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March 28, 2019March 28, 2019

Local Business Spotlight: Hy-Klas

Local businesses are vital for small towns like Hamilton! They each have so much to offer, not only in terms of the services they provide, but their history as well!

Welcome to Hy-Klas, the local grocery store ran and owned by Mark and Vicki Ward!

Hy-Klas opened in 1938, a business that Vicki was later born into. Whereas Mark began working at Hy-Klas as a bag boy in the 70’s. Soon after Hy-Klas brought them together, they were married and had three daughters, all of whom have been involved in the family business. The couple then took over the company in 2006 from Vicki’s parents. After 41 years of marriage, Mark and Vicki successfully run two Hy-Klas grocery stores, one in Hamilton and the other in Polo.

Hy-Klas is an inviting store full of delicious foods, fresh produce, and friendly employees! The environment radiates that small-town, cozy feel and if you get hungry while shopping, make your way over to their deli and grab a tasty sandwich!

Plus, Blue Bell ice cream is finally back in stock! Come get it while the shelves are still full!

A lot has changed over the years, but something that hasn’t changed is the company’s belief in giving back to the community. They contribute regularly to the local churches, schools, fire department, and even us! Hy-Klas have played a huge part in our events and retreats by going out of their way to make sure we always have what we need when you come to visit!Next time you are in town, make sure to stop in and say hello to all of the friendly faces at our local grocery store!

March 26, 2019March 29, 2019

Three ways to make one or more Half Square Triangles

Multiply your fun with half the effort!

Any way you slice it, a half-square triangle is a thing of beauty. For such a simple quilt block, so many incredible designs can be created! Half-square triangles are in about 80% of the quilts we sew here at Missouri Star, so we wanted to give you a few handy tips and tricks to make stitching them together easier than ever.

Here’s how 1 typical half-square triangle is made:

Take two precut fabric squares, stack them right sides together, and draw a line down the center on a diagonal from corner to corner. Sew on the line and trim away a quarter inch away from your seam line. That will give you a half square triangle that is the same size as the squares you started with. It leaves two smaller triangles as scraps. But we can do better than that!

Here are Jenny’s favorite methods of sewing half-square triangles, just for you:

2 at a Time

Take two 5” or 10” precut fabric squares, stack them right sides together, and draw a line down the center on a diagonal from corner to corner. Sew ¼ inch out on both sides of the drawn line, then cut down the line in the center, and press open. That gives you two easy half-square triangles!

4 at a Time

Take two 5” or 10” precut fabric squares and stack them right sides together. Sew ¼ inch all the way around the perimeter of the squares. Then cut twice diagonally, from corner to corner, and press open to make four half-square triangle units! But wait … it gets even better.

8 at a Time

Take two 5” or 10” precut fabric squares, stack them right sides together, and draw an x from corner to corner. Stitch ¼ inch out on both sides of the lines, cut diagonally on each drawn line, and press open to get eight beautiful half-square triangles!

Try using the Clearly Perfect Slotter Trimmers to make squaring up your quilt blocks simple. It’s a nifty quilt template that not only cuts your half-square triangles to the right size but trims the seam down perfectly as well! It’s a neat little invention, click HERE to get yours now!

Be creative with the handy half-square triangle and have a blast! Try playing around with quilt layout possibilities for just fifteen minutes and make something new today. When you turn and flip these versatile quilt blocks the design possibilities are absolutely endless! Click HERE to see some of the tutorials Jenny used HST to create her pattern.

March 21, 2019

Missouri Star Shop Feature: Machine Shed

Do you love sewing machines and all of the latest gadgets? If so, our Machine Shed Shop is the shop for you!

Once inside you will find everything from templates to thread, rotary cutters, and even a wide array of Baby Lock and EverSewn sewing machines!

Templates galore! In addition to our Missouri Star templates, we also carry a multitude of other brands in every shape and size for all of your quilting project needs.

Two of our best selling sewing machines are the EverSewn Sparrow 30 and the EverSewn Sparrow 25 (the machine Jenny currently uses). Both sewing machines are great for all skill levels and are packed full of features at attractive price points!

Take a look at this gorgeous rainbow wall of thread! Between our Main Shop and Machine Shed we stock a variety of different brands such as: OMNI, Aurifil, King Tut, Gutermann, and even our own line of Missouri Star thread.

Meet Shelby, one of our fantastic employees! She is an avid quilter herself who enjoys listening to our guests’ stories and assisting them in finding the right tools for their projects.

Inspiration is everywhere here at Missouri Star! Everything from the quilts on display, to the bolts of fabric, and the murals will leave you awe-inspired! While in the Machine Shed make sure you also check out the motivational quotes on the walls.

There are only two elevators in all of Hamilton and our Machine Shed Shop is home to one of them! Take the short ride up to four more of our uniquely themed quilt shops: Seasonal, Backing & Trims, Modern, and Kids & Baby.

March 19, 2019

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!

March 1, 2019April 2, 2019

Quilting Craziness 2019

Celebrate your favorite hobby all month long because March is National Quilting Month! We’re celebrating by making quilts, hosting a Missouri Star Employee quilt exhibit in Hamilton, and holding the very first “Quilting Craziness” tournament!

We invite everyone everywhere to participate everyday in the Quilting Craziness tournament!

The tournament features the 32 most watched tutorials from 2018 and pits two different quilts against each other everyday until there is a champion! The winner is decided by a popular vote that is hosted on our Facebook page everyday at 7:00 pm central time. (https://www.facebook.com/QuiltingDeals)

There’s no better way to celebrate National Quilting Month than with some free fabric, so be sure to check each day’s poll for your chance to win!!

Our Quilting Craziness bracket will be updated here with the winners everyday to help you watch the competition.

Who do you think is going to be the champion? Will it be the Card Trick Quilt, Half and Half Quilt, Amplified Quilt? We are excited to find out! Make sure to vote on Facebook everyday at 7 to help your favorite win.

Click here to watch all of our 2018 quilt tutorials and keep scrolling to get a preview of all the quilts in this year’s Quilting Craziness tournament!

Everyone is allowed to participate in the voting for the Quilting Craziness tournament. Winners of the giveaway must be over the age of 18 and have a valid US address. Winners will be announced and contacted via Facebook within 72 hours.