Can we begin with what is a charm pack?
Have you ever heard of them before?
They are charming.
Pun totally intended. 🙂
A charm pack is a small package of all the fabrics in a particular fabric line that measures about 5 inches by 5 inches that comes all tied together with twine.
Then you just add imagination.
Here’s a picture of a charm pack I just handed out at an event I spoke at in Dallas called the Texas Arts and Crafts retreat.
I gave each attendee two charm packs, one from each of the fabric lines, Sweet Tea and Simply Eclectic.
Every event that I speak at with the fabric line, I hand these out as a gift to everyone who attends. It’s a great way to see all the fabrics in the line without being too overwhelmed.
But what’s a charm pack without a few projects?
Enter my friend Laura from Decor to Adore.
She put together three of the cutest projects for the fabric and I thought it might be fun to share them with you.
You can make all these projects (and two are no-sew) with five-inch squares of fabric from a charm pack or by simply cutting your own.
Project Number One
Fabric pennant banner
Instructions:
1. Cut banner into flag shape at the bottom of the piece of fabric by folding it in half and cutting from the center to a third of the way up the edge of the fabric.
2. Fold over top of banner and glue in place.
3. Add another piece of fabric approximately four inches away from the first piece and repeat steps one and two.
4. Let dry.
Project Number Two
Tiny Sewing Book
Instructions:
1. Place two pieces of charm pack fabric back to back. Pin in place.
2. Pin a loop of elastic to one side.
3. Sew along edges. Turn inside out with the fabric pattern facing outward stitch closed.
4. Sew a button to one edge and close with elastic.
5. Sew a piece of felted wool to the center of the fabric.
6. Add sewing accessories.
Project Number Three
Magnetic Fabric Covered Buttons and Clothespins
Instructions:
1. For clothespin, cut out a strip of fabric the size of the top of the clothespin. Glue in place.
2. Add a strip of magnet to the back.
3. For button, purchase cover button kit from craft store.
4. Cover button according to directions.
5. Add a magnet to back of covered button.
Happy creating.
Happy day.
PS I hope to meet you an event one day and give you a couple of charm packs of your own. 🙂
JUST CHARMING :)
I love those little packs! I don't make many quilts anymore but the squares are great for so many things!! Love your projects!! xo
Hi Karianne, I spit out my coffee while reading your opening paragraph. You're a hoot. My mom used to make quilts by hand (her stitches were as small and even as a sewing machine's). She would mail charm packs (not sure if she called them that) to fellow quilters throughout the USA. This was before the internet and they'd share fabric squares with each other. I could make those clothespins, they are easy enough for a non-crafter like me and they're so pretty. Happy Monday
Such cute projects. I'd love to use one of your charm packs to line some envelopes. Shelly
Simply charming, my dear!! : )
Love your ideas-someone new to sewing could make these -will guide my grand daughter . Sherry
Keep the projects coming using these charms. Good way to keep the kids busy during spring break. The charms are available in many colors, prints at any fabric store. You are most kind to share them with the audience. You are to be commended on using such good marketing strategy. Louddddddd clap of hands! I like your fabric lines and enjoy seeing your business grow. I am always waiting for your next post!
I love them all! And the fabric!! Had no clue what a charm pack was...thanks for teaching me today! How very fun...;)
Very cute little projects! I'm still a sucker for those sweet banners. Very pretty.
If I ever met you in person, I'm gonna squeeze 2 charm packs outta you. (And I'm not a hugger!!!)
So adorable!!! Love all the crafts.... especially the sewing book!! Where did the little wood tree cut outs come from that are in the picture? Those are so cute!!
Very cute ideas!
I have some leathers samples, approx. 5 x 7 inches. Does anyone have a creative idea of what to do with these? I was going to toss them and then got this email and it got me to thinking surely there is a creative person to inspire me to keep them.Thanks!
You could fold them half way, like a book, add parchment paper pages and have mini journals. You could use some type of yarn down the center to hold the pages together and attach to the leather cover. I'm not good at explaining so I hope you can understand this. Lol
I am a jewelry maker and have seen things done with leather. You could go on Pinterest and do a search. I love real leather and am sure you can find a good use for it! Leather plus pearls can be really fun.
