Big ideas are coming to life with the next issue of BLOCK Magazine

A Note from Jenny - BLOCK Magazine 2020 Winter Issue

This is the time of year that we think about setting goals. We want to be better and all of you constantly inspire me to keep trying. This brand new issue of BLOCK has been spruced up from cover to cover to start 2020 off in style! The design has been refreshed, exciting changes are on every page, more stories from our readers, and even more to come throughout the year! We hope you love it.

Starting new also means celebrating success and recognizing growth. BLOCK has been through a lot over the past six years and so have you. I love to see how quilting changes us and helps us become stronger. Most of the letters I receive contain stories that explain how quilting has helped you get through your challenges.

No matter how many trials you encounter in your lives, when you spend time at your sewing machine, you begin to put yourself back together, piece by piece. It takes time, but that journey is so sweet. Handing off this precious quilt that you made for someone who needs some love or encouragement changes you.

This year, I want to focus on finding joy each day. No one thrives in negativity and so, each day, I try to look for one good thing. Instead of worrying about all the things I’m not doing, I’m going to find the things I can do. I don’t think I’m going to try and finish all my UFOs or completely redo my sewing room. But I will spend more time at my sewing machine! It brings peace to my soul. You quilters continually bring hope and love into the world. Keep an eye on those around you and spread as much joy as you can!

Love,
Jenny


We’ve been sharing our resolution of New Year, New Projects – a goal to simply create more. As we try to inspire all of you to do this, we hope you realize just how much you inspire us right back.

In planning towards becoming more creative and making more, we’ve started with our own in-house publication, BLOCK Magazine. For the last six years, BLOCK Magazine has been an “idea book” designed, produced, and published by Missouri Star Quilt Co. On every glossy page, you’ll find stunning photography, fun patterns, brilliant ideas, and one-of-a-kind stories!

It was a small idea that originally gave birth to what this magazine became. Now that it’s 2020 – a new year, a new decade… Another small idea has grown into what is now the new and improved BLOCK Magazine. The idea book still holds everything you already love inside, but better and with more content!

The team creatively pieced together a new design concept and the end result is stunning – well, we think so and we hope you love it too! If you’re subscribed, you’ll see the fresh, new look within your next issue. If not, subscribe today so you don’t miss out!

… And because we’re so excited – we just can’t resist sharing a sneak peek of our brand new cover design:

Drum roll please…

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Voila!

BLOCK Magazine Volume 7 Issue 1

Eek! We’re in love with this sleek, modern look! Oh, and notice the new content that’s waiting inside? We’re so excited to share it with you!

Natalie Earnheart, Managing Editor of BLOCK Magazine

“We’re so excited to bring you a brand new issue of BLOCK that’s been completely refreshed for 2020! This new design includes even more of what you love: original articles, beautiful photography, a gorgeous cover, fun projects, stories from our readers, and not an ad in sight… We hope you love it! Stay tuned for exciting updates that will be happening throughout the coming months. It’s sure to be a great year for quilting!”

– Natalie Earnheart, Managing Editor


So what’s coming to BLOCK Magazine?

  • Fresh, new cover design
  • Refreshed content
  • More authentic photo styling
  • Stories (from Jenny AND more from our readers)
  • Educational quilting articles
  • 10 patterns + 1 bonus project
  • Jenny’s Journal (a highlight of Jenny’s personal projects)
  • Mystery Story with a new chapter in each issue
  • and sew much more!

Take a peek into the next issue of BLOCK Magazine


These are a few of the quilts that will be featured in the upcoming issue!


Check out last year’s Behind the Scenes and browse through past issues with us as we look back on the last six years of BLOCK Magazine.

Over $50 worth of information is packed into each bi-monthly issue of BLOCK Magazine for just $7.99! ($9.99 bi-monthly for Canadian subscriptions.) There are NO ads and each issue ships FREE with your subscription!

Subscribe by January 30, 2020 to get this issue in March!

SUBSCRIBE TO BLOCK MAGAZINE

What will your first project of 2020 be?
Tell us (or show us) in the comments!

Brighten your Home – Easy Quilting Decor Projects

Admit it, there comes a time in every quilter’s journey where they have to step back and realize they have too many quilts. Fortunately for the quilting community as a whole, quilters are incredibly generous people who give with love and share their talents with friends and family, wrapping them in the warmth of their craft. Sometimes though it’s nice to make something for yourself, stitch in a little of your own creativity and create something that is positively and uniquely you.

Quilting doesn’t have to be limited to just quilts. There is a world of options available that require no more skill than what you have already mastered in your traditional quilts. If you’re anything like us though, you want to be surrounded by quilts all day, every day! So thread your sewing machines and get ready to decorate with these fabulous and simple DIY Home Decor Quilting Projects:

Little Stitches Wall Hanging

The Little Stitches Wall Hanging Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today!

A perfect edition to any sewing or craft room, the Little Stitches Wall Hanging will not only brighten up your work space, but also share your love of quilting with guests! The curved piecing really adds an incredible flair to this piece and Jenny’s Tutorial will teach you how to accomplish it with ease!

