quilt | Missouri Star Blog

September 21, 2021

Birthday Bash 13 | September 23rd – 25th, 2021

Come Together and celebrate our 13th Annual Birthday Bash online and in Hamilton, Missouri on September 23rd – 25th, 2021! We’ve got SEW much fun planned to celebrate Missouri Star Quilt Co and we hope you have a chance to join us for the festivities. No matter where you are, we’ve got something special planned for you! Enjoy exclusive content from the comfort of your home with extra tutorials and classes or attend in person for educational demonstrations from our fabulous sponsors and in-person events from the Doan Girls – Check out our full calendar of events below!

Want to know more about Birthday Bash or sign up for an in-person event? Follow the link here. To find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, read our message here.

Wednesday September 22nd, 2021

4:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Pick up your Birthday Bash Swag (Theater)

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner with the Doans (Tickets Required)

Thursday September 23rd, 2021

All Day Event: Project Linus: Come Together and Serve (Sign up for a time)

All Day Event: Charity Event (Retreat Center)

All Day Event: Demos Available throughout the Shops

8:30 AM: Introduction and Welcome (Patio)

9:00 AM: Shops Open & Swag Pickup Available

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Creative Grid (Education Classroom #1)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Teresa Coates from Shannon Fabrics – Infinity Scarf | Luxe & Embrace (The Hangout)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Amanda Niederhauser from Riley Blake Designs – How to use Riley Blake Basics (Tent #1 in the Park)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Toni Steere from Timeless Treasure – One Block Wonder using Panels (Tent #2 in the Park)

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Ann Hazelwood’s Door County Quilt Series Book Signing (Penneys)

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Live Demo with Lorie Valle from June Tailor (Education Classroom #2)

10:00 AM: Cake Walk #1

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Live Demo with Gypsy Gripper (Education Classroom #1)

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Pre-paid Lunch Pickup (The Hangout)

12:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo from Karen Miller from Aurifil – Thread, Needles & Gloves (Education Classroom #2)

12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Live Demo with Teresa Coates from Shannon Fabrics – Throw | Print or Luxe Cuddle (The Hangout)

12:30 PM: Cake Walk #2

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo with Gypsy Gripper (Education Classroom #1)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo with Amanda Niederhauser from Riley Blake Designs – How to use Riley Blake Basics (Tent #1 in the Park)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo with Toni Steere from Timeless Treasure – One Block Wonder using Panels (Tent #2 in the Park)

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Ann Hazelwood’s Door County Quilt Series Book Signing (Penneys)

2:00 PM: Triva: How Well Do You Know the 60s? (Patio)

4:00 PM: Come Together Event (Patio)

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Town of Hamilton Ice Cream Social

7:00 PM: Quilt Auction for Charity (Theater)

Friday September 24th, 2021

All Day Event: Project Linus: Come Together and Serve (Sign up for a time)

All Day Event: Demos Available throughout the Shops

9:00 AM: Shops Open

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Checker/ Creative Grid (Education Classroom #1)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Toni Steere from Timeless Treasure – One Block Wonder using Panels (The Hangout)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Teresa Coates from Shannon Fabrics – Infinity Scarf | Luxe & Embrace (Tent #1 in the Park)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Lorie Valle from June Tailor (Education Classroom #2)

10:00 AM: Cake Walk #1

11:00 AM: Trunk Show with Crystal Manning (Tent #1 in the Park)

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Live Demo with Checker/ Creative Grid (Education Classroom #1)

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Live Demo from Karen Miller from Aurifil – Thread, Needles & Gloves (Education Classroom #2)

12:00 PM: Cake Walk #2

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Pre-paid Lunch Pickup (The Hangout)

1:30 PM: Sew-lebrity Sew-Off (Theater)

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Live Demo with Checker/ Creative Grid (Education Classroom #1)

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Live Demo with Toni Steere from Timeless Treasure – One Block Wonder using Panels (The Hangout)

