Monday, May 18, 2009

Sweet Treat

Honey Buns Jelly Rolls Layer Cakes Charm Packs Turnovers! So darn yummy and addictive! A taste of each piece of fabric in the collection. How sweet is that? But, what do you do with them?

Charm packs are perfect for Charm quilts. So mine are being turned into tumbler blocks. A true Charm quilt does not have repeats in fabric, so this works out great. But, I still have to be careful. I have noticed that sometimes a designer will use the same fabric in more then one collection. You mostly see this with solids and tone on tones. From the waste of each charm square, I can cut out two 1" squares for my Postage Stamp quilt. But, once I have enough tumblers for my Charm quilt, what will I use charm packs for?
~
I'm trying to think outside of the square, so to speak. Recently, I used a charm pack to cut out applique pieces. That worked out nicely. Charm packs would be great for large yo-yo's and hexagons and perfect for Dresden's. Two 5" blades could be cut from a square. Hmmm.....what else? I do love the variety of fabric you get with a charm pack. And how about them there Turnovers and Layer Cakes?

Now available......Jelly Rolls and Honey Buns! I'm not even going to go there. I can't think of enough ideas for the charm squares, what on earth would I do with a Jelly Roll! Besides, I prewash all my fabric and a Jelly Roll would not hold up to that. So, decision made. I shall never purchase a Jelly Roll. But, that didn't stop my sister from getting me a big fat Jelly Roll and a charm pack to go with it! So, let's see. I could cut the strips into hexagons, mini Dresden's, clamshells, diamonds ......

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

15 comments:

Rosa-Munda said...

Hi Karen,
If you go on to the Amazon website and look up jelly roll quilts, there is a lovely book you can flick through on-line for ideas! How great is that! Ros

Stina Blomgren said...

Have the same problem... sooo GOOD LUCK.... ;o)

Betsy said...

Karen like you I too have the same dilemna. WHat do you do with turnovers? I'd rather eat them.

Unknown said...

Hi Karen, The possibilities are endless. There are so many designs and patterns out there for the taking. One thing I did see recently was dresden plates being made from charm packs. The blades that is. I thought that was a very unique way of using them.

Funoldhag said...

Jelly rolls, layer cakes and charm packs I know and have purchased some except for the jelly rolls. I do know what honey buns are - but havn't heard much about turnovers. Are they the triangles? Lots of enterprising quilters out there writing books on the use of these fairly recent additions to quiltdom. Must say, though, I drool over the gorgeous Moda layer cakes I ordered a couple of weeks ago. You came up with some great ideas for your charmpack! ;_) Carol

Karen from Sew Many Ways... said...

Such a great post. I agree with you, there is so much to do with them. I also pre wash all my fabric, but no one else seems to have a problem when they make something with a jelly roll and they don't pre wash. I think I'm going to take a leap of faith and not wash the one I just purchased (my first one by the way)
Have a great day,
~Karen~

Karen said...

I end up mostly looking at all the pieces! I have used some of the charms in scrap quilts. Parts of a jelly roll as sashings. I have decided that I really need a plan before buying these type items. Some quilts you need more than one jelly roll. Having one is not a help. I saw one quilt pattern that called for a dozen charm packs. I was able to use a layer cake to make a basket quilt with additional yardage for backgrounds. Got most of the basket blocks out of the layer cake.

Janet said...

What a great discussion. I've never used a jelly roll. Like you, I like to prewash and I also like the process of mixing and matching myself, especially from purchases made over months. It's part of the challenge of quilting to coordinate different designers and brands of fabric. But if someone were to give me a pack . . .

Rachel said...

I ♥ jelly rolls! I made a quilt from a charm pack and jelly roll, with an extra yard or so of fabric for sashing and borders. It's the perfect size for a baby or lap quilt. Come on over and take a look. ☺

Carrie P. said...

I am kind of like you. What to do with all those precut shapes. Have you checked out the Moda Bake Shop blog? There are a lot of ideas there for sure.

Robin said...

So far, I've only picked up one charm pack and one layer cake. I haven't even used the charms yet! But, I just love the idea of them and it takes serious self restraint not to buy a whole bunch more even though I don't really know what to use them for! :)

Cathi said...

I have resisted jelly rolls so far partially because I also pre-wash. But I'm tempted sometimes. If I do buy, I'll wash them in a salad spinner that I have set aside for washing little pieces like those one gets in charm packs.

*karendianne. said...

This Karen doesn't prewash so I don't have the same problem BUT you've really got a good idea there with the diamonds. That works!!!

Have a good weekend. *karendianne.

Quiltgal said...

Karen, FYI the Bambo batting that you like so much is not available at Sew Sisters in Toronto. You can also find them at there on line store but if you into driving into the the city they are not far of the 407 and keele. Not a bad drive at all.

Ruth's Place said...

I thought I was the only one mad enough to be cutting 1" squares for a postage stamp quilt!

I've resisted jelly rolls so far, mainly because they are REALLY expensive here. I may succumb to the lure of the jelly roll on my next trip home though...