Holiday Machine Quilting at Missouri Star: 2026 Deadlines + 11 Pattern Picks
⚡ Quick Answer
- Christmas order deadline: place your machine quilting order online by Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Arrival deadline: your quilt top must be received in Hamilton, Missouri by Monday, October 26, 2026.
- Priority service pauses October 12 and is not guaranteed to return before Christmas, so plan on standard timing (about 4 weeks from arrival).
- Value patterns are included in the 3¢ per square inch price; deluxe patterns add 1¢ per square inch.
- Holiday picks: Snow Day, Mittens & Ice Skates, Christmas Doodle, Holly Simple, Christmas Paisley (value) and Snow Winds (deluxe). Doan family favorites for everyday gift quilts: Champagne Bubbles, Square Meander, Sticky Buns, Meandering Leaves, and Loops and Swirls.
Every December there's a stack of quilt tops that almost made it: pieced, pressed, folded, and still waiting to be quilted. If one of those is yours, this is the year it gets finished. With machine quilting at Missouri Star, you mail us your top and backing, our longarm team in Hamilton quilts it edge to edge, and it comes home ready for binding, wrapping, or the couch.
The catch is the calendar. Our 2026 holiday deadlines are only a couple of weeks away, and we'd hate for your gift quilt to miss them. Below you'll find the exact dates, what service costs, and 11 quilting patterns our customers and our own family keep choosing, for Christmas quilts and for the gift quilts that aren't holiday-themed at all.
Key Takeaways
- ➤ Christmas Deadline: Order by Oct. 12 and ensure your quilt arrives in Hamilton by Oct. 26 for guaranteed Christmas delivery.
- ➤ Turnaround Starts at Arrival: Processing time begins when we check your quilt in at Hamilton—not when you order or ship. You will receive an email confirmation when your quilt is officially checked in and added to our queue.
- ➤ No Priority Service After Oct. 12: Priority processing pauses Oct. 12, after which all quilts follow standard holiday timelines.
- ➤ Value patterns cost nothing extra. Budget-Friendly Design Picks: Five of our six holiday picks and all Doan favorites are free value patterns. Snow Winds is a deluxe pattern upgrade (+1¢ per square inch).
- ➤ Versatile Pattern Choices: Holiday gifts don't require Christmas motifs—year-round patterns like Sticky Buns or Meandering Leaves make great gifts, too.
2026 Holiday Machine Quilting Deadlines
If you want your quilt finished in time for Christmas gifting, here are the most important dates to put on the fridge:
| What | Deadline | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Place your order online | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Reserves your spot in the holiday quilting queue |
| Quilt received in Hamilton, MO | Monday, October 26, 2026 | Turnaround starts when your quilt arrives, not when it ships |
| Priority service | Paused as of October 12, 2026 | Not guaranteed to return before Christmas; plan on standard timing |
How Machine Quilting at Missouri Star Works
Our mail-in service is built for quilters who love piecing and would rather not wrestle a queen-size quilt through a home machine. Here's the whole process:
- Measure your quilt top and enter the width and height in the order form. The price calculates automatically.
- Choose your details: turnaround, thread, quilting pattern, backing, trimming, and binding.
- Mail it to Hamilton with your top, your backing, and your order paperwork in the box.
- Get it back finished. Our team quilts it on computerized longarm machines, handles any add-ons you picked, and ships it home. You can follow along with the machine quilting tracker (log in to your account) once it arrives.
| Service | Price | Turnaround / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard quilting (value patterns) | 3¢ per square inch | Approx. 4 weeks from its arrival in Hamilton; batting and thread included |
| Deluxe pattern | +1¢ per square inch | More detailed designs, stitched edge to edge |
| Priority upgrade | 5¢ per square inch | Quilted within 7 business days from its arrival in our studio. This service option will be paused as of Oct 12 to accommodate the holiday rush |
| Machine binding | 25¢ per linear inch | Completed after quilting; allow extra time for this optional service |
| Hand binding | 60¢ per linear inch | Completed after quilting; allow extra time for this optional service |
| Trimming only | $10 | Trimmed and ready for you to bind at home |
Holiday Machine Quilting Patterns We Love
When you select your pattern on the order form, open the All Themes drop-down and choose Holiday to view all seasonal designs. (Value patterns are labeled "Standard" in the order form.) These are the six we'd pick for a cozy Christmas or winter quilt:
Value pattern · Holiday
Snow Day
Chunky, rounded snowflakes joined by loopy curls. It reads "winter" without shouting "Christmas," so the quilt can stay out through February.
Value pattern · Holiday
Mittens & Ice Skates
Mittens, lace-up skates, and bursting stars. A playful pick for a kid's quilt or a cabin throw.
Value pattern · Holiday
Christmas Doodle
Candy canes, a swirled tree topped with a star, holly, and curls. The most fun of the bunch on a scrappy red-and-green top.
Value pattern · Holiday
Holly Simple
Holly leaves and berry clusters on a gentle meander. Traditional and easy to love on a star or block quilt.
Value pattern · Holiday
Christmas Paisley
Paisley swirls with poinsettias, holly, and berries. The dressiest holiday option, lovely on a quilt with lots of open background.
Deluxe pattern · Holiday
Snow Winds
Holly-leaf snowflakes caught in sweeping wind curls. More detail and more movement, for +1¢ per square inch.
A Christmas quilt can look even better when the quilting does part of the decorating. One of our makers sent in a star quilt in Christmas prints:
"I didn't have to quilt my top. It was a star pattern in Christmas prints, and it was quilted with holly leaves and it was perfect. The quilting made it special."
