Have you ever given up on a quilting project? You’re not alone! Wavy blocks and unmatched seams have frustrated quilters since the invention of needle and thread!
As a result, unfinished quilts are commonly found in antique shops, and quite often, they are Morning Star quilts! This pretty star is certainly breathtaking, but all those Y-seams and tiny bias-cut diamonds have caused many a quilter to call it quits.
Lucky for us, the magnificent Tara Faughnan designed a modern Morning Star for our MODBlock Magazine, and it’s the perfect blend of quick, easy, and exciting! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
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 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!
The Double Nine Patch was all the rage during the Civil War. Fabric was scarce—so scarce that every precious scrap was saved for quilts. Patterns like the Double Nine Patch transformed all those scraps into true works of art!
Back then, these quilts were hand stitched one itty-bitty scrap at a time, but now there’s an easier way! Click HERE to watch Jenny whip up a Mini Double Nine Patch quilt with quick and easy strip sets!
There’s no greater pleasure than sitting outside under a warm, cozy quilt and watching spring flowers blossom on a cool April morning. In an unprecedented time where all of us are spending more time at home, opportunity has presented itself to allow us to take a moment to appreciate the simpler things in life. When is the last time you truly stopped to smell the flowers?
Whether you’re inside or out in the garden, adding some flower power to your next quilting project is the best way to capture these peaceful spring mornings. Historically, quilters have immortalized their surroundings in their work; stitching things from the night sky to the natural growth of the Earth around them. These six free quilt tutorials will allow you to snip a bud from your very own garden (or maybe the garden you’ve always dreamed of!) and bring it into your home for years to come!
The first flowers of spring for many of us are often the reliable daisy! From the Chrysanthemum family, the daisy has long been a symbolic representation of the first days of spring. This adorable quilt brings those daisies indoors with the use of either 10″ squares or 5″ squares of precut fabric. Follow Jenny’s lead to learn how to quickly snowball corners and add sashing with cornerstones to create this beautiful project!
Following Jenny’s tutorial we suggest using 10″ squares to create this design, but if you have some favorite packs of 5″ squares they’ll work just the same. Capture the essence of the daisy by keeping your fabric selection in the same color palette of soft whites and luminous yellows. Marguerite 10″ Squares for Windham Fabrics is a great place to start, as the palette is true and the delicate addition of florals, foliage and intricate vines will give your quilt a real outdoor feel!
The outdoors aren’t for everyone, some of us enjoy the comforts of our own home and are wallflowers in our own respect. With the use of the Missouri Star Mini Orange Peel Template and some basic applique work, you can create a bountiful bouquet from your very own sewing machine! The Wallflower Quilt comes together quite simply with your choice of 10″ squares of precut fabric!
Blooming with vibrant blue and purple pansy flowers and brought to life with the addition of adorable butterflies, Pansy Paradise 10″ Squares for Timeless Treasures is the perfect selection for this project! The phenomenal spectrum of blues and purples in this fabric will create an outstanding design that is both reserved and comfortable while still eye-catching and bright!
Petunias are a wonderful addition to any garden as they are so simple to care for! The Sweet Petunias quilt is no different, grab your favorite roll of 2.5″ strips and you’ll be amazed by just how simple this quilt is to create! Piece your fabric together and create the illusion of sweet petunia flowers raising their blooms towards the sun!
Petunias compliment gardens so well because they come in a rainbow of different colors. Have some fun with your choice of fabric for this project and add an array of colors with Radiance 2.5″ Strips for Clothworks! These gorgeous fabric strips feature a bouquet of different flowers and vines in every color from petal pink to soft green!
The Dresden Flower Pot Wall Hanging is an adorably cute design! This fun piece of home decor is made by using the Missouri Star Large Dresden Plate Template for 10″ Squares and a pack of 5″ squares of fabric. When pieced together, the Dresdens form the petals of a fabulous flower pot! Hang it inside to brighten up the room or let it add an incredible ambiance to your garden, the choice is yours!
Keep your fabric choices fun and light for this project to keep that oh-so-cute ambiance! Consider Madison 5 Karat Crystals for Wilmington Prints to capture a beautiful contrast of yellow and blue with the added bonus of some green foliage for your stems! These packs of 5″ squares will not disappoint when creating this unique dresden wall haning!
For the real flower lovers out there, the Totally Tulips quilt is a bold design that will delight anyone who has the chance to snuggle up under it! By using a quick and easy method of making half-square triangles out of 10″ squares, you’ll have this project ready to stitch up in no time!
We can’t help but think how darling this quilt would look created with batik fabric! Go wild with Petal Party Batiks Stacks for Island Batik for an eye-opening burst of color and design that will make this design radiate creativity! The best part is, even with this batik fabric, you’ll still be adding natural elements to keep in the theme of a flower quilt!
Since you’ll need the full spectrum of precut fabric for this quilt, be sure to find a complete collection when selecting your fabric. Consider Modern Farmhouse for Riley Blake as your go to choice for this project. These pastel pink and black fabrics will add a modern flair to your quilt while keeping with the floral tradition!
Coloring never gets old, from our first crayon masterpieces, to scribbling in the margins of notes, there is something soothing and satisfying about coloring between–and sometimes outside of–the lines.
Quilt patterns lend themselves quite nicely to coloring, and we have three free quilt coloring sheets to help spark your creativity!
Dashing Stars Quilt
Rhombus Cube Quilt
Jack and Jill Quilt
Click HERE to download the free Quilt Coloring Sheets!
Dashing Stars Quilt (also known as the Big Star Quilt)
Watch the tutorial HERE, and find it in our 2016 Holiday issue of BLOCK Magazine HERE , pick up a pattern HERE.
Rhombus Cube Quilt
Watch the tutorial HERE, and find it in our second issue of modBLOCK Magazine HERE and in BLOCK Volume 3, Issue 3 HERE. You can pick up the pattern HERE.
Jack and Jill Quilt
Watch the tutorial HERE, and find it in our 2015 Holiday issue of BLOCK Magazine HERE. You can find the quilt pattern HERE.
Happy quilting and coloring from all of us at Missouri Star!
