so I bought a stack of lovely cut squares

[icxcnika]

...for a quilt. I have never bought something like that before; usually I use repurposed fabric or other fabric that has been washed and that I've cut (and ironed, no starch).

Am I correct to assume that I can just get to sewing on these? I don't have to wash them first or anything, right?

And is there generally something in particular that people do with these sorts of sets (like a particular pattern), or do you just get creative in whatever way you like (which is what I had intended to do)?

Thank you!!

[Faliciagayle]

I believe you're talking about a "charm pack" and you can do whatever you want with it

My first charm pack was purchased so I could make something like this.

[luv-my-boys]

I often buy these for quilts because it allows me to have a lot of variety in prints that coordinate and usually are much quicker to make up a quilt say for a gift.

They most likely have not been washed so if they are 100% cotton bear in mind shrinkage which is normal for any cotton fabric.

I tend to make rag quilts with mine so they sew up pretty fast.

[icxcnika]

Charm pack! Beautiful, thank you!
LOVE the skirt.

So if they shrink when I wash the finished product, will it warp or pull stitches, or is it more likely to shrink uniformly? Should I just be very careful washing it?

Thank you, mamas!

[Smokering]

If you're making a quilt, some people like the slightly wrinkled look you'll get after washing. I know quilters who deliberately don't preshrink their fabrics so they'll get that look.

It kind of annoys me that charm packs, jelly rolls etc aren't pre-shrunk - doing it yourself takes most of the convenience out of them, and imagine all the fraying or overlocking! But I made a patchwork skirt out of a "dessert roll" (5-inch strips) without prewashing and it was fine. A touch shorter than it was before wadhing, but the stitching doesn't look odd or anything.

Google "charm packs free patterns" or something similar and you'll find thousands of free patterns and projects. Good luck - I have a jelly roll in my stash that I have yet to touch, and I usually use reclaimed fabrics too. It's pretty exciting to have all these matchy arty prints! Occasionally I fantasise about getting a few yards and charm prints by one designer and making DD an all-matching spring wardrobe, where EVERY top went with EVERY skirt, pinafore or pants!

[SophieAnn]

Check out the moda bake shop for tons of project ideas, many of which use charm packs!

http://www.modabakeshop.com/

And yes, you can go right to sewing with them, no prewashing necessary.

Edited to add: a disappearing 9-patch is a really fun quilt pattern to make with squares.
http://quiltsatcs.blogspot.com/2007/...-tutorial.html

[hildare]

Originally Posted by SophieAnn

Edited to add: a disappearing 9-patch is a really fun quilt pattern to make with squares.
http://quiltsatcs.blogspot.com/2007/...-tutorial.html

This link is so timely for me!!! I've been cutting squares for a quilt and was not sure what to do to make them a little more fun. Yay!!!