Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Charm Square Project

Img_0103

Sara asked me to help her come up with some prototypes of fast easy projects that would put charm squares to a good use.  She is planning to set up an online shop this summer and wants to create some quilt kits that will appeal to beginning quilters as well as experienced quilters who want a quickly turned out quilt top.  I picked up two charm packs of Apron Strings, designed by Chloe’s Closet for Moda.  I spent an enjoyable couple of hours playing around with these 5" fabric squares, trying to see what some construction possibilities might be.

I was able to construct 42 blocks from the two packs, also using two 44" long, 2 1/2" strips of white that I cut into 2 1/2" squares.  The resulting top is crib sized, 39" by 45".  The size could easily be increased somewhat by adding a containment border and an outer border.

This is the first time I have used charm squares, and I must say, now I am excited about exploring some additional uses for them.  I’d love to hear what some of my blogging friends have done with them in their projects.

Img_0105_2

46 responses to “Charm Square Project”

  1. Cute quilt!
    I just posted a picture today of a tote I made with one of Moda’s charm packs. Can’t remember though what the name of it was. I’ve been thinking more and more of opening an online shop too. Maybe one day…
    Oh and I’m doing another giveaway at my blog. Come check it out!
    God bless 🙂

  2. Cute quilt!
    I just posted a picture today of a tote I made with one of Moda’s charm packs. Can’t remember though what the name of it was. I’ve been thinking more and more of opening an online shop too. Maybe one day…
    Oh and I’m doing another giveaway at my blog. Come check it out!
    God bless 🙂

  3. That is very cute, Nicole. I haven’t used the charm squares much, but pattern designers seem to be channeling a lot of their energies into designing patterns for them and the jelly rolls. My Allemande quilt was made using charm squares, but I had to add quite a bit of additional background and a setting square. Still, it only took 3 charm packs for that one – much more affordable than buying a FQ stack!

  4. That is very cute, Nicole. I haven’t used the charm squares much, but pattern designers seem to be channeling a lot of their energies into designing patterns for them and the jelly rolls. My Allemande quilt was made using charm squares, but I had to add quite a bit of additional background and a setting square. Still, it only took 3 charm packs for that one – much more affordable than buying a FQ stack!

  13. Very cute! I’m in the middle of a charm-square challenge myself, so I’m not sure I have any original ideas, but the Nickel Quilts books are really good for inspiration! Can’t wait to see more! ~A 🙂

  14. Very cute! I’m in the middle of a charm-square challenge myself, so I’m not sure I have any original ideas, but the Nickel Quilts books are really good for inspiration! Can’t wait to see more! ~A 🙂

  15. That’s a darling little quilt! That line is so cheerful. Did you check the Nickel Quilts and More Nickel Quilts books?

  16. That’s a darling little quilt! That line is so cheerful. Did you check the Nickel Quilts and More Nickel Quilts books?

  17. Very cute little quilt! Did you make the blocks by using that 9 patch pattern that is then cut apart? I’ve never done that, but it looks like a neat trick. BTW, I have the same bedspread as you. With a funny story. After I had it a few years, I took it to the cleaners and they washed it instead of dry cleaning it. It shrunk, so they bought me a new one. A few more years went by and I took it to the cleaners again. This time they lost it! So I got, yet another new one. Worked for me — new bedspread every few years! I really like the pattern — have often thought it would make a wonderful quilting pattern.

  18. Very cute little quilt! Did you make the blocks by using that 9 patch pattern that is then cut apart? I’ve never done that, but it looks like a neat trick. BTW, I have the same bedspread as you. With a funny story. After I had it a few years, I took it to the cleaners and they washed it instead of dry cleaning it. It shrunk, so they bought me a new one. A few more years went by and I took it to the cleaners again. This time they lost it! So I got, yet another new one. Worked for me — new bedspread every few years! I really like the pattern — have often thought it would make a wonderful quilting pattern.

