Saturday, April 13, 2013

Charming Projects and a Mini Giveaway...

I know that I could just do a quick Google search on this, but I wanted to get some real-life sewing experience from all 10 of my readers.  I’m not usually one to buy precuts, but I did win a charm pack of Aneela Hoey’s Posy line (love it!) at our BMQG Retreat weekend.  Then when Peg at Sew Fresh launched her new site last week, I was so anxious to test it out that the only coherent thought that I could string together was to try out a couple cute looking lines by buying a charm pack of each.  I’ll just blame the Asbury project on increasing my charm-awareness.


So now I have these three lovely charm packs that are sitting around and waiting for me to do something with them.  Since I’m working on two larger projects back to back, I’m itching for something small and easy to do.  I came across this pattern for a quilted heating pad through Sew Can She that I can easily modify to use charms, so that’s definitely on my to-do list as my feet are perpetually cold as a corpse (thanks Mom ;)).

Do any of you have a favorite pattern that uses charm packs that you’d like to share?  Let me know via the comments - I’m all ears!  For an added bloggerific bonus...as this is my 50th post, I'll pick one of the comments at random and send a little fabric gift your way! :) 

17 comments:

  1. I have made this quilt as a gift a BUNCH of times. It is really cute, and the prairie points add interest and texture (and help you use the whole charm pack): http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/pinwheel-baby-quilt.html?m=1

    And this one uses only 24 charms! So you could do a bigger version. http://blueisbleu.blogspot.com/2013/01/glimma.html?m=1

    I froze when I ordered from Peg the other day too, ha! Can't go wrong with more Architextures, I decided.

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  2. I just recieved 112 Amy Butler charms in a swap (swaps are addictive!). After extensive research I have found the perfect charm quilt pattern! Gemstone blocks by in stiched color. I pinned a lot on my quilting board also. Let me know what other good patterns you find!

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  3. This is a good one! http://reannalilydesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RD2035BeachBagInstr2.pdf

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  4. I'm a big fan of http://www.modabakeshop.com for pre-cut patterns... you can view them specifically by type. The small twister ruler is made for charms but my go to is to make them in to HSTs which you can then arrange a million different ways. Enjoy!!!

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  5. i make baby quilt's out of mine and use solids around them. thanks

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  6. I like to put a solid fabric around each square and then sew them together. Makes a cute lap quilt. 3bakergirlsgo@gmail.com

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  7. I like to use the disappearing nine patch to make an easy table runner.

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  8. Charm packs are always fun. There are a number of great patterns, but some of my favorites are Schibbles and I also like using charms with the Lil' Twister ruler.

    SewCalGal
    www.ewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  9. Sorry can't help you. I ventured into my first charm project a couple months ago. I have several packs given as gifts and I bought a bunch of Kona solids when I was looking for the perfect color for a project. I have found that Christa Quilts(blogspot.com) has lots of good charm pack patterns on her blog. I used one of her patterns for my entrance into the charmpack world. :)

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  10. For small things, you could always make fabric baskets, and maybe join in on this swap ;)

    http://www.flickr.com/groups/2164078@N24/

    There are lots of patterns there :)

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  11. I just sewed a couple of packs together with some sashing and made a great little lap quilt. I am in the process of quilting it now, so I haven't blogged it yet. All the suggestions above are great ones, though. So now you have a place to start, just pick one you like.

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  12. I like this pattern, its not as difficult as it sounds www.modabakeshop.com/2012/03/cathedral-window-pincushion.html?m=1
    Or I'm currently working on a lap quilt that was in the last issue of Fat Quarterly x

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  13. I use charms for tote bags, baby quilts, and pinwheels in larger quits. I love pinwheels! There is a cute baby pattern on the Moda site:
    http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/pinwheel-baby-quilt.html
    Thanks for sharing!

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  14. I'm not sure this is my favorite, but it is a pattern that I want to make that uses charms! http://www.etsy.com/listing/128472308/pdf-quilt-pattern-charming-baby-quit-lap?ref=shop_home_feat

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  15. I absolutely adore the Cuzco range and am busily buying and hoarding it until I find just the right (second) project (first one I did a scrappy trip with a jelly roll of it) It is gorgeous, gorgeous fabric.

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  16. I love using pre-cuts, the projects get done so quickly. I like to sew mine into half-square triangles with a coordinate solid, then put them into my own layout. They're a lot of fun. Enjoy those fun 5 inch squares. Also "Sweet Jane" by Sue Pfau has a lot of fun stuff for pre-cut fabrics.

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  17. I've never had a charm pack before... but I do buy lots of fat quarters.... my favorite tutorial is using a fat quarter to make 5 yards of binding (http://jonag.typepad.com/stop_staring_and_start_se/2009/10/turn-one-fat-quarter-into-5-yards.html)...

    I love to make my own binding for my projects because it adds so much more than the store bought stuff... it amazes me that you can get 5 yards out of such a small piece of fabric... but you totally can!

    Good luck on your projects!

    @seeLauraRun

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