Missouri Star Quilt Company Shopping Tips
Our full-time RV travels took us to the middle of Missouri to visit Missouri Star Quilt Company, also known as Quilt Town USA. This town looks like any other off Missouri Highway 36, but, if you look closer, it has 12 quilt shops in the middle of downtown! Yes, 12 quilt shops! How is this even possible? My tips for shopping at Missouri Star Quilt Company (MSQC) are below, but first a little background on who Jenny Doan is.
“Irony, the Opposite of Wrinkly”
Jenny Doan and her husband Ron opened a long arm quilting service and quilt shop in November 2008. The recession had just happened and they needed to do something to bring in business. Her son and his friend were internet savvy and came up with an idea to have Jenny do a quilting YouTube tutorial. Funny thing, Jenny didn’t even know what a tutorial was, but she was definitely up for it. Now, 10+ years later, Jenny is a legend in the quilting online community and the Missouri Star Quilting Company (MSQC) has expanded to 12 quilt shops on Main Street. Hamilton is now a quilting destination for many quilters near and far!
Shopping at Missouri Star Quilt Company begins at the main quilt store. Go in and get setup with a name badge which allows you to access your Quilter Points at each shop. The other shops have a theme that is carried throughout the each store. These include Penney’s Quilt Shop (in an old JC Penney’s store that focuses on solids), Missouri Star Mercantile (reproduction fabrics), Florals, Kids & Baby, Sew Seasonal, Primitives & Wool, Batik Boutique, Licensed to Sew (Disney, Star Wars, sports teams, etc.), Modern, Backing & Trims, and Notions.
Seven tips for shopping at Missouri Star Quilt Company
Because visiting Quilt Town USA can be a little overwhelming, here are my tips to have a great experience:
Penny’s Quilt Shop 
Jenny’s Trunk Show 
“Bees” Fabric Display
- Do some research before you go. Google “Missouri Star Quilt Company” and you will find many articles and videos on the famous quilt store in Hamilton! Among them are Forbes, MSNBC and NPR. You will find out just how MSQC was able to transform Hamilton into Quilt Town USA!
- Plan for a multi-day trip. It would be hard to capture the essence of MSQC in just one day. I planned three days and I could have spent even more days there! There are several ways to get to Hamilton: drive with some quilting friends (of course), fly into Kansas City and rent a car, or find a quilters’ bus tour that is going to Hamilton in your area. Fortunately for me, Mark said, “Yes” when I asked if we could go to Hamilton to visit. It worked out perfectly into our RVing schedule!
- Check out overnight options. We stayed at A Country Charm RV Park which was a half mile from downtown Hamilton. It opened in 2018 and it is a perfect spot for your spouse if they don’t want to be with you while you are shopping! It has full hookups and high-speed internet too! As it turns out, there aren’t many other options for lodging in Hamilton. When I did an internet search, there were four B&Bs which were all booked when I checked dates in the future. However, if you are a planner, you may be able to snag one as they cater to quilters. The closest cities for additional lodging are in Cameron (11 miles) or Kansas City (40 miles).
- Set a budget. Before you head to Hamilton, be sure you determine how much money you are going to spend. If you don’t, you will definitely overspend because it is very easy to do so! Fortunately, there are clearance sections in nearly every store and the online “Daily Deals” are also available. Review your current projects to see what fabric you need to get them completed. I purchased backing fabric for two quilts I was working on which was nearly half off the retail price!
- Start at the Main Store to get acclimated. Finding the main store is easy. Just look for the Missouri Star Quilt Company logo. Register at the check-in device inside the door to get your name tag to get Quilter’s Cash points on every dollar you spend. This main store should be called the “idea store!” There are displays of quilts to inspire you which include the pattern name and related online tutorial. So, when you see it, you tell yourself, “I can make that!” These ideas get you excited to visit the other stores. MSQC merchandise is also available for sale. While there, be sure to check out the latest issue of BLOCKS, a monthly magazine which has even more quilting ideas!
- Check out MSQC events. When I looked here online, I found out there was an event called “Trunk Show With Jenny” that was happening right in Hamilton! The session with Jenny and her husband Ron was inspiring, fun and educational! At the end of the session, we had time to meet them in person! Other events include sewing retreats and their yearly September Birthday Bash.
- Check out the rest of Hamilton! Take a break and check out the rest of the town. Hamilton Baking Company has excellent coffee and sandwiches for lunch. Hank and Tank’s BBQ offers some of the best BBQ in the country. Hamilton is also the birthplace of J. C. Penny, so, of course, there is a J.C. Penny Museum. The Missouri Quilt Museum will be opening in September 2019. They will host quilting exhibits from local artists as well as top designers from around the world. I will definitely visit the next time we stop!
Kids & Baby Display 
World’s Largest Spool of Thread 
Hamilton Mural
“Take Each Day One Stitch at a Time”
Relaxing and Retreats
Taking a break in the middle of your day is a great thing to do. There is a place to relax that has recliners, TVs and even a pool table. This place is called Man’s Land. When you think of a man cave, this is what Man’s Land kinda looks like. Decorated in darker colors, both men and women were taking advantage when I checked it out!
The Sewing Center is the place for quilting retreats! Click here to learn what Missouri Star Quilt Company retreats are currently offering. They tend to fill up quickly, so when you know the dates you are coming, check to see what’s available. They have overnight options as part of the retreat price, so it is a great option to check out!
If you quilt, MSQC is a bucket list destination!
This is definitely a destination for quilters! It had been on my bucket list for several years and I’m so glad we were able to make it a priority this past spring. I hope these tips help you when you or a quilting friend head to Hamilton! If you need a tip on how to create a scant 1/4 inch so all your seams match up correctly, check out my post “What is a scant 1/4”?
Finding Joy in the Journey – Heidi of Loving the RV Life
Great article…..love following your travels.
I’ve lived in the KC area for 40 years and didn’t know this place existed! And I sew!
I’ll have to check it out.
What equipment do you (or other quilters) use? Do most quilters use a standard sewing machine or a serger for piecing?
We spent a few hours there. Because our trailer is smaller, and I have a lot of fabric already, I purchased only a few things. I didn’t meet anyone. It’s a nice place but the town is plain, like other Missouri towns. I did like the murals, and we did set a budget!