Love these ideas! Also checked out your friend's blog, Décor to Ador -- awesome inspirations!! Think I'm going to make the Little Sewing Book for each of my granddaughters. I've taught all of them to sew and I know they'd love it ;-)
Good morning KariAnne, I still have my charm pack from Paducah, KY, that you handed out there. I have spread them out before but can't decide what I want to "use" them up on. I'm thinking of making a pretty patchwork tablecloth to use in my gazebo when I have ladies over for tea parties and bridal showers. I think the colors would go with just about everything...or maybe I'll make them into a table runner...or maybe a tote bag...or perhaps just a pillow for my living room...or...or...or a dozen other ideas I have floating around in my head... I don't want to stitch them together till I'm absolutely sure but I'll let you know when I decide! :o) Have you heard if you were the winner for the Frog Tape Room Decorating Challenge? We sure hope you won! Have a lovely day...it's so bloody hot outside...stay inside and drink some sweet tea! Blessings, Jeanne
Love all the ideas! I'm going to make my quilting friends the sewing book for Christmas. Such a great idea!!
Not being a seamstress (other than needlework) I had never heard of such a wonderful thing. I am going to have to check out the fabric department!!!! The banners are too cute! I think I could handle that as well as the clothes pins!
I am totally charmed by the charm pack! I'm waiting for someone to sew them all together and make some kind of cover :-) Charm pack sounds so much nicer than "memos". Have a sunshine filled day. xoxo
What a great day it was and I am loving my pretty charm packs:) xo Jemma
Look what happens when your beautiful fabric meets a super-creative and super-clever mind...BAM...super-sweet projects! I love all of these, but most especially the fabric covered buttons and clothes pegs...probably because I think this is a project I could actually pull off! It also gave me an idea for some printer's drawers I have on hand...you know, the ones with tiny niches in them which were used to house little blocks of letters? Some people paint them...but what if you used little pieces of fabric to cover each of the little niches and then maybe turned it into a jewelry holder with some hooks? Please thank your friend, Laura, for getting my creative wheels turning, which takes A LOT of motivation...hehe! And thank you for sharing these totally charming projects utilising your gorgeous fabric!
It was so much fun! I just posted the magnets that Laura showed us how to make and Judith's paper craft. Thank you for sharing so much with us, especially your enthusiasm!
Oh my sweet friend my heart is so full that it is threatening to spill out through my tear ducts. You have richly blessed me. Thank you so very much. I am already working on new ideas so that I can continue to work with your fabulous fabric. Have a beautiful and blessed week!
Sooo cute! ~ I have a question: where did you get the wooden trees? If you've mentioned it before, I missed it. They are wonderful! :D
I too wanted to ask this same question about the trees.
Chris, Karianne said she got them at Hobby Lobby. :D
A "Charm Pack" sounds magical...I was told these precious little squares of fabric are "FAT QUARTERS"...I'll stick with your label. :)
Hey Karianne! Love the fabrics. Hope I can find them in my area. I live about an hour west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you were ever to come to Toronto, I would come to see you for sure. I absolutely love your style. I do a bit of quilting and am a bit of a fabricaholic. I love white, brown and turquoise, blues, greens and pinks, so your fabric line is right up my alley. You're right, the charm packs are charming! I love the little sewing book with the back and front covers two different squares of fabric.
Very cute projects!!!
Love all this and that was a super fun event. Was so nice to meet you! I've in the mix of some super fun projects - Where can I get more of these charm packs?
I had so much fun at this event. Love all of the cute things Laura came up with to use the charm packs on (I'd never heard of charm packs...where have I been?). It was so nice to meet you too - you're just as sweet as can be. I can't wait to play with my charm packs and come up with some more cool projects! Hope your week is off to a great start! hugs, Cecilia
Really cute ideas. In your instructions for the banners you wrote to place them "4" a part". They look more like 1" a part which would mean more banners/ more use of fabric YYYYESSSS!!!! Jean McGee
What a clever use. I haven't quilted in ages and have a lot of these packs (plus some bits of favored fabric remnants).
Thanks Josie!
I have never heard of these! I cannot wait to make something.
I've never heard of a charm pack before but I like the idea! The projects you shared are so adorable too! Tania
This is a whole new world - these charm packs! I like to sew, so I am definitely intrigued! I especially enjoyed the banner tutorial- looks easy and fun!
Brilliant and Beautiful! Karianne, do you know if the charm packs can be purchased online?
I always refer to my grandmother as the original Martha Stewart. She was born in the late 1800's and was a master of every home craft. Back in the 1950's when I was in grade school, my grandma used a square of cardboard, 3 x 3 inches, as a guide to cut out squares of fabric with her pinking shears. She would stack them by color, and tie each bundle with string and stored them in a bottom dresser drawer in her guest room. I loved to open that drawer and look at all the little stacks of fabric. What a memory.
Love it!!!
KariAnne, It was so fun to see Laura's projects again. My mind has been swirling with charm pack ideas. Can't wait to get started. Fabric is so special and so endless in possibilities. Ane your patterns are awesome.