like a slice of Americana. We just can’t believe how versatile this simple design is!
Follow Jenny on this one and create this quilt using American Gatherings from Moda Fabrics. Designed by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics, this red, white, and blue collection features basic yet lovely prints like stripes and florals, plus traditional patriotic symbols like stars and flags. This quilt will be full of American themes by the time you are done!
The Pinwheels on Point quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Pinwheels are an iconic quilting symbol that have been heavily utilized in American quilting. When early settlers were first traversing west across our country, they would quilt what they saw (no wonder stars are such a big deal!) and what better way to capture the motion of wind then by using pinwheels! Stitch up a little history in your patriotic project with this quick and easy Pinwheels on Point quilt.
You’ll again need 2.5″ strips of precut quilting fabric for this quilt, but there’s no need to focus on solids. Have some fun when selecting fabrics for this project! If you’re feeling ambitious, cut your strips from the America the Beautiful collection from Moda Fabrics. This line is full of the patriotic symbolism and colors you’re looking for while still adding unique elements such as posies to the fabric.
When pioneers trekked west, they took only what could fit in one small covered wagon. Most worldly treasures were left behind.
But quilts? Quilts were an absolute necessity. They were used as shelter; they were used for warmth. Quilts swaddled babies and protected fragile family heirlooms as they bumped and jostled along the dusty Oregon Trail.
Those antique pioneer quilts were made from scraps, skillfully stitched by hand into simple 9-patches, log cabins, and pinwheels. 200 years later, we are making those same old-fashioned patterns, and they’re just as pretty as ever!
This week Jenny is working on a beautiful variation of the classic pinwheel using precut charm packs. Pinwheel Frolic comes together lickety-split with easy half-square triangles and a pretty, decorative sashing.
(Watch to the end of the tutorial for a fabulous bonus project: A matching burrito pillowcase with a cuff and flange!)
The City Limit sign of Hamilton, Missouri also known as Quilt Town U.S.A.
Nestled in the Northwest corner of the Kansas City metropolitan area is the town of Hamilton, Missouri. The tiny town of 1,809 residents has long been known as the birthplace of American businessman James Cash Penney who would go on to revolutionize the retail market with his self-named department store chain, J C Penney. Until just a decade ago, Hamilton remained a quiet rural community similar to many in the Northwest Missouri area. Businesses came and went and generations of residents continued to call this area their home, proudly remember their past with the annual Steam and Gas Engine Show as well as J.C. Penney Day festival in September.
In November 2008, Missouri Star Quilt Co. was founded by Jenny Doan and family in Hamilton. No one could have imagined the impact this quiet little quilting shop would have upon not only the town, but the world as a whole. Now Hamilton has a new reason to celebrate. Quilt Town, U.S.A. has become a destination for makers and has been called the “Disneyland of Quilting”. Last week you had the opportunity to learn about the History of Missouri Star Quilt Co., but the history of what is now known as Quilt Town, U.S.A. goes back even farther. To celebrate National Quilting Month, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the town that we now call home; a place that has allowed a start-up quilting shop to thrive and grow while inspiring countless of new creators along the way and in turn, has helped keep the art of quilting alive and well.
All Aboard
The Missouri Star Quilt Co. Main Shop featuring a mural honoring the railroad which Hamilton was first built upon
According to History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri, Hamilton owes its existence largely to the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. In 1855 Albert Gallatin Davis built the first home in Hamilton as a township was being considered due to the news of the railroad’s forthcoming arrival. Small railroad towns were a common development in the mid 1800’s as the new method of transportation allowed people to have access to goods and services that would have previously been difficult to acquire. Hamilton would begin to thrive thanks to these new developments in transportation and the town would reach a population of 1,800 (close to it’s current population today!) in the 1880’s (History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri).
An Early Entrepreneur
James Cash Penney circa 1902.
In 1875 James Cash Penney was born in Hamilton. Penney would later start the retail chain J C Penney which still exists to this day. Hamilton was proud of the accomplishments of one of their own and celebrates his memory each year with the annual J C Penney Days Festival. If you’ve kept up on your Missouri Star history as well, you may notice that one of our shops is named in honor of Penney as well! In order to better acknowledge the global contributions of this entrepreneur, Penney’s boyhood home has since been moved into the town limits and has become a museum which can be visited to this day.
A New Frontier
The Missouri Star Quilt Co. Main Shop photographed in 2012.
In November 2008 the Missouri Star Quilt Co. came to Hamilton. Originally a project to help support the Doan family after financial hardship, the company would soon blossom into what we know today, Quilt Town, U.S.A. In 2015, the Doans and Missouri Star Quilt Co. were named the Small Business Person of the Year from the Small Business Administration and their accomplishments didn’t end there. Hamilton has since become a destination for quilters from all over the world, opening a multitude of new crafting related shops, restaurants and even a retreat center to house tourists coming to visit the town.
Celebrities, politicians and quilters of all skill levels have made the journey to visit Quilt Town, U.S.A. To celebrate the art and history of quilting, you can even visit our very own Quilt Museum while in town; or get your picture taken in from on the World’s Largest Spool of Thread! Every week Jenny produces a new quilting tutorial which is uploaded to YouTube that allows even brand new quilters the opportunity to create a time-honored work of art that keeps the tradition of quilting alive. As Missouri Star grows, so does the opportunities to inspire the creativity of others. In 2020 Missouri Star began it’s latest series, The Final Stitch, where host Natalie Earnheart (Jenny’s daughter) answers tough questions from quilters and demonstrates helpful tips to finish quilting projects.
The World’s Largest Spool of Thread photographed in 2018 in Hamilton, Missouri.
The Doan’s story has become one of legend, a true embodiment of the American Dream in which a family bonds together to create their own opportunity while helping to build the community of crafters around them, while also rebuilding the town which they now call home. Hamilton, Missouri is a very different place than it was just a few years ago. The long forgotten excitement of the railroad has again returned to Northwest Missouri as a world of new opportunities and advancements buds around a local community. Quilt Town, U.S.A. is here to stay and you won’t believe what’s in store next!
Still want to know more about the History of Quilt Town, U.S.A.? Check out this incredible video from our friends at Stripe!
The closest star in the night sky is about 25 trillion miles away, give or take. If you plan to visit, be sure to pack a lunch; it will take 75,000 years to arrive. Of course, if you’re short on time, you can create your own gorgeous stars at home!
This week Jenny is stitching together a breathtaking star quilt made with jelly rolls and the Missouri Star Equilateral 60 Degree Triangle Ruler.
This pattern produces very little waste, and the bits of extra are used to make a fun, pieced strip for the back of the quilt!
