Kansas City Star Patterns

It's that time again, where we're getting ready for our next My Stars book. We're up to Volume III already in the series! People just love collecting the old Kansas City Star patterns - can you imagine how cool it's going to be when we have these books all complete?! It will be the official guide to the historical patterns - you will have them all!

I have attached a pdf of the next patterns we're seeking. Please send pictures of the quilts you have of these patterns. We'll go through them, and hopefully yours will be picked to be published in the book! If it is selected, we'll send you a free copy of the book once it's complete!

Please send your photos to me at dmclendon@kcstar.com. I can't wait to see all the beautiful quilts again!

I love Kansas City Star patterns — I always have. As a quilter, I can't even imagine how exciting it would have been to get a FREE pattern each week in the paper. Almost as exciting as getting fabric from the chicken feed bags!

Mexican Star, my favorite, redrafted for My Star Collection.I'm sure I would have been like my Grandmother — clipping each one and pasting them in a three-ring binder for "someday." You never know when you might need that pattern. Having been born 50 years too late for that, I've had to collect them here and there — from my mother-in-law, from strangers and from the Internet.

Finally several years ago, I broke down and bought copies of them all — neatly collected in spiral-bound books organized by year with an index. I have spent a lot of time flipping through these books, daydreaming about this quilt or the other that I might make. I'd love to make them all — even the ridiculously hard ones that no one in their right mind would make!

In May, we plan to release a book that includes a selection of 25 of the first patterns offered to My Star Collection subscribers. The book, called "My Stars: Patterns from The Kansas City Star, Vol. I," will include redrafted patterns that were published in The Kansas City Star newspaper sometime between 1928 and 1961. Each pattern will include templates, fabric requirements, and assembly instructions, as well as the history of the block. But we’re missing one thing – quilts made up of these blocks!

This is where you come in! If you have a quilt made up of any of the blocks listed below and would like to have it published in our book, please email us a sample picture. If chosen, we’ll ship your quilt to our studios to be photographed and then back again – we pay for shipping – and we’ll give you a free copy of the book once it is released.

Below are the patterns we'd like to see quilts made of:

Broken Sugar Bowl
Caps for Witches and Dunces
Carrie Nation
Christmas Tree
Coffee Cups
Cog Wheels
Contrary Husband
Contrary Wife
Crystal Star
Economy
Flying Colors
Four Patch Fox and Goose

The Kansas City Stars DVDThe Kansas City Stars: A Quilting Legacy DVD chronicles the historical patterns that were published in The Kansas City Star between 1928 and 1961. Includes archival photographs and footage from the era. Barbara Brackman, Edie McGinnis, Barb Adams and Alma Allen, and Jeanne Poore are included on the DVD. Also included on the disk are 100 historic quilt patterns provided by The Electric Quilt Company, the No. 1 provider of quilting software.*

* Must have EQ5 or EQ6 software to use patterns.

Click here to purchase this item.

Ladies of the Legler Barn QuiltersLast Wednesday marked the second filming for our DVD that will come out in September – now titled The Kansas City Stars: A Quilting Legacy. This one had the same rustic feel as when we filmed at Barbara Brackman’s house – we shot at the Legler Barn Museum in Lenexa, Kansas. The Legler Barn Quilters meet here on Wednesday mornings, and they were kind enough to let us film their group.

If you live in the area and haven’t had the chance to visit the museum, you should. The barn itself was built in 1864 by Adam Legler. Today, the barn houses local history exhibits and rotating temporary exhibits. While we were there, the staff had a Lenexa Victorian Parlor set up, complete with furniture, books, photographs and a rug from the times. We did some filming in the parlor – see if you can find the spot in the DVD when it comes out! They also had a Victorian bedroom set up, complete with a gorgeous quilt on the bed. We didn’t do any filming in there, but it was beautiful to look at.

Shane, Barb & AlmaIt was a full house at Barbara Brackman’s on Monday morning. Barb Adams, Alma Allen, Edie McGinnis and Barbara all gathered to be interviewed for a DVD project that will be coming out in September. There were also three – Shane, Amanda, and Mike – from the video production company, Wide Awake Films. And Doug and I, of course. Terry Thompson popped in to say hi. And let’s not forget Dottie – our mascot for the day – Barbara’s little dachshund mix. Let’s just say we were relieved it was a cool morning, and not the blazing 90 degree weather oft felt in July in KC.

In September, we will release a DVD about the historical Kansas City Star patterns. While we have all of the information regarding the patterns, we’re missing one key component – YOU!

We want to hear your stories about the Kansas City Star patterns, whether you collect them, have old quilts made of them, however they’re important to you. We hope to pick a few memories and feature these stories in the DVD.

So please, leave comments about your stories (so all can enjoy), or if you prefer, email them to dmclendon@kcstar.com. And please, let me know how I can get a hold of you!

Be sure to check back next week to see what Edie McGinnis has been up to! We’ll give you a hint… it starts with an R…

brought to you by Kansas City Star Quilts

Between 1928 and 1961, The Kansas City Star published over 1,000 different quilt patterns in the newspaper. These patterns have become world famous and will remain favorites for generations to come. To continue this tradition, in 1999, The Kansas City Star began publishing quilting books that include new favorite, beloved patterns.

For the first time ever, you can start collecting all of The Kansas City Star quilt patterns, old and new!

Sign up for MY STAR COLLECTION and download a Kansas City Star quilt pattern once a week for a year! The annual subscription is ONLY $20! Each pattern has been carefully redrafted to eliminate inaccuracies and includes rotary-cutting instructions. In addition, you will also receive:

Block 1 of the Circuit Rider Quilt

The Circuit Rider Quilt is The Kansas City Star's 2008 block-of-the-month project. The project is based on an antique quilt that was donated by Mrs. Emma B. Hodge in 1919 to the Art Institute of Chicago.

The quilt was originally made for Reverend G. C. Warvel, a circuit rider in Miami, Ohio, in appreciation of his services. Forty of the ladies of the United Brethern church made and signed their blocks and stitched them into a quilt to honor their beloved pastor.

Jenifer Dick of Harrisonville, Missouri, with the blessing of the Art Institue of Chicago, has redrafted the patterns to make her own rendition of this historical quilt. Two color variations are offered, but directions will reflect the Red and Green color choice.