Bookshelf garland made with charm pack fabrics

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.

Sweet Tea charm pack of five fabric samples tied together with twine

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.

Charm packs are sample swatches of fabric cut into squares that can be used for all kinds of DIY projects

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.

This fabric pennant banner was made with a charm pack of simple patterned fabrics

Project Number One

Fabric pennant banner

Supplies you need for a pennant banner charm pack project: paint brush, twine, glue and your fabric

To make the banner flags, cut the charm pack fabric samples into a flag shape by cutting a triangle out of the sample

Fold the piece of fabric over the piece of twine and glue it down

Add each flag to the twine until you have a full banner

Fabric pennant banner made with a charm pack

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.

Small sewing book made from a charm pack

Project Number Two

Tiny Sewing Book

Inside cover of a small sewing book made from a charm pack of fabric samples

create a pin holder in your sewing book by gluing a small piece of lace to the inside cover

Back cover of the small sewing book using a charm pack of fabric samples

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.

How to make fabric covered clothes pins and buttons using charm packs

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.

Simple DIY charm pack projects for your home

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. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Image for mary beth at MBZ interiors mary beth at MBZ interiors

    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

  2. Image for Nan, Odessa, DE Nan, Odessa, DE

    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!

  3. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    I love them all! And the fabric!! Had no clue what a charm pack was...thanks for teaching me today! How very fun...;)

  4. Image for Karina Karina

    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!!

  5. Image for Teresa Teresa

    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!

    1. Image for Josie Smith Josie Smith

      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

    2. Image for Debbie Klausing Debbie Klausing

      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.

  6. Image for Michelle Rudis Michelle Rudis

    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 ;-)

  7. Image for Jeanne @ I Dream of Jeanne Marie Jeanne @ I Dream of Jeanne Marie

    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

  8. Image for Cindy Pierce Cindy Pierce

    Love all the ideas! I'm going to make my quilting friends the sewing book for Christmas. Such a great idea!!

  9. Image for Linda Andersen Linda Andersen

    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!

  10. Image for Susan Susan

    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!

  11. Image for Laura Ingalls Gunn Laura Ingalls Gunn

    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!

  12. Image for Sharon Sharon

    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.

  13. Image for Cecilia Cecilia

    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

  14. Image for Jean McGee Jean McGee

    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

  15. Image for Nancy Conner Nancy Conner

    What a clever use. I haven't quilted in ages and have a lot of these packs (plus some bits of favored fabric remnants).

  16. Image for Kristine Puzel Kristine Puzel

    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!

  17. Image for Karen on Bainbridge Island Karen on Bainbridge Island

    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.

  18. Image for Carol@blueskykitchen Carol@blueskykitchen

    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.

Comments are closed.