Missouri Star Academy 2026 Recap: Two Days of Learning, Laughter & Quilt Town Magic

Class is officially out — and what a session it was! The 2026 Missouri Star Academy took over downtown Hamilton once again, welcoming quilters from all over the country for two unforgettable days of hands-on classes, live demos, inspiring instructors, and the kind of creative camaraderie that only happens in Quilt Town, USA.

If you were there, you already know: MSA 2026 was one for the books. And if you missed it? Pull up a chair, grab your favorite mug, and let us take you through all the highlights.

What Is Missouri Star Academy?

For those new to the party, Missouri Star Academy (MSA) is our two-day learning event held right here in the heart of Hamilton, Missouri — better known as Quilt Town, USA. Think of it as the ultimate quilting experience: expert-led classes, hands-on sewing sessions, free demos in the shops, shopping across 17+ quilt stores, and a whole lot of creative energy buzzing through the streets.

This year's event was completely sold out (again!), with each ticket holder selecting two sewing classes and two non-sewing classes from a packed lineup of options. The best part? Everything was provided — sewing machines, fabric, supplies — so all you had to do was show up ready to learn and have fun.

New This Year: The Welcome Event

Before a single class began, MSA 2026 kicked off with a Welcome Event that brought all of our incredible instructors & students together in one room. It was the perfect way to start things off: attendees got to meet the people they'd be learning from, soak up the excitement, and get completely pumped for the days ahead. The room was buzzing with anticipation, and you could feel the creative energy building before anyone even sat down at a sewing machine.

The Classes: Something for Every Quilter

This year's class lineup was bigger, better, and more diverse than ever. Whether you came to learn a brand-new technique, sharpen a skill you've been working on, or simply get inspired by some of the best in the industry, there was a class calling your name.

Hands-On Sewing Classes

The sewing classes — each a full 90 minutes this year (a tweak based on your feedback!) — had quilters rolling up their sleeves and diving right in:

• ➤Michael Nardi from Bryn Mawr Quilts had everyone thinking outside the box with Color Outside the Lines: Mixed Media Quilting, where students fused coloring book art onto fabric to create one-of-a-kind wall hangings. It was equal parts art project and sewing adventure!
• ➤Christine Ricks guided students through the precision of Foundation Paper Piecing: Economy Block, with a focus on fussy cutting for maximum visual impact. Beginners and seasoned quilters alike left with a beautiful finished block.
• ➤Tami Jones from Hometown Quilt Company showed everyone how to use Missouri Star's Piece of Cake template set to create adorable fabric birthday banners in Template Your Way to Being Party-Ready! — and every student took home their own template set.
• ➤Chelsea Swindle from She Sews Seams taught a patriotic envelope pillow class just in time for summer, plus a hands-on Sewing Journal & Fabric Cover Workshop where each student received a copy of Chelsea's self-published sewing journal.
• ➤Jess Barrera from Sallie Tomato tackled the zipper fear head-on in Take the Fear Out of Zippers! and taught students how to make custom, professional-quality bag straps in Strap Happy.

Inspiring Non-Sewing Sessions

Not every class required a sewing machine — and these sessions were just as packed with inspiration:

• ➤Christine Ricks opened eyes with Color Confidence for Quilters, teaching how value often matters more than hue and how fabric placement can dramatically change the look of a quilt. Her Vintage Vibes session shared her personal stash of 1930s vintage quilts that inspired the Aunt Grace 1930s reproduction fabrics,  exploring their history, offering tips on mixing vintage pastels and florals, and showcasing quilts designed to feel like a nostalgic hug.
• ➤Courtenay Hughes — a.k.a. Jenny's Elf — wowed the crowd with Quilt Binding Bliss, a buffet-style exploration of binding techniques from flange to big stitch and everything in between.
• ➤Jason Yenter from In the Beginning Fabrics took us behind the scenes of fabric design in From Sketch to Stitch, complete with a stunning trunk show of quilts made from his designs.
• ➤Debbie Stark from FreeSpirit Fabrics delivered a fascinating deep-dive into the world of authentic William Morris fabrics in From the Archives: William Morris Meets Modern Masters.
• ➤Cherry Hill from Missouri Star introduced the timeless art of English Paper Piecing in Star Struck and shared game-changing ruler tips in Rule the Quilt.
• ➤Toni Steere from Wing and a Prayer Designs settled the age-old debate in Pattern or Fabric First?, giving quilters a foolproof process for making quilts they'll love every time.
• ➤Tami Jones brought the fun (and Mod Podge!) with Let's Make Scrap Happy Memories, where students made custom picture frames from fabric scraps and took a class photo that was printed on the spot — a truly one-of-a-kind keepsake.

The Double Take Trunk Show: Misty & Natalie Doan

Another brand-new addition to MSA this year — and an absolute highlight — was the Double Take Trunk Show featuring the incredibly talented Misty and Natalie Doan. This can't-miss event had the theater buzzing with excitement as the dynamic duo shared their creative vision, stunning quilts, and the kind of behind-the-scenes stories that only the Doan family can tell.

With two shows offered (one each day) so everyone could get a front-row experience, the Double Take Trunk Show was the talk of the town — and for good reason. If you've ever watched Misty and Natalie's tutorials, imagine that energy times ten, live and in person. It was pure magic.

Free Demos: Fun for Everyone

One of the things we love most about MSA is that you don't need a ticket to join in on the fun. Free demos were held in our Main Shop next to the patio both days, and anyone who happened to be in Hamilton could stop by and soak it all in.

From Christine Ricks getting up close with blocks to Chelsea Swindle sharing sewing tips, Jason Yenter hosting a meet-and-greet, and Michael Nardi, Jess Barrera, Cherry Hill, and Tami Jones all sharing their expertise — the demos gave everyone a taste of the MSA experience.

Exploring Quilt Town, USA

Of course, MSA isn't just about the classes — it's about the whole Hamilton experience. Between sessions, attendees explored our 16+ quilt shops lining the streets of downtown, picking up fabric, notions, patterns, and probably "just one more" fat quarter (or ten). The shops were buzzing all week long, and the energy of hundreds of quilters discovering new treasures was absolutely contagious.

Whether you were popping into your favorite shop for the hundredth time or visiting Quilt Town for the very first time, there was something special around every corner.

The Heart of MSA: Community & Camaraderie

Ask anyone who attended, and they'll tell you the same thing: the best part of Missouri Star Academy isn't just the classes, the demos, or even the shopping (as amazing as all of that is). It's the people.

MSA brings together quilters of every skill level, from every walk of life, and turns them into fast friends. There's something about sitting down at a sewing machine next to a stranger and walking out with a new quilting buddy that just can't be replicated. The laughter echoing through classrooms, the "ooh, look what I made!" moments in the hallways, the swapping of tips and fabric recommendations — that's the magic of Missouri Star Academy.

Thank You, MSA 2026!

To every quilter who joined us in Hamilton this year — thank you. Thank you for bringing your creativity, your enthusiasm, and your big, beautiful quilting hearts to Quilt Town. You made this year's Missouri Star Academy truly unforgettable.

To our incredible lineup of instructors — Tami Jones, Michael Nardi, Christine Ricks, Courtenay Hughes, Chelsea Swindle, Jess Barrera, Jason Yenter, Debbie Stark, Cherry Hill, Toni Steere, and of course Misty and Natalie Doan — thank you for sharing your talent and passion with our community.

And to everyone who couldn't make it this year: we missed you! But don't worry — Missouri Star Academy is now an annual event, and we're already dreaming up ways to make our next one even better.

Stay tuned for MSA 2028 details, and we'll see you in Quilt Town!