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Live Demo from Karen Miller from Aurifil – Thread, Needles & Gloves (Education Classroom #2)

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Live Demo with Teresa Coates from Shannon Fabrics – Throw | Print or Luxe Cuddle (Tent #1 in the Park)

4:30 PM: Cake Walk #3

Saturday September 25th, 2021

All Day Event: Project Linus: Come Together and Serve (Sign up for a time)

All Day Event: JC Penney Carnival Games for JC Penney Day

All Day Event: JC Penney Vendors on Main Street

6:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Pancake Breakfast (Fire Station: Cash Only)

9:00 AM: Cake Walk #1

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Creative Grid (Education Classroom #1)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Karen Miller from Aurifil – Thread, Needles & Gloves (Education Classroom #2)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo from Faultless (The Hangout)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Live Demo with Kari Clearly from Slotted Rulers (Vendor Tent)

10:00 AM: Yoga in the Park with Studio Intertia

11:00 AM: Corn Hole Tournament at Levi Garrison & Sons Brewery

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Live Demo with Gypsy Gripper (Education Classroom #1)

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Live Demo with Lorie Valle from June Tailor (Education Classroom #2)

12:00 PM: Cake Walk #2

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Pre-paid Lunch Pickup (The Hangout)

1:00 PM: Trunk Show with Karen Miller (Theater – Tickets Still Available)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo with Gypsy Gripper (Education Classroom #1)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo with Lorie Valle from June Tailor (Education Classroom #2)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Demo with Kari Clearly from Slotted Rulers (Vendor Tent)

2:00 PM: Cake Walk #3

2:00 PM – TBD: Live Demo from Faultless (The Hangout)

3:00 PM: Goodbye from Doan Family (Patio)

3:00 PM – TBD: Live Demo with Gypsy Gripper (Education Classroom #1)

4:00 PM: JC Penney 0.1K Foot Race to Brewery

7:00 PM: JC Penney Live Music from F.M. Dial (Brewery)

September 16, 2021September 16, 2021

Triple Play! 60 Degree Triangle

It’s simple geometry:

When the 3 Doan gals whip up 3 new quilts using the Equilateral 60 Degree Triangle Ruler, the result is infinite fabulosity!

Natalie’s Design: Mountain Magic

Triple Play! 60 Degree Triangle quilts including Mountain Magic for Missouri Star Quilt Co.

First, Natalie fussy-cuts fabric panels to create a modern masterpiece featuring mountains, trees, and woodland creatures on every block.

Jenny’s Design: Hexi Stacks

Triple Play! 60 Degree Triangle quilts including Hexi Stacks for Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Next, Jenny pieces intricate, overlapping hexis using holiday jelly roll strip sets—with enough left over for TWO bonus table runners.

Misty’s Design: Grandma Etta’s Stars

Triple Play! 60 Degree Triangle quilts including Grandma Etta's Stars for Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Finally, Misty uses a beautiful floral layer cake to recreate an heirloom triangle star quilt made by her great-great-grandmother.

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!

September 2, 2021September 2, 2021

Grandma Mae’s Economy Block

Mae Emma Plumb was a talented lady.

She sewed and painted and baked excellent pies. She kept a lovely flower garden and volunteered countless hours crafting costumes and planning skits for the local Boy Scout troop. And, best of all, she made quilts.

Years and years have passed – four generations, in fact – but by some magic, one of Mae’s quilts still exists. It belongs to Mae’s great-granddaughter Kate, our very own Missouri Star marketing manager.

Of course, when Jenny saw Grandma Mae’s antique quilt, she fell head-over-heels in love! She did a bit of research and found the pattern in a 1933 issue of the Kansas City Star under the name Economy Block, though some folks call it The Garden of Eden quilt.

This week, we’re using precut jelly roll strips to whip up a show-stopping replica of this treasured family heirloom. It’s called Grandma Mae’s Economy Block, and it comes together easy-as-pie with snowballed corners and sashing that never has to match up!

