A Quilter’s Guide to Quilt Town, USA (non-quilters can use this, too)

My wife is a quilter. Twenty years ago, she bought the material for a quilt, and just this summer, she finished it up. In fact, she finished binding the quilt edges by hand as we made our way across the Midwest on our 3,800-mile road trip. She was so proud of her accomplishment, and so was I. She was ecstatic to learn that our planned route took us right through Hamilton, Missouri – otherwise known as Quilt Tow, USA.

I am not at all familiar with quilting. Sure, I’ve done a service project or two where I helped tie a quilt. I’ve also made little fleece blankets for our local children’s hospital. But I am by no means a quilter. But I love that my wife is passionate about it and has a hobby she can enjoy. It was fun to see how excited she was as we wandered through all the fabric shops, which are all part of the Missouri Star Quilty Co. – yet another name I hadn’t heard until we stopped in Quilt Town, USA.

So for you quilters and non-quilters alike, here’s a guide to Quilt Town, USA, so you’ll know what to expect as you make your trek to Hamilton, Missouri, in search of fabrics, threads, patterns, sewing machines and more.

Getting to Quilt Town, USA – Home of the Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Hamilton, Missouri – otherwise known as Quilt Town, USA – is about an hour drive northeast from Kansas City, Missouri. Take Interstate 35 to Cameron, then head east on Highway 36 until you see the exit for Hamilton. The Missouri Star Quilt Company and all its shops are located a few minutes from the highway.

The fun begins along Davis Street, just north of Berry Street. You’ll see the main building (as seen in the photo above) on the east side of the road. So find a parking spot and you’ll be good to start shopping. There is on-street parking in front of the shops, but there’s also a parking lot on the southeast corner of the Davis Street and Mc Gaughy Street intersection.

Visit the Missouri Star Shops

There’s a reason they call this Quilt Town, USA. There are more than a dozen shops featuring fabrics and supplies from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. Each of the shops feature different designs or patterns of fabrics. For example, one caters to floral designs while another one highlights designs perfect for a nursery. You can spend hours wandering through each of the shops in search of the fabric you need for your next quilt… or next several quilts.

My apologies for not knowing all the quilter’s lingo for what’s what, but they sell fabric by the yard, or you can buy precut jelly rolls (2.5″ strips), fat quarter bundles (18″x21″), layer cakes (10″x10″), honey buns (1.5″ strips), charm packs (5″x5″) and more. 😉 Did I get those right? And these options are available at most – if not all – of the fabric stores in Hamilton, Missouri.

To help keep you from getting overwhelmed, I’ve listed out each of the shops below, with a recommended path for you to take. Start in the main building and be sure to grab a map/guide to the city. Then visit each of the shops to see what they have to offer.

A word of caution: Hold off on buying your fabrics until you’ve visited all of the shops. I’m notorious for purchasing something at the first store I see, then finding something even cooler at a subsequent shop. That said, I guess if you find something better at a subsequent shop, you now have even more fabric to use on future projects. Right? 😉

Main Shop

The MSQC Main Quilt Shop – the one with Missouri Star Quilt Co. on the front – is where you want to start. Since this was our first visit there, we asked the woman at the front of the store for some tips. She handed us a brochure that opens up to a map of downtown Hamilton, Missouri. The map includes all the shops that are part of the Missouri Star Quilt Co., along with a few other arts and crafts stores, general stores, points of interest, restaurants, etc.

The main shop is sort of a collection of what you’ll generally find in all the other shops. They have small sections with a few of the more popular fabrics from the other Missouri Star Shops. Beyond that, they have t-shirts with fun sewing puns and quotes on them, books, lots of patterns, and other items you may need for your next project.

I was glad they also had a public restroom I could use.

After exploring the main shop and studying the map to get a lay of the land, we ventured south along Davis Street to check out the Missouri Star Mercantile shop.

Missouri Star Mercantile

Based on my tastes in fabrics, this was the shop with the fabrics I liked best. I say that, because my wife’s purpose in stopping here was to get the fabric for a quilt for our bed. She wanted my opinion on the color choices, which I offered. But I also trusted her judgment in what fabrics she selected based on the pattern she had picked out and the picture she had in her head of the finished product.

The fabrics in the Missouri Star Mercantile shop are your more traditional fabric prints. Think of the quilts you see from the 1800s or 1930s (weird that they would stack those two completely different decades together, but they did). If you’re going for a very traditional-looking quilt, I highly recommend visiting this shop in Quilt Town, USA.

