Squares with charm

I realized I had a pretty big assortment of charm squares, from numerous packets I’ve accumulated at fabric trades and give-aways here at C&T or bought at quilt shops and shows. These 5” squares are a great way to sample fabric lines.

Sorting out squares with similar colors or designs, and finding I had 220 of them, I tried to think of a creative way to combine them with something in my over-the-top stash.

I remembered a wonderful quilt on the wall, at least 10 years ago, at ThimbleCreek Quilt Shop, now located here in Concord. I had a vague memory of Trip Around the World or Irish Chain or some relatively simple design.  But the reason I went back several times just to see this one – a class sample probably? – was because, instead of muslin as the ‘neutral’ fabric, the maker had used a blue chambray, making it unique and charming.  Perfect for charm squares!

I cut chambray I’d purchased back then to make the quilt (aw come on, you have fabric you bought 10 years ago in your stash too) and gleaned about 120  5” squares. I decided to use C&T’s nifty new tool, fast2sew® Ultimate Seam Guide, to combine pairs of print with chambray without spending time marking the diagonal line, as you usually need to do when making half-square triangle units.

Even though the 5” square is bigger than the recommended 4” max, it was simple – you just place your diagonal-point (center line) on the guideline and your needle will stitch the correct ¼” seam, then turn the square around and come back with the opposite ¼” seam line.  Slice each square in half, between your stitching lines, press the perfect ¼” seams to the chambray side, and, voila!  Your unit is ready to trim and use.

What I love about the Half-Square Triangle is how versatile the unit is.  I let my 5 and 7 year old grandsons, Griffin and Sam, help me on the design wall, with “Trip Around the World” setting.

Then I reassembled as “Straight Furrows.”

Then “Streak of Lightening.”

But in the end, I let the intended recipient of this quilt choose his favorite setting. My friend John, a gracious and generous restaurateur at the Red Onion in Pinole, decided he liked ”Squares on Point” the best.