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Bryan House Quilts

Ways to use a Mini Charm Pack {Sizzix Tutorial}

Tutorial

13 Jul

Aren’t these mini-charm packs the absolute cutest? I have a bunch, but I never know what to do with them. Happily, today I’m showing a bunch of ways you can start using these cuties up. My mini charm pack is Rhoda Ruth, Elizabeth Hartman‘s adorable new fabric. (It will ship in September.)

Last week, in preparation for a new tutorial, I started messing around with one of my new Sizzix dies, the 30 Degree Fan Blade Die. I wanted to pause to show you the different shapes I was able to cut from a mini charm pack using this die, none of which turned out to be what you are supposed to get from the die. 
The mini charms, or 2 1/2” squares, aren’t big enough to cover the whole shape on the die. So by manipulating where you place the square you can get a different looking fan blade. 
If you place the mini charm at the widest part of the die shape you will get a wider wedge. (I skipped the curved part of the wedge because it doesn’t go with my design.) This wider wedge will ultimately give you a bigger center circle, which I happen to adore. 

Whatever size wedge you choose, you can cut multiple wedges, by stacking the mini charms 3 high and layering them across the three shapes on the die. Don’t forget to make your Sizzix sandwich, with the plastic cutting pieces on the top and bottom. Then send the whole thing through your Sizzix machine – I’m using my Fabi. 

Here’s more of my wide wedges. 

Now, by putting the mini charm at the more narrow end of the wedge you will get a narrower wedge. And ultimately this will give you a smaller center circle. 

The difference may be subtle with these mini charms, but can you see the difference in shapes in the above picture? The teal wedge on the left is a wider set wedge and the pink wedge on the right is the narrow version. 

Ok, back to the wide wedge because I’m a wide wedge kinda girl, this is what the fabric will look like after being cut but not removed from the die. 

Now, with the wedges, you can make a mini tumbler design as I show above. 
You can arrange them into a circle…. 
Or you can turn the wedges into Dresden blades by folding them in half and stitching. Here’s mine chain pieced together. 

Snip a little bit from the seam allowance to get a pointy corner. 
Press seam open and then press like so. 

Then turn right side out with a blunt sewing tool or in my case a dull pencil. 

And there you go… Dresden blades. 

So, what did you think? Are there any favorite ways that you use up your mini charm packs?

Thanks!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heidi Staples says

    July 13, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    I absolutely LOVE this!! And I definitely need to break out my mini charm pack of that Rhoda Ruth…

  2. Allison CB says

    July 14, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    Very clever! Love them!

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Quilting is one of those things that sooner or lat Quilting is one of those things that sooner or later becomes more than just a hobby. 🫶

It might start as fabric and a project idea or a pattern…

And then somewhere along the way, you’re thinking about who it’s for, what they’ll love about it, and how they’ll use it. But you’re thinking of them the entire time you make it. 

And they think of you every single time they see it! ✨

And years later, that same quilt is still there on the back of a couch, at the end of a bed, or wrapped around someone you love.

We’re not just making quilts. We’re making memories and things that get used, loved, and held onto long after the last stitch is sewn.

Send this to a mom you want to know you are thinking of this week. 💌

#quiltinginspiration #quilterslife #quiltinggma #grannyhobby
I’ve just revealed a BRAND-NEW pattern!!! 🪄 Alche I’ve just revealed a BRAND-NEW pattern!!! 🪄

Alchemy is my latest block of the month pattern, and this one is for quilters who want something new and maybe even a bit of a challenge! 😉

Presale opens on May 11th. Mark your calendars and follow along! 💕

#advancedquilting #quiltdesign #modernquilting #quiltersgonnaquilt
Do you ever feel like a quilting turtle... slow an Do you ever feel like a quilting turtle... slow and behind? 🐢

Well, let’s just say you’re not alone in that experience! 😅

I know the cycle all too well. Imagine, decide, plan, prep, and sew. Ope... enter mistakes and setbacks. A trip to the fabric store (again). Cut. Stitch. Rip. Stitch.​

Then, the sew-sweet finish! Finally, lol!

When progress feels slow like a turtle... I find it helpful to focus on three things: ⬇️

1️⃣ Celebrate Progress. Just taking the next (teeny tiny) small step can feel every which way but forward. But It’s still progress, especially if you took time for yourself to create! Celebrate it!

2️⃣ Delight in the unknown. Feeling unsure, wanting to quit, or starting over? It’s the normal artist’s experience. Isn’t it great? Haha!

3️⃣ Imagine the end game. Imagine how it’s going to feel when you finish that last stitch! And it’s going to be beautiful! Keep making progress (yes... even if it’s teeny tiny turtle progress!)! We’ve seen it happen, and it’s so possible for you! You can do this.

We all feel like turtles sometimes, that’s why it’s VITAL to celebrate progress, even if it’s block by block or one stitch at a time. 🪡

So today, take some time to celebrate your progress! It’s so thrilling every time I see a block finish! Eeeeeeeee! Every. time! Tell me what you are celebrating in the comments! ✨

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So I uh... well, you see... inspiration hit, and I So I uh... well, you see... inspiration hit, and I designed and made a new Block of the Month quilt!

I know, I know... crazy?!