  23. Aren’t they fun? It seems to me that coming up with an interesting design using the charms is a little like working on a puzzle, and I think many of us quilters enjoy puzzles too, don’t you think? That quilt I posted on my blog the last couple days is made with charm squares, some cream/neutral fabric, and then the border fabric. The first time I played around with charms I just sewed them together, didn’t like it, and asked my husband if he’d be kind enough to take them all apart! LOL! What a good sport he is! I like your design–I hadn’t thought about using a square with two strips and a cornerstone. Very nice!

  24. Aren’t they fun? It seems to me that coming up with an interesting design using the charms is a little like working on a puzzle, and I think many of us quilters enjoy puzzles too, don’t you think? That quilt I posted on my blog the last couple days is made with charm squares, some cream/neutral fabric, and then the border fabric. The first time I played around with charms I just sewed them together, didn’t like it, and asked my husband if he’d be kind enough to take them all apart! LOL! What a good sport he is! I like your design–I hadn’t thought about using a square with two strips and a cornerstone. Very nice!

  31. Beautiful! I love those light, happy colours. I haven’t used charm packs myself, but I’m beginning to see the possibilities.

  32. Beautiful! I love those light, happy colours. I haven’t used charm packs myself, but I’m beginning to see the possibilities.

  35. Yesterday, the system would not allow me to post. Those robot thingy kept coming up despite being typed in correct. sigh, so I gave up! I’m back…. LOL Love the quilt. I think your choice of block works well. Perhaps you could make the pattern and sell as a kit! Good luck to Sara!

  36. Yesterday, the system would not allow me to post. Those robot thingy kept coming up despite being typed in correct. sigh, so I gave up! I’m back…. LOL Love the quilt. I think your choice of block works well. Perhaps you could make the pattern and sell as a kit! Good luck to Sara!

  39. Your not going to believe this but……..I’m working on the same exact quilt with the same fabric right now. I’m making mine a Ca King size though so it’s going to be awhile. But I love yours. How can you go wrong with 30’s. I love them.

  40. Your not going to believe this but……..I’m working on the same exact quilt with the same fabric right now. I’m making mine a Ca King size though so it’s going to be awhile. But I love yours. How can you go wrong with 30’s. I love them.

  43. oooh — love your charm square quilt top. I’m planning something similar as a lap quilt but using the disappearing nine patch technique! Glad to know they are so easy to work with.

  44. oooh — love your charm square quilt top. I’m planning something similar as a lap quilt but using the disappearing nine patch technique! Glad to know they are so easy to work with.

  45. Wow, so many of these quilt terms are new to me, but I just love the results! I love the charm squares, the colors are so sweet and cheerful. Sara told us a lot about what she had in mind for the House of Charm when she was up here visiting last weekend, and it’s been wonderful to learn about all the intricacies of quilting and all its various components. I can’t wait to see her shop go up, and I must add that I’m really excited for you in starting your own shop already! The quilts are just lovely, and I’m so glad that you can have so much fun turning something that you love doing into a business! Anyway, I’ll come back and comment more on your other posts in the next week or so–I have some huge papers due early next week and a pile of final exams to grade as of this coming Monday, so I must get back to finishing all of them up.
    Regardless of all that fun stuff, congratulations again on opening your shop! ^__^ And please, come up and visit us sometime! We would be thrilled to have you here, and I speak for my mom in that, too. ~_^

  46. Wow, so many of these quilt terms are new to me, but I just love the results! I love the charm squares, the colors are so sweet and cheerful. Sara told us a lot about what she had in mind for the House of Charm when she was up here visiting last weekend, and it’s been wonderful to learn about all the intricacies of quilting and all its various components. I can’t wait to see her shop go up, and I must add that I’m really excited for you in starting your own shop already! The quilts are just lovely, and I’m so glad that you can have so much fun turning something that you love doing into a business! Anyway, I’ll come back and comment more on your other posts in the next week or so–I have some huge papers due early next week and a pile of final exams to grade as of this coming Monday, so I must get back to finishing all of them up.
    Regardless of all that fun stuff, congratulations again on opening your shop! ^__^ And please, come up and visit us sometime! We would be thrilled to have you here, and I speak for my mom in that, too. ~_^