Summer Travel Projects

The Sidekick quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Sidekick quilt from BLOCK Volume 5 Issue 3.

Summer is just around the corner, so don’t leave your creativity behind as you embark on your summer vacations! Just because quilting is often seen as a home-based activity, that doesn’t mean there aren’t projects that you can work on from the road. Even if you don’t enjoy bringing your work with you, take the time to immortalize your summer travels with a brand new Summer Travel Project!

From Destination Panels from Riley Blake to the Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star, we’ve gathered some of our favorite summer travel projects to share with you. Whether your sewing from the comforts of home, or stitching on the go, be sure to always share your creations with us by using #msqcshowandtell on Facebook and Instagram!

Quilt As You Go Hexagon Quilt

The Quilt as You Go 2.5" Hexagon quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Quilt As You Go Hexagon Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Is there a more perfect travel project than a Quilt as You Go Hexagon quilt? This revolutionary project is made easy with the Quilt As You Go 2 1/2″ Hexagon Template designed by Daisy & Grace which allows you to play with your fabric and fussy cut designs you’d like to feature. To finish, you can either hand stitch or machine stitch these beauties. Not only does this create a beautiful and unique finished quilt, but it makes quilting while you travel SEW much easier!

This template fits perfectly on a charm pack (you’re definitely going to want some coordinating yardage for the backing though as it’s slightly larger!). Go big and go bold with this project because it is bold in it’s design. Consider a Kaffe Classics Prism Charm Pack by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics for your 5″ squares. Not only will these colors be vibrant, but they’ll blend perfectly together to create an eye-popping, unique quilt!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Pick up the Template >

Destinations by Riley Blake

The Destinations Collection by Riley Blake from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Destinations Collection by Riley Blake

Quilting on the road isn’t for everyone. Some of us enjoy the organization and peace of our home quilting studios and don’t wish to be bothered while we’re out experiencing everything this world of ours has to offer. Instead of working while you’re going, show us where you’ve been with this jaw-dropping fabric panels from Riley Blake!

The Destinations Collection features postcard style panels in an Art Deco theme highlighting popular travel destinations from around the world. Whether you’re stitching up a quilt highlighting all the national parks you’ve been to, or a beautiful pillow featuring your hometown, The Destinations Collection allows for a quick and easy project that will be a favorite for years to come!

Shop the Destinations Collection >

Learn more about Quilting with Panels >

Sew on the Go Pouch

The Sew on the Go Pouch from BLOCK Magazine Volume 7 Issue 3
The Sew on the Go Pouch from BLOCK Volume 7 Issue 3.

For those of us who prefer a little organization, the Sew on the Go Pouch is the perfect compliment to any summer vacation. Whether you’re traveling on your own, or attending a sewing retreat (think of how handy this would be!) this cute little custom-made pouch holds your most important notions and tools of the trade.

This BLOCK Magazine exclusive is featured in Volume 7 Issue 3 and comes together with ease using no more than a few yards of scrap fabric. While this perfect stash buster will help eliminate your growing fabric supply, you can also create this project as a gift featuring a favorite fabric of a friend! Pick up some fabric by the yard, such as the beautiful Curiouser and Curiouser – Baby Buds Daydream Yardage by Tula Pink for FreeSpirit Fabrics and create a long lasting and frequently used gift for the quilter in your life!

Download BLOCK Volume 7 Issue 3 >

Browse Fabric by the Yard >

Road Trip Quilt

The Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Planning a cross-country drive this summer? Show off your journey with the Road Trip quilt! This gorgeous pattern allows you to document your journey with easy to print state applique shapes. Even if you aren’t traveling this year, stitch up a simple pillow using this pattern to commemorate your favorite destination.

Start this project by downloading the free state applique shapes and then select your favorite layer cake to fill them out! Show off your patriotic pride by selecting a red, white and blue fabric such as Land That I Love 10″ Squares by Michael Miller for Michael Miller Fabrics to really capture that Americana theme of the classic American road trip!

Download the Applique Prints >

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

I Spy Jar Quilt

The I Spy Jar Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The I Spy Jar Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I spy with my little eye, your next quilting project! Do you have memories of playing the “I Spy” game in the car? Road trips in the summer are all about fun, so bring back this great summer travel memory by creating an I Spy Jar quilt featuring found fabrics from your travels!

You’ll need charm packs to create this fun travel friendly project. If you’re at home and ready to get sewing, consider a kid-friendly fabric that’s full of different elements to point out such as Unicorn Kingdom 5″ Stackers by Shawn Wallace for Riley Blake! Make memories with your children or grandchildren by playing a game of I Spy at home with the quilt as your guide. If you are traveling however, pick up fabric on the way! Stop in at local quilt shops or repurpose some old T-Shirts for a truly unique project that captures all the great memories you made.

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Get the Pattern >

State Map Applique Pillow Project

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.

**We apologize for the echo at the beginning of this video. It is fixed around the 5:00 minute mark, so feel free to skip ahead!**

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.

  1. Download the State Map Outline Template HERE
  2. Open up Adobe Reader and the State Map template. 
  3. Open the Print dialogue box and select the image number you would like to print from the Pages section: (For this example, we’re printing page 25 for the outline of Missouri.) 
  4. Under Page Sizing & Handling, select Poster
  5. In Tile Scale, enter the scale you would like to increase the page by. For this example, we scaled Missouri by 200%. We left the overlap as is. 
  6. Select Print. Your outline should be scaled and print out in multiple sheets.