Florals

The next store we ventured into is the one we ended up coming back to later. The Florals Quilt Shop is the one with the fabric styles and colors my wife really liked for the quilt she had in mind. She found one that she liked with the colors we had been discussing, and then worked with the store clerk to grab the pre-cut options and the yards of fabric needed for our quilt.

While she was getting all that done, I was wandering the small store, chuckling a little at the creative and punny signs on display. For example, “Happiness is a Full Bobbin” or “Sewing Mends the Soul” are just a few of them. But I’ll let you discover them yourself, and then chuckle on your own with their cleverness.

If you love flowers, then I’m confident you’ll find the floral pattern and color you’re looking for. The store isn’t as big as what you may find at JoAnn’s or Hobby Lobby, but it’s full of florals and I’m told it’s a higher-quality fabric as well.

Batik Boutique

Here’s a new word I don’t think I’ve ever heard – Batik. My wife seemed to be familiar with it, so we went inside to see what fabrics they had at Batik Boutique. Colorful and vibrant are the words I would use to describe these fabrics.

But how is “Batik” fabric colored? Wax is applied to certain areas of the fabric, often in intricate designs or patterns. The fabric is then placed in dye. The solid wax prevents the dye from coloring those fibers, thus they aren’t colored. After the dye sets in, the fabric is boiled and the wax comes off. Kind of a cool process – and if you like vibrant, you won’t be disappointed.

My wife and I were in Hawaii last summer and bought some fabrics there so she could make a sarong. The fabrics here reminded me of what we were seeing across the islands we visited. So if you’re going for that look in your fabrics, this is the store to visit.

Machine Shed

Quilting is much more than just finding color fabrics. You need the tools, machines and threads to make that happen. If you plan to hand stitch the quilt, then there’s no sewing machine needed – and kudos to you for being AMAZING! But if you need a machine or want to upgrade your current one, then Machine Shed is a place you need to visit.

Beyond finding the latest and greatest in sewing machines, you’ll also find notions. To be honest, I had to look up what “notions” were in the sewing realm. They’re the small objects or accessories that you attach to a finished article – like a button or snaps. I love learning new things. 😉

There are several other tools you may need for your project – like scissors. And trust me (or my wife), you need a GREAT pair of fabric scissors. Not some cheap pair from your local convenience store. A pizza cutter is good to have, too… I mean a fabric rotary cutter. You can find those here as well. If there’s a tool or template you need, chances are, this is the store that has it.

If you need threads to use in your machine, then you’ll want to visit this place as well. There’s an entire wall with a myriad of colors of threads. So you should be able to find the one you need for the plethora of fabrics you picked up here in Quilt Town, USA.

Licensed to Sew

If you’re looking for fabrics with your favorite Disney character, Licensed to Sew is a stop you’ve gotta make. But the options stretch beyond cartoon characters. You can find sports team, too. I’m sure my brother would love to have an entire quilt honoring the Denver Broncos. But if football isn’t your ball of wax, you’ll find other sports teams represented – like universities, basketball teams and more.

There are so many options, that you’ll probably find something that interests you – like book characters or movies. There are lots of fun prints to choose from.

The last three shops have all been on the ground level. But the next four shops are found upstairs, so keep reading to see what you’ll discover.

Sew Seasonal (upstairs, above Batik Boutique)

Do you get excited for just about any major holiday? Well, Sew Seasonal has the fabric designs for celebrations like the Fourth of July, Halloween, autumn, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, St Patrick’s Day, Valentines Day and more.

The options include more than just the fabric. There are also little kits for various projects. I was eyeing some cool projects like a table runner that’s a snowman. While I think it would’ve been cool, I’m not sure I would’ve used it. It’s just not something we usually use. But if you’re looking for a fun and simple sewing project for one of your kids, then swing into Sew Seasonal to grab a fun holiday project.

Backing and Trims (upstairs, above Man’s Land)

Much like the name implies, the Backing and Trims store is made up of those exact items. Find the fabrics you’ll need for the underside of your quilt. Beyond the fabric, you’ll also find the supplies you need as you work to wrap up your quilting project so you can wrap up in your quilt… See what I did there? 😉

Modern (upstairs, above Machine Shed)

On the other end of the spectrum from what you’ll find a Missouri Star Mercantile are the fabrics you’ll find a Modern. It’s here that you’ll find the latest designer fabrics. But what makes a fabric modern? Well, it’s bold color, innovative prints, high contrast patterns, minimalism, and exploration. Make sense?

