Author: Marissa Swearngin

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A Treasure Trove of Rose Gold

Not quite pink, not quite gold, just a beautiful mixture of metallic rosy-amber. This week we are admiring one of the most fun colors there are… Rose Gold!

Rose Gold FabricsRose Gold has been trending for a while now, but it’s here to stay and ready to make its appearance in your next project! Update your desk-top, sewing area, or make any room pop with a few touches of rose gold!

Simply Sparkle Bliss KitDo you remember being a little girl and feeling giddy over objects that were shiny, pink, or floral? These adorable prints in Riley Blake’s new collection, Bliss, will make you feel just that with all the flowers, rosebuds, and rose gold swirls and stripes! This Bliss Simply Sparkle kit makes a full size quilt that will make any room sparkle! It would make a pretty accent to a reading nook, or thrown over your favorite chair!

 

Bliss by Riley Blake

Make a Rose Garden Quilt or Slanted Half-Hex to really show off those vibrant prints. Imagine lying in bed, wrapped in a quilt of romantic florals and luxurious rose golds, snuggled up to a matching Dresden pillow . It’s no wonder they named this collection, Bliss!

 

 

Slanted Half Hex Tutorial

Mix rose golds with navy or grey cuddle fabrics!

 

 

 

 

Rose Gold Notions

Spice up your sewing area with rose gold notions!

 

Rose Gold Notions

 

How perfect would a wine carrier made for a sweet bottle of Rosé look in rose gold?! Or shine bright wherever you go with a gorgeous rose gold coin purse!

What are you hoping to create with your new treasure trove of rose gold fabrics? Let us know in the comments! Don’t forget to post a photo of your creation to Instagram using #msqcshowandtell. Happy shopping!

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Hoppy Easter: Spring Sewing Projects

They say Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year” but springtime has my vote! Shades of green color the landscapes, the birds are singing, the sun is shining and the Easter decorations are on display! From jelly beans to colored eggs and Easter baskets there is so much fun to be had! Yes, springtime is definitely the best time!

Here are some fun ideas to help you and your family celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!

Embroider Bunny Buddy

Personalize this sweet blanket buddy for an even sweeter child! This bunny has a large polyester heart which allows for all print applications, including embroidery. What a treasure for any child to find in an Easter basket!

Check out the entire Embroider Buddy collection.

Cottontail Kit

Throw this quilt over the couch or hang it up to spread some spring cheer in the home! Or give it as a gift that somebunny you know will love! This kit contains the pattern and uses the Garden Variety collection by Lella Boutique for Moda. Backing is sold separately.

Explore all spring kits.

 

Spring Bunny Pillow

Grab some adorable spring or Easter prints and follow along as Jenny and Beverly McCullough demonstrate how to make the perfect throw pillow for the season!

Don’t forget to spruce up the coffee table with some matching mug–rugs! Spring fever is in session!

 

Sweet Stitched Easter Eggs

This wool and applique kit comes with all you need to make some Easter eggs that the kids can hunt year after year!

These felt accessories can be used in so many ways! Place them in a small wicker basket for a fresh table centerpiece, accent bare counter space, or give as a gift!

Browse all Easter kits.

 Easter Tree

Did you know we have an entire Year of Wooly Trees set? Who says you have to wait until Christmas to decorate the tree? Audrey Wright of Legacy Patterns has created a tree pattern for every holiday of the year and the Easter tree is the most colorful of them all!

How fun to put this all together and then let the kids decorate it!

To make this pattern, you’ll need:
–Wool
–Floral wire
–Button pack
–Tree base

Fabric Scrap Easter Carrots

This spring project is a favorite because who doesn’t already have scraps laying around? That’s all you really need to make these fun fabric carrots!

If you aren’t in the mood to dig through your scrap stash, feel free to take a stroll through our grove of fine orange fabrics.

 

Browse our entire selection of spring and Easter fabrics and you’re sure to find something you’ll love! Happy spring sewing and hoppy Easter!

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A Guide to Appliqué

In the intricate world of quilting, there are so many different ways we can make a sewing project unique! Appliqué is a fun (and super easy!) way to decorate a quilt with personalized designs and patterns.

  • Appli-Glue or Lapel Stick – Use this to hold fabric pieces in place while hand stitching.
  • Freezer Paper – Draw a design on the dull side, cut it out and lay the shiny side down on the project to use as a guide.
  • Bias Tape Maker – Use this to make stems and more, especially when doing floral applique!
  • Marking Pen – Use this a pen to trace designs onto projects.
  • Precision Applique Scissors – A smaller pair of scissors come in handy for cutting smaller pieces.
  • Hand Needles – A smaller point for hand stitching, but also a bit enough needle to prevent hand cramping.
  • Mini Iron – A tiny iron will give more control over tiny fabric pieces.
  • Applique Pins – These come in handy when fitting several pieces into place.
  • Fusible Web (optional) – Melts to adhere the fabric pieces together.
  • Applique shapes (optional) – Precut shapes come in handy for quick and easy projects

 Learn the basics of appliqué with Jenny and Jan Patek in this four-part tutorial series. They teach the essentials needed for hand appliqué along with tips and tricks for applying leaves, stems, circles, stars and more onto your sewing project.

Beginning Hand Applique Online Class

For a more in-depth look into hand appliqué, join our newest online class! Beginning Hand Appliqué is an online class taught by our very own Courtenay Hughes. Courtenay teaches two different hand appliqué methods, troubleshooting techniques for tricky shapes, how to make reusable templates, and clean appliqué hand stitching!

Discover new ideas within our appliqué tutorials. The Finish Line Quilt can be found in our latest issue of BLOCK Magazine. The appliqué project uses two of our favorites; the orange peel template and 2.5″ strips!

The Itty Bitty Club Pattern pack is a great way to add some fun springtime decor to your home. Stock up on warm, fuzzy wool though because this pack comes with five different appliqué project patterns!

For antique blocks (or any finished blocks that haven’t found a home yet), watch Jenny’s “What to do with vintage blocks” tutorial to make a pretty, antique looking appliqué quilt!

         

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Meet Missouri Star

Here at Missouri Star, we employ approximately four hundred people and to celebrate National Employee Appreciation Day, we would like to give a shout out to everyone who allows us the opportunity to make use of their talents, skills, and hard work ethic! Each employee is an important piece to our company’s success and we are blessed to have them as a part of our Missouri Star family. Today, we would like to give credit to a few of those who mostly work “behind-the-scenes” and deserve some front-page attention!

                                                                                                               MEET JESSICA

Jessica started with us in August of 2018 as a skilled pattern writer, even writing up some of our very own Missouri Star Quilt Co. patterns!
 “I love digging in and figuring out the math to make the yardage and cutting calculations… I love bouncing between writing and illustrating the pattern to figure out how to best explain to our customers how a quilt is made.” Jessica happily informs us of her love for pattern writing.
Jessica is a huge quilt making fanatic. At the top of her list of favorite fabrics are modern prints! Her current favorite designers include Alison Glass, Tula Pink, and Anna Maria Horner.

Thank you Jessica for providing us the tools we need to finish our treasured projects!

MEET ALEX

Alex is one of our super talented graphic designers and has been with us for almost a year. When asked what her favorite part about working here is, she replied, “the creative culture.” (Aww, we just love that! Thanks, Alex!)

Currently, Alex doesn’t quilt, but she is looking forward to getting started after being inspired by the bold, bright colors and unique patterns that come from the process of making batik fabrics.

Thank you Alex for bringing your talented designs to Missouri Star!

 

                                                                                                    MEET TJ

When you come stay for a retreat with us, TJ (Trisa) is one of the reasons you’ll want to come back again and again! Not only does she have a great sense of humor, but she keeps the retreat center nice, tidy and clean so all of our visitors have a wonderful, stress-free environment to stay in. On top of caring for our retreaters, she keeps up with all the shops’ cleaning needs as well.

 TJ is our head of housekeeping here at Missouri Star and has been with us for almost five years! We enjoy having her crafty skills present for all of us to enjoy. She loves to quilt using 1800’s reproductions and more traditional styles of fabric for her projects, but that’s not all she can do! 

TJ is well-known for her baking skills,
including this awesome princess castle cake
she made for her granddaughter!
We could not do what we do without you, TJ!

 

 

MEET KARYN

Karyn has been with us for a little over a year as a shop associate. Moving from store to store and gaining insight on the variety of fabrics here has turned Karyn into one knowledgeable and resourceful shop team member!

Moda’s batik collections are Karyn’s favorite fabrics! She describes them as “simple and easy to sew with!” Karyn is now stationed in Primitive & Wool and looks forward to introducing you to your new favorite fabric!

Thank you Karyn for bringing your bright smile to Quilt Town, USA.

 

MEET TIM & JOE

Joe has been a right hand man around here for two and a half years and Tim joined the team a little over a year ago.

This dynamic duo is a very important piece of our functioning processes here at Missouri Star. These two are our “Warehouse Runners.” Each day, they make several runs from the warehouse to our shops and in-town workplaces to make sure we have product in stock and the supplies we need to provide the best experience possible for our visitors.


Tim and Joe do not quilt, but are both excellent craftsmen. Joe enjoys carpentry and welding while Tim is skilled in drawing cartoons and wood carving. This “Sasquatch” mask is one of Tim’s favorite pieces he has done so far. Isn’t that neat?!

Thank you Joe and Tim for all your hard work, we are thrilled to have you in our workplace of makers!

 

Our work family has grown tremendously over the last few years and we couldn’t be happier to employ such wonderful people! A BIG thank you to all Missouri Star employees for all your hard work and to our customers for making our jobs so much fun!