Mini charms
Do you remember when I bought these cute little mini charms?
I did my diagram a little bit differently to normal. The top section is what I have made out of three charm packs. It's 18 x 6. So not so big. The bottom section was to give me an idea of size comparatively.
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| Mini Charms - Jubilee |
I've had them sitting on a shelf for months and months, and I was in the mood for something simple, so I picked them up and started sewing.
Just pairs together, but there are a few of them so it became a pretty pile in no time.
I laid them all out and I am loving it! But it's obviously not enough for a quilt top.
I always have the same discussion with myself at this point about what size constitutes a quilt top. I can never remember what size a cot blanket is supposed to be, or how big a single bed is. This usually leads to my googling or grabbing my tape measure and running up and down the stairs over and over again (coz I'm not smart enough to write it down the first time I measure... Or the second).
Today I googled. And then I drew a diagram and did some quilt maths.
If I wanted to make a lap size quilt, and I think I do (how cute would this be to snuggle up under and read a book!) I need to add 24 rows and 10 columns. This means I need another 19 mini charm packs. I don't know if I can justify that.
I could probably buy yardage, or even a layer cake. But then I'd have to cut it up, and my measuring is never going to be as precise as the mini charm people's...
I've literally just done the math and it would save me $23.49 to buy a layer cake instead of minis. Can I justify this by putting a price on my time? How long do you reckon it would take to cut 672 mini squares??
Although if I bought the layer cake instead of the minis, I could almost justify buying 2. After all it's another $15.50 more than the 19 packets of minis... And then I could have a bigger quilt! But do I need a bigger quilt? All my maths is for a lap size.
I did my diagram a little bit differently to normal. The top section is what I have made out of three charm packs. It's 18 x 6. So not so big. The bottom section was to give me an idea of size comparatively.
All these numbers have me turned around!! I don't know what to do!!!
If it were you, what would you do?
E xx
Oh, they are soooo pretty! It would look brilliant all over but, honestly, if you want a bigger quilt, I'd go the cheaper/quicker/easier/less mathematical option and mix it in with a solid (so, lots of negative space). Either with a strip from top to bottom (like this - http://www.pinterest.com/pin/48061920995230880/ or this http://www.pinterest.com/pin/48061920996807315/ or this http://www.pinterest.com/pin/48061920995239278/) OR with a feature panel towards one corner (like this - http://www.pinterest.com/pin/48061920994609732/). But maybe I'm just lazy. ;)
ReplyDeletelmao. I'm lazy too, so the idea of sewin 670 odd squares is insane. But how cute would it be!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've checked out your pins (and followed your fab boards) and I like number 3 the best, with the strip of solid surrounding the stip of patches before it goes pure white... But I'm messy and if I have a mostly white quilt it will get gross pretty quick. It would be a quick simple finish though... Quicker, cheaper, less mathmatical all these are very tempting :-)
E xx
Ha ha, I'm hopeless with white too but, like 'heart of charnwood' says below, you can use a different colour. :)
DeleteI'm sure whatever you do will be fab!
I would definitely use these fabrics as a central point for a larger quilt and have strips of fabric in various different patterns round the outside to make it bigger, doesn't have to be much white so you don't have to worry about it getting too dirty, but you could use soft solids, or some pretty polka dots, i love polka dots!
ReplyDeletelol I don't think I have a single polka dot in my stash. Is this a reason to shop? I think I can justify it :-)
DeleteE xx
I think your time is definitely worth the money! That being said, you could go the negative space route. But a big quilt with all these little charms also sounds awesome...sorry. I'm no help at all! :)
ReplyDeleteI think no matter what (even if I don't go a whole quilt) I want more charms. A more dense postage stamp feel.
DeleteAnd definitely a help ! Now I can tell my husband that someone else agrees I should buy more fabric! :-)
E
Such gorgeous fabrics. There's a quilt in the liberty love book that would work great with your tiny squares, it's basically a giant nine patch with every alternate square being made of of smaller squares. it looks really fab and so easy! If you're interested I'll try and find a link, or I can photograph my book and email you a picture...
ReplyDeleteI may have bought this book... Quite recently too. I'll dig it out and see what's there :-)
DeleteE
At first glance I would go a plain panel with embroidery or appique on it surrounded by a mini charm border OR, I would buy more charms and do a full mini charm quilt. if it helps to justify it better - buy 10 then another 10!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm just going to go for it! I mean, it's a simple project that's giving me joy. Does the $20 really make this an issue? When we're talking about my joy????
DeleteI have another mini charm pack of a different fabric line, so I'm definitley storing all these good ideas for that project too :-)
E