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:

Plan Your Summer – 5 Simple Summer Quilt Projects

Plan your Summer Sewing Projects with Missouri Star Quilt Co and these 5 Simple Summer Quilt Projects

February is the perfect time to start dreaming of warm summer days in the sun. When the cabin fever of being cooped up indoors starts to really set it, take that opportunity to begin planning your summer projects! With summer months right around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to begin work on wedding quilts, graduation gifts and those fun projects that make us wish for warmer weather!

Needing some inspiration? Here are some great summer quilting projects that will have you stitching up sunnier days in no time!

The Road Trip Quilt

The Road Trip Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today.

Document your summer travels and never forget the memories you made with the Road Trip Quilt! Each state is created through an easy appliqué process, but your imagination is the only limit as to which states to include! Make a quilt for each summer road trip or only use your favorite states, the choice is yours! Don’t forget, you can download a FREE Missouri Star Template for each state!

Capture that classic road trip feel with an Explore Layer Cake from Moda Fabrics. Explore features warm, natural colors with outdoor and camping themes. Pile in the back of the station wagon and hit the road as you stitch your itinerary with this beautiful line.

Watch the Quilt Tutorial >

Get the Quilting Supplies >

The May Day Baskets Quilt

The May Day Basket Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today.

Break out those jelly rolls and get ready to make this easy flower basket quilt! Capture the early days of summer and the beautiful blooming of spring with this simple beginner’s quilt tutorial. All this quilt is missing is a picnic basic and some sunshine for a beautiful day!

Jenny had a great idea with her color palette when creating her May Day Baskets Quilt. Capture the shades of a blooming spring with Braveheart Double Scoops 2.5” Strips from Andover Fabric featuring a sweet collection of florals, vines and berries in a spectrum of red, pink and white. We’re certain this collection will make your project blossom in beauty!

Watch the Free Quilt Tutorial >

Get the Sewing Supplies >

The Stars and Stripes Quilt

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

Hamilton, Missouri is located in America’s Heartland and when Independence Day comes around, we can’t help but show off our Stars and Stripes. Spread this patriotic quilt across a table at your next Fourth of July BBQ and you’ll steal the show!

Get that true red, white and blue in your quilt with Wilmington Essentials All American 40 Karat Gems 2.5” Strips! This classic take on this quilt will be sure to light up your Independence Day party, but why stop there? Break from the mold and take a risk with Kaffe Classics – Island Design Roll 2.5” Strips and make this quilt fun, unique and filled with fun and bright colors! There’s no limit to what you can imagine when it comes to quilting!

Watch the Quilting Tutorial >

Get the Quilting Supplies >

The Summer Camp Quilt

The Summer Camp Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today.

Remember spending your summers at camp? The memories we made in our childhood have a lasting impression on us. Jenny remembers the first quilt she ever made, a classic log-cabin quilt and drawing inspiration from her first days as a quilter, she’s created this gorgeous jelly roll pattern she likes to call the Summer Camp Quilt!

The Summer Camp Quilt is filled with colors and motion! Go bold with this design and consider Monkey Wrench 2.5” Strips from FreeSpirt Fabrics and designer Tula Pink for an amazingly colorful and fabulous design. These strips break from tradition with offbeat colors, florals and animals hidden throughout the layout which will turn your Summer Camp Quilt into a game of hide and seek as you try to locate all the beautiful details of the fabric!

Get the Quilting Supplies >

Watch the Quilting Tutorial >

The Summer School Quilt

The Summer School Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Watch the free quilt tutorial today.

Spending summers on the lake is a fabulous past time. Fresh air, beautiful scenery and if you’re lucky, you can even see a school of fish! You’ll be using 5″ squares to make this lovely charm pack quilt that would be perfect for a summer fishing trip! Trade your bobbins in for bobbers with the Summer School Quilt!

When we think about the Summer School Quilt and all the cute fish swimming across the pattern, we can’t help but to think about Batiks! Consider the Coastal Getaway Batiks Charm Pack from Maywood Studio when creating this quilt, each 5” square marries light seafoam colors with ocean-themed batik backgrounds for a truly fabulous, nautical experience!

Watch the Quilt Tutorial >

Get the Quilting Supplies>

Dont’ Forget! Join us for Missouri Star Academy

Missouri Star Academy is a magical two-days of learning and fun right here in Hamilton! We’ve invited a few of your favorite fabric companies to our hometown as well as some of the best pattern and fabric designers in the quilting industry to come present at this fantastic event.
Check out this star-studded lineup of instructors from the 2018 Missouri Star Academy! These Sew-lebrities had a great time teaching, but don’t fear, there may be some familiar faces at the 2020 Missouri Star Academy! Stay tuned for more details and announcements!

As you plan your summer projects out, don’t forget that June 10th & 11th is The Missouri Star Academy right here in Quilt Town USA! Join us in Hamilton, Missouri for two days of fun and learning. We’ve even invited a few special guests from the quilting and fabric industry, so don’t miss this opportunity to meet and learn from some of your favorite Sew-lebrities! Mark your calendars today and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest for update the latest updates!

Check out the Missouri Star Events Page >

Tell us, what’s your favorite summer quilt project?

Road Trip Quilt

MSQC New Tutorial on the Blog!

I love Montana with her endless blue skies. Colorado with her majestic mountains peaks. The excitement of New York. The serenity of the Oregon Cost. And of course, there’s nothing like Missouri’s amber waves of grain!  From sea to shining sea, this country is made up of beautifully unique states.

This week Jenny is stitching up an adorable appliqué map quilt featuring 20 of her favorite states. Click HERE to learn how to make a Road Trip quilt of your own!

(This easy project is made using Valori Wells’ Murmur collection. Valori created these gorgeous prints by stamping fabric with blocks she carved herself!  Click HERE to learn more about process!)

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!