If you’re not familiar with the style but are interested in learning more about it, the folks at Modern can help you out. They can explain the way they take the traditional patterns and use the modern fabrics to create something different.

Kids & Baby (upstairs, above Licensed to Sew)

Do you have kids, grandkids or great grandkids? Maybe you have a new niece or nephew, or a friend who has young children and you’re wanting to make a blanket or quilt for them? Well, venture upstairs to find Kids & Baby, and all the fun “young at heart” fabric designs that’ll be perfect for your project. I found some fun blanket patterns that I think my teenage daughter could use as an intro to quilting.

Penny’s Quilt Shop + Hometown Leather

The next shop is the northern-most Missouri Star Quilt Co. shop on Davis Street – Penny’s Quilt Shop. This is one of the larger stores and has several rows of fabrics. We spent a while in here as my wife tried to find the trim and backing colors that would work with the other fabrics she picked up at the Floral shop. We even consulted with one of the quilters working there to get some guidance. But it came down to the colors and designs that we liked.

Despite all the time we spent at this store, we didn’t grab the fabric from here. My wife ventured back to the Floral shop and found a fabric color and design that she thought would work the best for what she envisioned. So needless to say, there may be a lot of back and forth between the shops as you try to find what you’re looking for. Because it’s not like you can just swing by Quilt Town, USA, the following week if you didn’t grab what you needed. It’s about a 16-hour drive from our home to Hamilton, Missouri.

In the back of Penny’s Quilt Shop is Hometown Leather. To be honest, this shop seemed a little out of place, because I can’t imagine how many quilters would also be looking for leatherwork supplies. But if you happen to be looking for leather, they’ve got you covered.

Non-Shoppers Can Hang in Man’s Land

I had a good laugh when I heard they had a building called Man’s Land. I definitely wanted to check it out as the woman at the main store made it sound pretty awesome. But since I was interested in sharing my opinion with my wife and helping her pick out the fabrics for OUR quilt, I wasn’t interested in hanging out in Man’s Land.

Man’s Land is located on the street level between Batik Boutique and Machine Shed. As you can see from the photo above, there are two rows of Lazy Boy recliners. Near the back, you can see a pool table if you want to give that a try.

And if you think I’m just sitting in the recliner staring at the ceiling, I’m not. There’s a wall with two big-screen televisions showing a movie. It’s a great way to just sit and relax in an air conditioned room.

Although the name may imply that it’s a man-only land, it really is for anyone who may need a break from the shopping. If we wouldn’t have been pressed for time to get to our next stop, I might have challenged my wife to a game of pool. Man’s Land is also great for those uninterested in fabric shopping, leaving those in their group with the ability to run amuck and charge whatever they want to the credit card. Yikes!

Sister Shops for More Crafting

All of the previous stores I’ve talked about are Missouri Star Quilt Company shops. But the area has a few other arts and crafts stores they refer to as Sister Shops.

One Big Happy Yarn Co. is the “must-visit” shop for the crocheter or knitter. You can find the yarn, along with various kits, needles and more to help you create.

Let’s Make Art can help you express your inner artist. They have a wide assortment of supplies, mediums and paints to get you started. You’ll find watercolors and acrylics, or you can get supplies to try some mixed media. There’s also art supplies and ideas for younger artists (kids).

Nancy’s Notions is an accessory shop to help you find the notions (remember, we learned about that word earlier) for your project.

Other Points of Interest in Hamilton, Missouri

Beyond the rows of shops that line Davis Street, there are some other points of interest in town – or a few blocks away. The guide you pick up at the Main Shop can help direct you to all of them, but here’s a quick rundown on some of those other points of interest:

• The iconic Welcome to Hamilton Mural, along with two other large murals: Hamilton Train Depot Mural and the Airing of the Quilts Mural
• The World’s Largest Spool of Thread (as seen in the photo above)
• The Missouri Quilt Museum (located near the giant spool of thread)
• J.C. Penney’s boyhood home, along with his library and a museum
• The original site of the Missouri Star Quilt Company

There are also many other local businesses, including a flower shop, post office, shops, churches, jewelers, a sweets shop, massage spot and more. So you really can spend the larger part of a day exploring Quilt Town, USA, otherwise known as Hamilton, Missouri.

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