Friends@Festival: I talk to a lot of quilters who say that from the first time they saw a quilt or took a quilting class, they were instantly smitten and found their cause for life. It took a bit longer and a few more exposures for you, though. At one point, you write about quilting “I’m pretty sure that [just] old people do that.”

Doan: It started with sewing. Sewing is one of those things for me that was a go-to. Some people clean when they’re mad—I sew! I also did it when I was happy and to beautify my home and to dress my children. We saved a lot of money on gowns and costumes and clothes.

But after they got to a certain age, I needed an excuse to keep sewing. And I started looking at quilting. In fact, it wasn’t until I took that first class that I realized I had already made a couple! It was important for me to be useful, and to do something that was not just a hobby. The longevity was there with quilting. Something I could make that would be passed down for generations.

 

​Jenny’s memoir, out Oct. 19.

Friends@Festival: In the book, you make it clear that you’re more of a utilitarian quilter, making works to be used and not necessarily displayed.

Doan: I think [quilts] have always provided beauty. I think there’s as many types of quilters as there are quilts, and everyone sees their art in a different way. It took me a long time to realize that I could call myself an artist because I was just sewing things together to keep my family warm.

Then I got really interested in design and how it all comes together. I remember one time Moda put up a big display of antique quilts. The [makers] weren’t worried about their lines being straight or their points perfect. I’ve made some gorgeous quilts, but rarely anything that I don’t want washed and actually used.

 

Friends@Festival: I’m fascinated that the entire company basically grew out of the decision that you wanted to make some casual YouTube videos to promote your longarm services. And that you got injured by tripping on that very first shoot!

Doan: My whole goal was to please my son, who wanted me to do it. He felt like this was a good business move. But when the [accident on set] happened and I’m in a wheelchair, I was like “Really? Is this going to be worth it?” (laughs). I can laugh at it now, and humor is strong in our family.

But I couldn’t even imagine what these videos would do. I didn’t see YouTube as anything someone my age would look up on their computer. It was only a year old when we started, and it was mostly teenagers showing crazy videos. In my mind, if I showed people how to make a quilt, they would send it to me to machine quilt. That was my big plan!

My children have a new idea every 20 seconds, and they’re always pushing it out there. We’re all in this together. And the bottom line is if something doesn’t work, we’ll do something else.

 

​Ron and Jenny Doan with their seven children back in the day.

Friends@Festival: You talk a lot about your religious faith in your book. And so many times when it seemed that when your family were in a real bind financially or otherwise, your prayers are literally answered.

Doan: I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have some sort of belief system!

 

Friends@Festival: You are also honest about your first marriage to an abusive, aloof husband when you were very young. And what it took for you to leave when you already had one child and one on the way. You could have easily left that part out. Why was it important to let your readers know about this darker part of your life?

Doan: In reading this book over, there are a million stories I didn’t tell. It was interesting to see which ones kept coming back front and center for me. I get a ton of mail from people who tell me I helped them get through something [tough in life], and I think I’m just sewing! A lot of people come to quilting because of some sort of loss. A house or a spouse or a child or their health.

Quilting becomes so restorative. People want to share their [similar] stories with me at lectures. We never film our trunk shows because I don’t know what I’m going to say. If what I say helps one person, that’s enough. For me, charities involving battered women are close to me because it’s something I lived.

I don’t know if it was an actual decision to put that part in the book, it was just part of my story. Nothing is off limits for me. I want to be genuine with people, and that was part of how I lived. [Note: Doan has been happily married to husband Ron for decades, and the pair raised seven children].

 

Friends@Festival: How has the pandemic affected Missouri Star?

Doan: We closed all of our town shops, and all those people came out to the warehouse and worked there. We never had to lay off a single person and we never stopped hiring.

People were at home more and sewing and especially sewing masks, so our online business was great. I made a mask video and updated it as well and there are a million out there. Quilters are helpers, and they started making masks. And they helped people leave their homes and feel safe, and that is huge.

 

Friends@Festival: Finally, if you could have one quilting superpower, what would it be?

Doan: Probably good shoulders to cut fabric with! There’s one reason I love pre-cuts! (laughs). But really, It would be to make people realize what a difference it makes to make a quilt for someone they’ve never known. For them to see their goodness.

I thought I was just teaching people to sew. But if you send quilts to a group of people who have been touched by devastation, it’s life-changing for them and for you. The stitches they take in the privacy of their sewing rooms can literally change the world. We deal with negative talk and negative things in our world. But when we take on this hobby, it’s more than just that. [Doan pauses, and takes a breath]. Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all emotional there!

 

For more on Jenny Doan and Missouri Star Quilt Company, visit www.missouriquiltco.com