Missie Carpenter of Traditional Primitives: October 7-10, 2025

Have you ever thought about learning how to do English paper piecing? Missie Carpenter of Traditional Primitives will be showing you how to use her starch method of basting which can then be sewn by hand or by machine.

She has been sewing in one form or another since she was about 10 years old. Starting with tiny clothes for her Wishnick Troll Doll, she moved on to clothing construction and English smocking when her children were young and now has a passion for quilting.

Majoring in Fashion Merchandising at the University of Missouri, she was exposed to design using fabric and drawing and has stayed with it ever since. She has found her favorite style of stitching and settled on applique, wool applique, punch needle, and English paper piecing. A natural innovator, Missie developed a unique method of basting English paper piecing with starch and created some original notions she uses for appliqué and English paper piecing.

Her design style is traditional with a touch of primitive texture, and she has a unique way of using cotton and wool to create quilts, wall hangings, and other projects. Missie enjoys sharing her knowledge and wants each person to find ways to make the process easy and enjoyable, offering options as she teaches. She designs with Marcus Fabrics and is living the dream.

She has been published in the AQS Engagement Calendar, Quilts & More, Quiltmania, Simply Vintage, and Primitive Quilts and Projects, and has been a guest on The Quilt Show (Episode 2412) and Quilter On Fire.

In addition to teaching the class, Missie will be sharing a trunk show of her quilt designs.

Missie will be teaching the Remembering Martha table runner pattern using the English paper piecing starch method. The pattern and hexagon templates are provided in the class. Kits are available upon request for $51 for the 3/4" size and $45.50 for the 1/2" size (optional, and includes fabric, binding, backing) or if you wish to use your own fabric, the requirements are listed below. Kits may be purchased at the retreat. Please just indicate your preference when you register.

Fabric Requirements for the 3/4" Hexies:

• 1.5 yds background
• 1/4 yd each of 3 browns for the outline path
• 1/8 yd of 12 prints for diamonds in blues, red/oranges, greens and yellow for the centers*
• 1/2 yd for bias binding

*Example: shown are the 11 different fabrics used in addition to the browns. There are 12 diamonds if you want them all to be different colors.

Fabric Requirements for the 1/2" Hexies:

• 1/2 yd background
• 1/8 yd of at least 3 different browns for the outline path
• 1/8 yd of 12 prints for diamonds in blues, red/oranges, greens plus 1 gold print for centers.
• 1/2 yd for bias binding

Please indicate on your registration form, which kit you will want or if you will bring your own fabrics.

What to Expect From MSQC:

For a Full Retreat Experience:

• Includes lodging
• Tuesday - 9 am check-in, set up, shoppig, open sew time, scavenger hunt, dinner
• Wednesday - breakfast, workshop, lunch, project prepping/sewing, dinner
• Thursday - breakfast, project sewing, lunch, project sewing/demos, trunk show, museum, dinner, Show & Tell
• Friday - farewell breakfast, check-out by noon

Sleeping Rooms - our sleeping rooms are located on the second floor of the Retreat Center and are accessible via stairs and a chair lift for those who might need assistance. They are shared rooms, configured in several different ways and are twin beds. There are six individual private bathrooms, each with a shower, toilet, and sink; all are just steps away from the sleeping rooms.

We also have two sleeping rooms located on the main floor, each with two twin beds and a bathroom. If you need accessibility to our first-floor rooms, please reach out to us via email () or by phone (816-265-1812).

Interested in being an Early Bird Monday evening? You may select the early bird option when signing up. Check-In time is 4 p.m. and it includes breakfast Tuesday morning.

For COMMUTERS – includes everything provided in the full experience (Tuesday - Thursday) except for lodging.

Interested in a WORKSHOP ONLY? – includes only the Wednesday & Thursday events, plus lunch & dinner.

Other projects - Although time will be spent working on the Remembering Martha project, please feel free to bring other small projects to work on during open sew sessions before and after the workshop.

Sewing Machines Rental (optional) - If you are interested in trying to sew your hexies by machine and don't want to bring your own machine, we have sewing machines available for rent upon request - $75. If you do need to reserve a machine, please indicate this on your registration form. Also select the payment option on the registration page. This "add-on" is located at the very bottom, after you have selected your room assignment.

Sewing Table Seating - We do have assigned seating for the well-lit 4' sewing tables (personal sewing lamps are optional). If you are traveling with a friend or friends and would like to sit together - no problem! Please just indicate this on your registration form with the names of the people you wish to sit by. We also provide cutting/ironing tables, and power strips and small side tables.

Supplies available to you for use:

• Cutting mats and/or cutting stations
• Ironing stations / ironing trays
• Table lamp provided

Supplies to bring – please remember to bring the following standard sewing supplies with you. Of course, you will have full access to our shops in downtown Hamilton if you forget anything!

• Scissors - both fabric and paper
• Washable applique glue - Roxanne’s Glue Baste dries fast and holds well, but lets loose easily
• Mini iron with 1” surface - Clover MCI-900 without the red protector is the best. Travel irons also work if you already have one
• 60 weight or higher poly threads that blend with your fabrics; if machine sewing, bring cotton that blends well with your fabrics in 60 weight or higher.
• Sewing machine and ½ yard of lightweight woven fusible interfacing if you want to try this method of sewing the hexies together.
• Pen/pencil for notes
• Thimble if needed
• Portable ironing surface if you don’t plan to purchase the Hexie Pressing Mat mentioned below
• Small bowl / cheap artist paint brush, starch, and a stiletto (if you are not purchasing the Starch Brush and Fingertip Stiletto mentioned below)
• Small table light (optional)

Meals - Dinner will be served on Tuesday evening. A continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday morning, enjoy a hot "farewell" breakfast before you check out and get on the road! Of course, for you early birds Monday evening, a continental breakfast will be served Tuesday morning.

Snacks - We set out a snack table - because sewing definitely makes us all snack-y. We provide light snacks for the group but if there is something particular you crave, feel free to bring it.

Show & Tell – we will have Show & Tell time on Thursday night for those who wish to share other projects they have done or are working on.

Shipping – there is free shipping for all of our US guests who spend over $100 in the shops. W e have reduced shipping rates for our foreign customers.

We know things happen, but if for some reason you need to cancel after you have booked your reservation, please let us know as soon as possible. The retreat is only fully refundable 60 days in advance of the start date. In the event that you are past the 60-day notice and are unable to attend, you may transfer your reservation to someone else or move to another retreat within 12 months of your original retreat date.

If you need to cancel or have further questions, please email us at cmV0cmVhdHMgfCBtaXNzb3VyaXF1aWx0Y28gISBjb20= or call us at (816) 265-1812.

Also check out other Workshops in Hamilton, Arts events in Hamilton, Fine Arts events in Hamilton.