Today I have Karen from Quilting, Losing and Tea. She has been such a wonderful blogging pal, even helping me proofread my very first pattern. She is quite talented and is here today to share with you her love of charms.
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I love charms!
Hi everyone! My name is Karen, and I live in wonderful Minnesota. I blog at Quilting, Losing and Tea. I am excited to be visiting Melissa’s place today. I started following Melissa last year right when she started Sew Bittersweet Designs, soon after I first discovered quilt blogs.
I was honored to be able to help proof her first pattern – Twirling Around. You can find this pattern for sale at The Intrepid Thread. And the best part? Melissa is donating the proceeds from the sale of this beautiful pattern to Charity.
Today I want to share the results of my love of charms! I think these 5 inch squares – called charms or nickels, are magical. I have only been quilting seriously since last fall.
I had done a couple of simple projects before that. And through reading all of the blogs and looking at the lines of fabric out there, I discovered charms and charm packs! I love how versatile they are. And now I am discovering charm swaps! I thought I would share the projects I have made using charm squares.
My First Quilt Wall Hanging
The pinwheels are made from charms collected during the 2010 Minnesota Shop Hop.
Fabric by Holly Taylor for Moda.
Little Twister in fall colors:
This one now resides in Florida at my Dad’s house to remind him of our beautiful fall weather!
Fabric designed by James Meger – from the 2011 Minnesota Shop Hop.
Christmas wall hanging from a kit I won!
Fabric is Reindeer Games by Sandy Gervais and pattern is Done! by Sandy Gervais
By December of 2011, I had started my blog, and discovered the Schnibbles patterns by Carrie Nelson. These adorable patterns use 2 charm packs. Sherri at A Quilting Life and Sinta at Pink Pincushion sponsor a monthly Schnibbles, with a parade of those created at the end of each month. Carrie herself donates a wonderful prize that is given randomly from the entries each month. I won the very first month – a fat eighth bundle of Reunion.
January Schnibbles – Full House
Fabric: Modern Workshop
February Schnibbles – I.S.T.H.
Fabric: Bed & Breakfast by Connecting Threads and Pure by Sweetwater
March Schnibbles – Bibelot
Fabric: Storybook Friends by Sandy Klop
(This now has the border added and will be finished up next week – it is a baby quilt for a coworker).
April Schnibble – Summer Days
Fabric: Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree
I will be receiving a pack of 112 rainbow charms within the next 2 weeks, and my mind is already racing – trying to decide what type of rainbow quilt I can make.
I would love to hear about the quilts you have made using charms – whether an entire line like I used, or random charms you put together. Are you a Schnibbler?
If you visit my blog, Quilting, Losing and Tea,, you can learn about The Charming Travelers and have a chance at being the next to receive them!
Thanks again, Melissa, for allowing me to visit!
Blessed Sewing, Karen
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Thank you so much Karen, your quilts are absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to see what you make with The Charming Travelers! Now head on over to Karen’s corner of the blogging world, Quilting, Losing and Tea, to go learn about a chance to receive those traveling charms (and follower her too while you are over there, you won’t be sorry you did!!!).
Such pretty quilts! I have yet to make anything from charms, but I have about 90 flannel charms that I got as part of a giveaway prize, that I have been waiting to figure something out for. I will check out your blog for sure! Nice to meet you. 🙂
Great quilts! I especially love the little houses.
Wonderful quilts! You certainly have been busy – and generous….sending your lovely projects out the door, and starting up an extra charm swap, too! Fun!
Great quilts. I have not made a whole quilt with charms. I like to have them for applique mostly. Off to see the links.
I really like Karen’s quilts. I enjoy charms packs because they have the whole line in one pack and there is so much you can do with them. Make a small quilt with 1 pack or a larger quilt with 2. With a 4 pack you can make a twin size quilt. Usually it will be very colorful using all the fabric line.
Wonderful charm projects! I love what you’ve done with them.