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies>

National Parks Panel

National Parks Panels from Riley Blake available today from The Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Show some love for the great outdoors by bringing this phenomenal collection from Riley Blake into your home. The possibilities are endless with such a gorgeous print, but Misty has some great starter ideas from pillows to canvas prints in the LIVE tutorial!

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Inside Out Heart Wall Hanging

The Inside Out Heart Wall Hanging Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today!

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, a fresh heart shaped wall hanging will surely bring a posh new look into your home! All you’ll need for this simple design is a layer cake of 10″ squares and some background fabric. Join Jenny as she teaches you how to quickly and easily make the necessary half-square triangles to create this wonderful scrap-busting wall hanger!

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Stars and Stripes Table Runner

The Stars and Stripes Table Runner Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today!

It’s never too early to start planning out your next holiday sensation! This Stars and Stripes Table Runner will undoubtedly be a hit at your next Independence Day event and the best news is, it’s incredible easy to create! Based off a previous design by Jenny herself, join Misty on Missouri Star LIVE as she demonstrates how to stitch up this cute and patriotic table runner.

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Jelly Roll Rug

The Jelly Roll Rug from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today!

Bring on the colors! All you need to make this bright, colorful rug is a Jelly Roll and some Quilt Batting! Each time guests step into your home, they’ll be sure to comment on the bright and vibrant rug that greets them. Watch the tutorial to see how Jenny makes this beautiful piece of home decor and don’t be afraid to pick your own colors and start your rug today!

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Your home is a reflection of your personality. Why not make each piece of home decor a reflection of your love for crafts, quilting and sewing!

What’s your favorite piece of quilting home decor?

Triple Play! Evening Stars, Luminary & Cottage Stars

The Evening Stars, Luminary and Cottage Stars Quilts from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

We’re starting a new tradition here at Missouri Star: Triple Play! Once a month, Jenny, Misty, and Natalie will each demonstrate their own, unique take on a classic MSQC pattern.

Jenny’s Design

The Cottage Stars Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

First up? Wonky Stars! Jenny incorporates those whimsical stars into a tiny-house table runner.

The Cottage Stars Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

Misty’s Design

The Luminary Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

Misty goes country-cozy with a big, traditional quilt featuring 4-patch star centers.

The Luminary Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

Natalie’s Design

The Evening Stars Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

Natalie leans modern with a non-block layout featuring big Wonky Stars!

The Evening Stars Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free Triple Play quilt tutorial today!

As always, each of these projects is quick, easy, and fun! Click HERE to choose a favorite!

Organizing the New Year – Scrap Busting Quilt Ideas

Easy Scrap Busting Quilt ideas to organize the New Year and clean out your fabric scrap stash.

Getting organized to start your new year off fresh is an important step in making the most out of your quilting. A clear work space promotes not only creativity, but motivation to finish that UFO that’s been sitting in the corner since last New Year’s! After your room is tidy and all your fabrics are neatly labeled, what can be done with the stash of scraps that you’ve been stockpiling?

Here are some great quilt ideas to utilize that growing pile of scraps:

String Quilt

The String Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today!

Piece together all those extra scraps to make a String Quilt. In the Missouri Star LIVE Tutorial, Jenny and Misty demonstrate how to make this incredibly simple, yet aesthetically pleasing quilt using no more than what you’ve squirreled away from your previous projects and some 10″ Paper Piecing Squares!

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Tiny Wonky Stars Quilt

The Tiny Wonky Stars Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today!

Use some extra solid yardage and scraps to create a fun and simple pattern that has no color limitations! Each star can be unique, or for a bigger challenge, try making a star to represent each of your past projects!

Watch the Tutorial >

Mini Rhombus Table Runner

The Mini Rhombus Table Runner Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today and purchase quilting notions and supplies!

Maybe your stash isn’t quite ready for a full size quilt, but you still want to cash in on that stockpile opportunity. Take the extra squares from Charm Packs to make this funky Mini Rhombus Table Runner to add some color and creativity to your dining room table!

Watch the Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Stash Busting with Style with Monique Jacobs Class

The Missouri Star Academy from the Missouri Star Quilt Co offers online education classes for beginner quilters. Sign up for the Stash Busting with Style course for easy quilt tutorials from MSQC.

Craving more ideas? No worries! Missouri Star Academy offers an educational course with our fabulous instructor, Monique Jacobs! Answering real questions from real quilters, Monique gives you great tips and ideas to help you become the expert in what you like and why you like it—inspiring and empowering you to make beautiful quilts with your newfound stash savvy. As a fabric and pattern designer with an expert eye for color and prints, she invites you to dig into your stash, pull out those favorite fabrics you have tucked away for just the right quilt, and settle in for a class that will help you put your stash to use, finally!

Take the Class >

There’s no need to feel limited by your scraps! With a little creativity you can take all the leftovers from your past works to something new.

What’s your favorite Scrap Busting Project?