— Barbara, Verified Buyer
Not Every Christmas Gift Is a Christmas Quilt
Plenty of the quilts under the tree this year won't have a single candy cane on them: a graduation quilt in college colors, a wedding quilt, a big soft throw for a new grandbaby. For those, an edge-to-edge pattern that works in every season is a better gift. Our library runs from simple stipples to striking geometrics to intricate designs, and there's a whole theme for the ones our family chooses most: pick Doan Family Favorites from the All Themes drop-down.
These five are all value patterns, so they add nothing to the price:
Value · Doan Family Favorite · Misty's Pick
Champagne Bubbles
Circles of every size floating along soft curves. Light and airy, and pretty on modern quilts and baby quilts alike.
Value · Doan Family Favorite · Misty's & Natalie's Pick
Square Meander
Nested squares and right-angle paths. The go-to for geometric tops and a great choice for a quilt for someone who likes clean lines.
Value · Doan Family Favorite · Jenny's & Natalie's Pick
Sticky Buns
Dense spirals that look just like a pan of cinnamon rolls. It adds texture to busy prints and hides imperfect seams beautifully.
Value · Doan Family Favorite · Misty's Pick
Meandering Leaves
Leaves scattered along a loose meander. Soft and organic without competing with your fabric.
Value · Doan Family Favorite · Natalie's Pick
Loops and Swirls
Open loops and circles in a relaxed edge-to-edge design. Friendly on nearly any quilt, from a first project to a scrap quilt.
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what makers said after their quilts came home:
"I have a specific pattern that I like. I've used it on several quilts over the years. I defaulted to Sticky Buns. Perfect!"
— Stacia, Verified Buyer
"I like the meandering leaves as it is very basic and doesn't take away from the fabric design."
— Donna, Verified Buyer
"The quilt stitching is "Champagne Bubbles" and I left the thread color up to quilters choice."
— Carol, Verified Buyer
How to Choose the Right Pattern for Your Quilt
Stuck between two? Match the quilting to the top:
| If your quilt is… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Busy novelty Christmas prints | Holly Simple or Sticky Buns | Soft texture that won't fight the fabric |
| Lots of plain background | Christmas Paisley or Snow Winds | Detailed motifs show up in the open space |
| A kid's or cabin quilt | Mittens & Ice Skates | Fun motifs to find all over the quilt |
| Winter, not Christmas | Snow Day | Stays seasonal from December through February |
| Geometric or modern blocks | Square Meander | Echoes straight seams and sharp corners |
| Scrappy or a beginner's first quilt | Loops and Swirls or Sticky Buns | Allover texture that forgives uneven seams |
| A baby or wedding gift | Champagne Bubbles or Meandering Leaves | Gentle and timeless for everyday use |
Still can't decide? Select Quilter's Choice and let our longarm team pick the pattern, and the thread, too, if you'd like!
Getting Your Quilt Top Ready to Mail
- Press the top and the backing so both are smooth.
- Size your backing at least 4" larger than the top on every side (8" wider and 8" longer overall). The easiest route is wide quilt backing with no seams to piece, or you can choose a backing from us in the order form. Need the math? Here's how to figure yardage for quilt backing.
- Trim loose threads that could show through light fabrics.
- Square up the top as much as you can before shipping.
- Put your order paperwork in the box with your quilt.
💡 Pro Tip: Planning to have us bind it? Binding can't be done with minky, cuddle, or fleece fabric, so pick a quilting cotton for the binding. If you don't send binding fabric, we'll use leftover backing when there's enough.
Here's a printable machine quilting order checklist to tuck next to your sewing machine.
Related Articles
- ➤ Get Your Christmas Quilts Finished at Missouri Star
- ➤ Your Complete Guide to Longarm Machine Quilting Services at Missouri Star
- ➤ Christmas Quilt Ideas: Patterns and Fabrics You'll Love
- ➤ What Is a Throw Quilt Size?
- ➤ Shop Christmas Fabric Collections
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Missouri Star machine quilting deadline for Christmas 2026?
Place your order online by October 12, 2026, and make sure your quilt top is received in Hamilton, Missouri by October 26, 2026.
Is priority machine quilting available for the holidays?
Priority service is paused as of October 12, 2026, to help us finish every holiday order on time, and we can't guarantee it will return before Christmas. Plan on standard turnaround, which is about 4 weeks from the day your quilt arrives.
What is the difference between value and deluxe quilting patterns?
Value patterns are included in the standard 3¢ per square inch price. Deluxe patterns are more detailed designs and add 1¢ per square inch. Both are stitched edge to edge across the whole quilt.
How much does it cost to have a quilt machine quilted at Missouri Star?
Standard quilting is 3¢ per square inch with batting and thread included, so a 60" x 72" throw is about $129.60. Deluxe patterns add 1¢ per square inch, machine binding is 25¢ per linear inch, hand binding is 60¢ per linear inch, and trimming is $10.
When does the turnaround time start?
Turnaround starts when your quilt arrives at Missouri Star in Hamilton. Binding, trimming, and return shipping can add time.
What are the Doan Family Favorites patterns?
They're the quilting patterns Jenny, Misty, and Natalie choose most, grouped under their own theme in the order form. Champagne Bubbles, Square Meander, Sticky Buns, Meandering Leaves, and Loops and Swirls are all value patterns, so they don't add to the price.
Can I send my quilt after October 26?
Yes. We accept quilts all year. It just may not be finished in time for Christmas.