TOMORROW, I'll be revealing the design and walking you through the color choices and all that fun "new project planning" stuff!

Behind the scenes, I'm extra excited because I did the quilty math on the rainbow version, and it turns out we can use fat quarters!

A fat quarter-friendly project just makes choosing fabrics so easy! Fat quarters are like potato chips, you can't just have one... you simply collect them. 🧐

So, if you're like me! You probably have quite a collection of fat quarters. 🌈 🥹

I'll be making this new quilt design alongside you, using my collection of Alison Glass fabrics.

This BOM quilt is more challenging than my other BOM quilts, but still totally doable. Of course, the primary technique will be freezer paper piecing, so you can brush up on your skills in my "Scrappy Whirligig" class. Comment 'FREE' to take the class! 💌

I'm so proud of this quilt, and I cannot wait to show it to you! 🤩 If you want first dibs on the new Block of the Month program, comment 'FIRST' to add your name to the "first dibs" wait list, and I'll be sure you are the first to know when sign-ups are open! 🫶

#blockofthemonth #modernquilting #rainbowfabrics #quiltpattern
Mark your calendars... I am revealing a BRAND-NEW Mark your calendars... I am revealing a BRAND-NEW block of the month design on May 1st! 🗓️ ✨

Yes, you read that right! 🙌

I have been working behind the scenes on ANOTHER block of the month pattern, and you’ll finally be able to see it on May 1st! 

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Quilting is one of those things that sooner or lat Quilting is one of those things that sooner or later becomes more than just a hobby. 🫶

It might start as fabric and a project idea or a pattern…

And then somewhere along the way, you’re thinking about who it’s for, what they’ll love about it, and how they’ll use it. But you’re thinking of them the entire time you make it. 

And they think of you every single time they see it! ✨

And years later, that same quilt is still there on the back of a couch, at the end of a bed, or wrapped around someone you love.

We’re not just making quilts. We’re making memories and things that get used, loved, and held onto long after the last stitch is sewn.

Send this to a mom you want to know you are thinking of this week. 💌

#quiltinginspiration #quilterslife #quiltinggma #grannyhobby
I’ve just revealed a BRAND-NEW pattern!!! 🪄 Alche I’ve just revealed a BRAND-NEW pattern!!! 🪄

Alchemy is my latest block of the month pattern, and this one is for quilters who want something new and maybe even a bit of a challenge! 😉

Presale opens on May 11th. Mark your calendars and follow along! 💕

#advancedquilting #quiltdesign #modernquilting #quiltersgonnaquilt
Do you ever feel like a quilting turtle... slow an Do you ever feel like a quilting turtle... slow and behind? 🐢

Well, let’s just say you’re not alone in that experience! 😅

I know the cycle all too well. Imagine, decide, plan, prep, and sew. Ope... enter mistakes and setbacks. A trip to the fabric store (again). Cut. Stitch. Rip. Stitch.​

Then, the sew-sweet finish! Finally, lol!

When progress feels slow like a turtle... I find it helpful to focus on three things: ⬇️

1️⃣ Celebrate Progress. Just taking the next (teeny tiny) small step can feel every which way but forward. But It’s still progress, especially if you took time for yourself to create! Celebrate it!

2️⃣ Delight in the unknown. Feeling unsure, wanting to quit, or starting over? It’s the normal artist’s experience. Isn’t it great? Haha!

3️⃣ Imagine the end game. Imagine how it’s going to feel when you finish that last stitch! And it’s going to be beautiful! Keep making progress (yes... even if it’s teeny tiny turtle progress!)! We’ve seen it happen, and it’s so possible for you! You can do this.

We all feel like turtles sometimes, that’s why it’s VITAL to celebrate progress, even if it’s block by block or one stitch at a time. 🪡

So today, take some time to celebrate your progress! It’s so thrilling every time I see a block finish! Eeeeeeeee! Every. time! Tell me what you are celebrating in the comments! ✨

#quiltingprogress #quiltingjourney ##quiltingtips #quiltingproblems
So I uh... well, you see... inspiration hit, and I So I uh... well, you see... inspiration hit, and I designed and made a new Block of the Month quilt!

I know, I know... crazy?!

TOMORROW, I'll be revealing the design and walking you through the color choices and all that fun "new project planning" stuff!

Behind the scenes, I'm extra excited because I did the quilty math on the rainbow version, and it turns out we can use fat quarters!

A fat quarter-friendly project just makes choosing fabrics so easy! Fat quarters are like potato chips, you can't just have one... you simply collect them. 🧐

So, if you're like me! You probably have quite a collection of fat quarters. 🌈 🥹

I'll be making this new quilt design alongside you, using my collection of Alison Glass fabrics.

This BOM quilt is more challenging than my other BOM quilts, but still totally doable. Of course, the primary technique will be freezer paper piecing, so you can brush up on your skills in my "Scrappy Whirligig" class. Comment 'FREE' to take the class! 💌

I'm so proud of this quilt, and I cannot wait to show it to you! 🤩 If you want first dibs on the new Block of the Month program, comment 'FIRST' to add your name to the "first dibs" wait list, and I'll be sure you are the first to know when sign-ups are open! 🫶

#blockofthemonth #modernquilting #rainbowfabrics #quiltpattern
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