 |
| Strawberry Lemonade Mini Charm Project - Pillow & Table Mat |
Back to the Sewing Room! Like most fabric collections, you're likely to have some precuts that are sitting in your collection waiting for the right quick-finish idea. Large block-of-the-month patterns and quilt sized blocks are great to make, but there is a magic in creating a small but satisfying project in just one weekend. Today, we're going to be looking at a pattern that is so darn cheery, that you should go to your cutting table right away to create the Strawberry Lemonade Mini Charm Pillow and Strawberry Lemonade Mini Charm Table Mat.
This pattern created by the incredibly talented mother-daughter duo, Sherri and Chelsi of A Quilting Life is an absolute delight! For Moda Fabrics, they have a Strawberry Lemonade collection of fabric that has a lot of bloomy florals, fancy plaids and delightful polka-dots. It's a great color palette option for adding a splash of color in any room, and it will warm and brighten any space even when it's cold outside.
What is a quilter's best friend? Mini Charms of course!
Mini charm packs are those little irresistible of 2 ½” squares, which are frequently impulse purchases at the local quilt shop. They are undeniably adorable and give a preview of each and every print in a new fabric collection without investing a ton of money. Sometimes it can be difficult to use these little squares so they're not diminished but really come into their own in a pattern, though.
This is where Sherri and Chelsi's design really shines. All that's needed is one mini charm pack, and it's a beautiful and functional addition to home decor. Use it as a lovely lumbar pillow for your favorite chair or a gorgeous table mat for your dining room centerpiece, it's sure to be beautiful.
Project details & Fabric requirement.
Having supplies organized and cutting mat clear before you start to piece is a good thing. Here's what you need to know to begin work on this 18" x 12" finished project, based on the pattern details.
- The Stars of the Show: 1 Strawberry Lemonade Mini Charm Pack. If you are crafty and would like to stash-bust, you can just cut the 39 of your favorite 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares from scraps!
- Background: ¼ yard of a crisp white background fabric to make those bright colors pop.
- Backing: ⅝ yard of matching fabric.
- ¼ yard to neatly frame a beautiful piecing.
- Materials needed: Batting 20” x 26” and muslin (same size) for the pillow top.
- Pillow Extras: If you are using the pillow finish, it's also important to have a 24” zipper and ⅛ yard of contrasting fabric for a clean and professional looking zipper flap finish.
The art of piecing—tips and techniques for success
Since the size of the 2 ½” squares is small, it is important to keep the seam allowances scant and consistent (¼”). I would highly recommend you use a new needle and pin and pin your intersections so that all your points line up.
Be extra careful with the pressing when building the project. If you have several seam intersections on a smaller piece of patchwork, or if you want to press your seams open, you'll notice that it will help to reduce bulk. The construction itself is beautifully straightforward, and is a great weekend project for any beginner or very advanced sewist just looking for a nice afternoon at the machine.
When making a table mat, you may want to add some heavy-duty straight-line quilting for texture and durability to resist tabletop wear. A pillow with a free-motion, loopy design will be soft and inviting as well.
Final Thought
Small projects such as Strawberry Lemonade Mini Charm Pillow and Table Mat are used to refresh the palate between more massive and complicated projects of piecing. They are quick, offer a way to play with amazing lines of fabric, and are an excellent way to change our home decor seasonally easily. Take that little charm pack you've been saving, thread up your sewing machine and have a few moments of happy, stress free quilting!
Full Pattern: Strawberry Lemonade Mini Charm Project Free PDF Pattern 🎁
