World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of August 23, 1999:
Our question this week comes from Naomi Wheatley
What is a charm square?
nanacottag@aol.com :
Hello, I am fairly new to quilting, but I believe what is refered to as a charm is the same shape repeated over and over in a quilt using all different fabrics for each piece. Could be a square, or any other shape like hexagon too.
Lu Wayne :
I have made two charm quilts. On has 625 fabrics from 1880 - 1930 and the other has 625 fabrics from 1935 - 1999. They are great fun and sometimes a real challenge.
Theresa :
In addition to everyone else's comments, a charm can be whatever size you need! People trade 2", 2-1/2", 3" on up, also some weird sizes, for example six 9 x 7 charns equal a 1/4 yard which is of course 9 x 42 - 44 and also equals a FQ (18 x 22)
Diane :
I am making a charm quilt. I am using hexagon shape, each piece different. Sure is fun
Susie Fulford :
A Square of material that could be any size,and any print,placed together to make a quilt-top.
Mardi :
C........color
H........hand quilted
A........artistic
R........ruler
M........made with love
Caroline Rogers :
I found that if you want to receive a lot of charm squares, that you had better be ready to send out a lot! I like the idea of the quilt club exchange. It saves a lot of postage. Some day, I hope to be able to call for a definite colour, blue for instance.
Marg :
A charm square is a 5" or 6" square. Many many different charm squares can be used to make a scrappy quilt.
Elena, again :
Charm squares have already been defined. I like to collect them through trade (the trading post here has lots of opportunities) and then use them for all sorts of projects. In quilting, they can be used in a charm quilt (where no two fabrics are alike) or a scrap quilt. You can cut them into different shapes, applique, whatever. It is a cheap way to get lots of different fabrics. One friend likes to applique a heart on the back of all of her quilts. Charm squares would be perfect for that. I also like to "shop" with my charm squares. If I find one I REALLY like, I try to track it down at local stores or contact the person who sent it to try to get more.
Melissa Demas :
According to an "expert quilter" a charm square is usually a 6" square of fabric and is used in a quilt where no two squares of fabric are alike. She says that, ideally, the quilt should contain 1001 fabrics, with the 1001 being from your "true love".
June Oxer Kerss :
Squares can be 2 - 3 in. Quilters gather enough so that a quilt can be made without duplicating a fabric. Can be sewn together in any fashion or could even be a "watercolor" style quilt, providing you don't repeat a fabric. Some quilt magazines have a section where quilters offer to exchange charm squares.
Elena :
Lots of fun!
Sherry :
My quilt guild has a charm square exchange each month. Each member wanting to participate brings 18 - 6" squares of the designated color or design for that month. The squares are then swapped and each participating member takes home 18 different squares. I do a lot of applique so the small pieces are just right, giving me a variety of fabrics.
Vicki :
To elaborate a little: a charm square is
used in a charm quilt, a quilt that has
many fabrics in it and no two are the
same. You usually trade with friends to
help you obtain all the different prints.
Wendi :
A square where no single pattern is repeated. I just finished piecing a baby block charm quilt..queen size... and used 575 different patterns. Really fun and a challenge to get the different pieces. I had a lot of help from my friends' scrap bags.
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