August 13, 2021

Periwinkle Plates Quilt

The Periwinkle Template is a magical thing. (In fact, it has its very own playlist of projects!)

We’ve used it for spiderwebs, mug rugs, and butterflies. We’ve used it for modern quilts and old-fashioned classics.

But this week, I think we may have found its true calling.

Periwinkle Plates is a breathtaking applique pattern made with a layer cake, a charm pack, and our beloved template. It’s put together like a simplified Dresden Plate—with only 6 blades instead of 20!

Jenny used Christmas fabric in her quilt, but – as always – your quilt will look beautiful in the fabric of your choice!

August 9, 2021

Artist Spotlight: Laura Piland

Meet Laura Piland of Slice of Pi quilts and the your host for Creating for Kids: Nursery from Missouri Star!

Meet Laura Piland. Laura is a quilt pattern designer and homeschooling mom of three young boys. She’s also an ex-math teacher – and with a last name like Piland – there’s a strong love of pi in her house! She has been designing and publishing patterns since 2016. Her work has been included in magazines, newspapers, and quilting industry publications. Laura loves to travel to guilds and quilt shops and share her love of quilting with others!

What is your favorite part of the quilting process?

I absolutely love the thrill of starting a new project! From coming up with a design idea to figuring out how to stitch it to picking out the perfect fabric! (Don’t ask me about finishing all the things I start though! Ha!)

Who are your favorite fabric designers?

Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew is at the top of that list! She’s such a wonderful human in real life, and I love seeing what she designs next! I also have quite a collection of fabric by Karen Lewis. I can not resist her tiny white screen printed shapes on solid fabrics! But if we’re talking what fabrics I *use* the most (instead of collect), then that would definitely be Island Batik fabrics! I love the saturation of color in their fabrics, and they’re a dream to work with!

What notion or sewing tool are you most dependent on?

My Juki TL-2010Q sewing machine!! It sews FAST! If I’m sewing on another machine, I’m thinking about my Juki the whole time!

How were you introduced to sewing and quilting?

I first learned to sew when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I made a couple garments for a 4-H project, but really didn’t like the process at all. My mom and both grandmothers quilted, but I had no interest whatsoever. It wasn’t until my 20s that I was inspired to try making a quilt after a friend had a baby. Then I couldn’t stop!

What was the most frustrating sewing project you ever worked on?

I often have projects that go to time-out for a bit! I get the most frustrated when using basting spray on a quilt (I always use pins now!) or if sewing something 3-D (like a bag or garment). I have to read the directions ten times before doing each step!

What fabric have you been hoarding the longest?

The Honeymoon collection from Sarah Watts is at the top of my hoarding list. (I do have several other fabrics that are older, but they don’t get the same “hoarding” title!) I’ve made a *few* hexies from the collection that will one day be a quilt just for me, and I have yardage of a couple of the prints that I save for super special projects.

What do you do to find inspiration/encourage your creativity?

I love searching Pinterest for new quilty ideas and inspiration! I have many more ideas than time! But spending a day with quilty friends always motivates me to get sewing!

What occupation would you like to try if sewing/making wasn’t an option?

I seriously can not imagine not being able to quilt! This is my dream job! That said, I used to be a middle school math teacher, and I do still love to teach. I suppose that would still be my second choice!

Who is your favorite fictional character?

Ooh! I think that would have to be Ms. Frizzle! Her field trip shenanigans are great, and her themed dresses are exactly something I would make too! I’ve even dressed up as her for a few Halloweens!

Describe your perfect day.

It would have to start with donuts! (A maple longjohn and a bear claw to be exact!) Add in some quilty friends and a sunny 75 degree day at a lake house. A bit of stitching and lots of laughter would really make it a day to remember!

Want to learn more about Laura? Head over to her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram!