Inspire. Empower. Create.
Test your quilting knowledge with this fun crossword puzzle! Click the image below to print out your very own free Missouri Star Quilt Co crossword puzzle and be sure to share your results on Facebook and Twitter. If you need a little help with your puzzle, download the full answer key in the link below!
Need a little help? Download the full answer key here!
Nothing beats a classic. The master level quilts that our grandmothers once stitched by hand with precision and care have never been easier to recreate with modern methods. Many of these patterns are surprisingly simply with just a little effort and dedication, but why take our word for it when you can find out on your own!
Thanks to Jenny Doan’s incredible quilt tutorials and patterns, these five time-honored traditional quilts can grace your home as you pass down the gift of quilting to the next generation of makers! Where there’s a quilt, there’s a way!
A quilt by any other name will stitch the same! The Happy Trails quilt has been called many things in its storied past; the snail trail, monkey wrench, Indiana puzzle, Journey to California and Whirligig just to name a few! This beautiful and super easy to make project utilized 5 inch squares of precut fabric to create a fabulous design. Call it what you’d like, but we know you’ll have fun creating it!
We love the traditional look that Jenny created for her tutorial; it fits perfectly with the vintage pattern of the quilt! Pick up a more traditional blue charm pack, such as Indigo Gatherings for Moda Fabrics and capture that beautiful, antiquated look!
The Irish Chain pattern can trace its roots back to the early 1800s, over two hundred years ago! A staple for beginning quilters, this pattern has been widely popularized for its simplicity. Jenny’s twist on the classic, the Irish Change quilt, is a gorgeous new version of the traditional design that uses 10″ squares of precut fabric. The best part about this is that the “chains” of this quilt frame the 10″ squares, so you can feature your favorite fabrics in full!
Have a little fun when selecting a fabric for this quilt! Pick your favorite fabric square that you wish to frame, and if you really want a modern and wild touch on this classic, consider All Systems Glow Glow in the Dark 10″ Squares by Kanvas Studio. These glow in the dark, spaced themed squares will make this a favorite for any young person in your life!
Hexagon quilts have been around longer than you may think! Even in the early 1900s, quilters were creating these wonderful projects as the Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt. This simple yet effective design is a great way to introduce yourself to the world of quilting while creating a beautiful project with a rich history!
Traditional floral fabric is the way to go for this design! Whether you choose to use a pack of 10″ squares, or 4 packs of 5″ squares, strive for vintage fabrics for the desired classic look. A Bramble Cottage Layer Cake for Moda Fabrics is the perfect selection for this quilt; it will look just like what Grandma used to make!
This classic may look simple, but to ensure perfect pointed triangles requires care and precision. Flying Geese blocks used to be a difficult pattern to accomplish, but thanks to Jenny’s methods of creating these triangles, you’ll never lose a point again! This block was once used during the Underground Railroad to point the way to freedom, which in turn immortalized this pattern in the annals of quilting history!
The sky is the limit with the Take Flight quilt! There’re no limitations to your creativity for this project, so go with your instincts and pick your favorite precut fabric. If you’re in a creative rut, aim for sky blue colors to capture the motif of flight, such as the Artisan Batiks – Fancy Feathers 3 Charm Pack for Robert Kaufman!
The first quilt Jenny Doan ever made was a simple log cabin quilt. Many of us can say the same as this pattern has been the foundation for many quilters for generations. Adding just a little flair to the heirloom project while still honoring its roots, Jenny has created a new twist on an easy classic that is simply stunning!
The contrast between light and dark fabric in the River Log Cabin quilt is just wonderful, so when selecting your pack of 2.5″ strips to make this design, keep contrast in mind. Prose 2.5″ Strips from Maywood Studio will be the perfect starting point; a good contrast of color complimented by beautiful flowers, leaves and stripes!
Tell us, what is your favorite classic recreation design?
“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.”
-Edwin Way Teale
Green is waving from the trees, yellow dandelions are popping, and our gardens are blooming. The year is beginning to look brighter, and not just because of spring colors. Though we may have missed weddings and graduations, we makers still know how to celebrate!
As you plan out your May projects for Mother’s Day, baby showers, and other life changing events – remember May represents new beginnings and anything is possible!
Download the FREE May Quilt Planner to keep the celebrations going with colorful projects!
Quilting at home as never been more fun! Get your dobbers ready and print your very own FREE Quilting BINGO card. Not only will you be able to keep up with your UFOs, but you’ll be able to participate in your very own BINGO game right from the comfort of your own home!
Be sure to share your fun pictures and bingo cards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with the quilting community and spread a little quilting joy!
Click HERE to download your very own Quilting BINGO card. Either print out your copy and play along with your trusty dobber, or keep it digital with an easy to follow document. Good luck and don’t forget to call out BINGO on our social media pages!
Home is such a special place. It’s where we keep our hearts, hang our hats, and even when we may be miles and miles away, we keep a piece of it with us.
This week’s State Map Applique Pillow project on Missouri Star Live was inspired by a similar idea created by Kelly Young of My Quilt Infatuation that our In-Town Education Manager, Courtenay made to give as gifts to those around her.
Last year, Jenny created the Road Trip Quilt that commemorated some of her recent quilting adventures, featuring simple state map applique shapes that you can find HERE.
How to Print State Map Outlines:
NOTE: The states are listed in alphabetical order, and reversed for easy tracing. We’re using the state of Missouri as an example on page 25. Keep in mind that each state is a different size and orientation. Courtenay scaled the state of Pennsylvania by 350%. To reach a similar size, we scaled Missouri by 200%.
We’re using these same outlines from the Road Trip Quilt to create the applique shapes for the pillow, but we’re increasing the size of each printed sheet. Follow along for our step-by-step instructions on how to print these applique shapes at your desired size.
Pillow Form Perfection!
Helpful Hint: As Courtenay put together this easy sewing project, she discovered that when using a pillow form, it helps to sew the top of the pillow the same size as the form, and then sew a .5” seam allowance. In Courtenay’s example, she used a 20” pillow form so her top is 20”.
Embroidery Supplies List
Courtenay embroidered the word “home” onto her pillow, and if you would like to do so, too, you’ll need the following supplies: