Monday, September 26, 2011

Go! Halloween

Or, the Charm Pack Challenge

With a Giveaway

I’m still thinking about those little trees I mentioned a couple blog entries back, but meanwhile, I got distracted. I saw this cute little charm pack of Deb Strain’s Trick or Treat fabric line.

I thought, I could have some fun with those. I decided I would cut all the charms with one die on the Go! and that I’d use my good friend –Pellon Fusible Stabilizer 1" Quilters Grid – to sew things up.

Now, there really wasn’t any reason to this challenge. Just a little sewing room “Well, why not?” moment. Here’s what followed.

First, I decided to use the 2 inch square die. Which, of course, I have marked for convenience.

I laid the charm squares so that the edges of the charms were right up against the marked cutting lines.

After running the die through the Go!, I wound up with 4 two inch squares, 1 one inch by five inch rectangle, and 2 one inch by two inch rectangles. (Of course, that’s per charm – since I’m running four to six charms through at a time, the total number is much higher).

When I set up for the second stack of charms, I added the long strip to the die. Like this:

That means that strip will be cut into 2 one inch by two inch rectangles and 1 one inch square.

As a side note: when I run my dies through the Go!, I place a piece of scrap paper on top.

That way, when I remove the cutting mat after the die has been run through the Go!, the only thing that sticks to the mat is paper.

I set a few of the charms aside since I though they’d be better off fussy cut, but the rest I ran through the AccuQuilt Go! – and in just a few minutes, I had this.

So, now it was time to pull out the Pellon. I like to lay it on top of white paper and mark the corner dimensions of the size I want with washable ink. Then it is easy for me to see and cut.

After I cut the interfacing, I place it (fusible side up!) on my Cut n’ Press. I like that I can line up the grid lines of the fusible with the Cut n’ Press. That makes adding patches in line super easy and it’s ready to press as is once I’m happy with the design.

Time to start playing with patches. For this one, I started with the larger squares set in place. Then I added the surrounding rectangles and put in the little one inch squares last.

When I iron, I like to put a cloth over the patches to hold everything down until they are securely in place.

I thought about different options as I went. The above block became a mini quilt and one based on a similar grid became a mug rug. I also did some basic mug rugs.

And baskets. If you haven’t come across Pink Penguin’s fabric basket tutorial, then you’ve been missing out on one of the best sewing tutorials on the web. Check it out here!

I like to use Pellon’s fusible grid to make the patchwork. For one – fast, easy, and super accurate (what’s not to like?). For two – the interfacing gives the basket a little more body. Even though I will need to separate sections, I think it’s fastest to work with a single piece of the Quilter’s Grid. Like this:

I sew the short seams first.

Then cut it in half.

And finally sew the long seams to finish the sections off.

You may wonder just how I’m sewing these together! If you haven’t worked with the Pellon grid before, I have directions given in earlier tutorials. You can find the tutorial for using the straight grid like I’m using with these projects here. And you can find a tutorial for using Pellon’s on-point fusible grid here.

ANYHOO – this went on for a while. Till I had this leftover.

Truth be told, I wasn’t really in love with the whites in this collection. They are seriously cute, don’t get me wrong, but generally speaking, I don’t prefer white with high contrast fabrics. Given another charm pack with more muted options, I probably would have kept on going. I’d have been down to coasters and pin cushions but those pieces would have found a home. But that’s hypothetical. With this charm pack, I decided to call it good.

And here’s what I got for my labors.

Two fabric baskets:

Four mug rugs:

And a mini quilt:

Whew!

But aren’t they just fun?

And, hey, are you still with me? Because here’s the Giveaway! These two mug rugs are looking for a home. Would you like them in yours? If so, just leave a comment. I’ll leave the drawing open until the end of our AccuQuilt Go! Fall Blog Hop – I’ll visit our old friend the random number generator on Saturday morning.

And for more AccuQuilt blog hop fun, check out these blogs this week:

Monday, September 26th
Darlene (SewCalGal) - www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Tuesday, September 27th
Terrie (Bits & Pieces) www.terriesandelin.blogspot.com (you are here!)
Sharon (Craizee Corners) www.craizeecorner.blogspot.com

Wednesday, September 28th
Katrina (Sunshower Quilts) www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com

Thursday, September 29th
Connie (Quilting by the River) http://www.conniekresin.blogspot.com
Mary (the Tulip Patch) http://www.tulip-patch.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 30th
Polly (Polly's Porch) http://www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com

Thank you, Darlene, for putting this together!! I’m so looking forward to seeing what everyone has come up with!

66 comments:

  1. Terri I have never used the Pellon grid. Where do I buy it? I so love your projects and I would love to win. Thank you for the chance.

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  2. Love all the items you made with the Halloween charms. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  3. Wow! Talk about using tools to make things easier......

    I've printed the whole thing so I can refer back. Thx so much.

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  4. I LOVED your tutorial!!! You have seriously inspired me and have made me want to go fishing in my Halloween prints! I would love to win a mug rug since I haven't made one or exchanged on - or own one yet LOL!

    Thanks!
    Katrina

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  5. i love anything halloween! i'm currently inflicting my obsession on my quilt guild, and we're doing a halloween block challenge, so i've been thinking about halloween blocks quite a bit lately.

    i would love to win a mugrug! they're super cute, and i'm very impressed with how much you got out of the charm pack! (and i agree with you re: the white)

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  6. Great post! Very informative. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!

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  7. Amazing what you did with just one charm pack...wow!

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  8. All that from one Charm pack? Great! I have never used the Pellon Grid. I am going to the tut. link you mentioned next. Thank you for a great inspiration. Halloween is my fav. holiday. Kim

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  9. I have NO Halloween decorations, so I'd love to win. Kathie L in Allentown

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  10. This is great! Thanks for the tutorial and a chance to win the cute mug rugs!

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  11. Cute, cute, cute. Now that is the way to get the most out of a charm pack and such a great tutorial. Would love to win your giveaway.

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  12. Great tutorial - thanks! and your baskets and mug rugs look great!
    I would love to win a mug rug

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  13. This is such a great tutorial!! I love it!!! Thanks for sharing it with us!! And thanks for the wonderful giveaway!!!

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  14. Thank you so much for the detailed tutorial and your giveaway. As a left brained person, I am truly amazed at what you produced with a charm pack. Will have to get the Pellon grid as I have a 'fall type' charm pack.

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  15. I love the candy corn fabric, I hav egot to find that. Love the Bag.

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  16. I LOVED your tutorial!! Thanks and thanks for the chance to win your wonderful give away!! So festive!!
    Paulette

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  17. Wow.....it is all I can say. I even showed my husband and he said wow.. What a great new tool.

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  18. Boy did you get a lot out of a charm pack! Love everything! I still can't wait to see what you make with your little trees! Thanks for the giveaway!
    Quilting by the River

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  19. Mugrugs are real cute. Thanks for the tutorial and giveaway.

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  20. Oh how cute and I just have to find some pellon grid , wow that can save a lot of time. Thanks for the tutorial and the chance at your giveaway.

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  21. Great tutorial - thanks! I'm going to mark this so I can come back to it. :) blessings, marlene

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  22. I had no idea you could use charm packs in the GO! You taught me something new! You have a new follower in me now :)

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  23. I have used the grid before and I love working with it... love all your projects...

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  24. good tute! inspirational ... will have to try sewing small pieces like this! i♥mugrugs, and would love to have these!

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  25. WOW! Awesome job. All that with one charm pack. All of these pieces came out super cute!

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  26. Amazing work with one charm pack -- and with leftovers too! If win, this will be our only Halloween quilty decoration so please put my name in the hat. Your mug rugs are so cute.

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  27. one charm pack? amazing and thanks for the tutorials - I love your projects! And I love love halloween anything! thanks for the great giveaway!

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  28. Those mug rugs are so cute, who wouldn't want them.

    I learned so much from today's post. Way cool way to use the GO! to cut multiple size fabric pieces at one time. And I had never heard of Pellon Fusible Stabilizer 1" Quilters Grid so I looked it up and found out they have a 2" grid as well.

    I learn something new every day. ;-)

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway and for participating in this blog hop.

    cgreenleaf2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  29. I've never seen the grid either. Great bag.

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  30. Great projects. That mini quilt is fun! Poor orphaned mug rugs! I can adopt them! I hadn't thought about using the Pellon grid with charms, or cutting the charms smaller. Love it!

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  31. I cannot believe how cool this is! Amazing amount of projects! Love the mug rugs, and I would love to have them for my very own! Thanks!

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  32. I have a big bin of crumbs and have wanted to make something with small squares, but have only imagined teeny pieces fluttering about on their own whim. This looks like a great idea! Thank you - and thanks for the chance to win those wonderful mug rugs! VermontPines@aol.com

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  33. Great tutorial,love your projects,they`re wonderful.Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  34. Great projects and quickly put together! Thanks for a chance at your giveaway!

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  35. I have a three year old who would love one of the mug rugs to sit his drink on at tea-time. They are lovely, and of course if he has one his little sister has to copy. So I can definitely give two mug rugs a home. Or just one and I will make her one to match - different colours of course.
    Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  36. That is great! You did make a lot of different things just from a charm pack. Very creative! Thanks for the giveaway, your mug rugs are very cute.

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  37. I think I need to check out the Cut & Press. What fun. Of course you make it all look so easy, everything fits together perfectly. I've been working on flying geese and I know differently! But what a lot you did with your charm pack.
    Thank you for all the info.

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  38. Loved the projects you shared. Wouldn't mind winning those Halloween Mug Rugs. I love using charm packs in quilts and other sewing projects.

    vail in tn

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  39. I love what you did with your charm pack. And I would love to win your mug rugs. I have one but it frequently needs to be washed and would love to get a rest once in a while.

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  40. What great projects you created with the Halloween charm packs. The mug rugs are very funky and your winner will love the mug rug.
    Thanks for sharing and participating in the blog hop.
    Regards from Western Canada,
    Anna

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  41. Thanks! and WOW! who knew so many projects from Charm squares, can't wait to try it.

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  42. That's alot to show for the work involved! Love the ideas shared on using the GO cutter.

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  43. All these projects are so cute ! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  44. I love the mug rugs, I really enjoy Halloween fabric and like how you were able to make 'sew' many things out of a charm pack. Thanks.

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  45. I also wanted to say I think I have my profile set so that I'm not a no-reply blogger. Also how do I become a follower? Thanks

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  46. What a bunch of cute halloween items! Great ideas! Thanks for a chance to win! :)

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  47. That was some serious cutting but it sure seemed to go fast with your go cutter. Definitely turned out cute, all of them.

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  48. Of course I would like to have the mug rugs. So cute.

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  49. What a fun post! I like hearing how other people work things out in their heads. You're right, the white squares just wouldn't work as well in these projects.

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  50. Wow, I need to start using my Go cutter more! I'd love to win the cute little mug rugs.

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  51. Fantastic post, thank you again for sharing. You've inspired me to make something with the kids this weekend.

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  52. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fun...wonderful tutorial....love the baskets.....love it all!!

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  53. Love the mug rugs. Enjoyed what all you made.

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  54. What a fun tutorial....I love the fabric and you are right about the fabric basket tutorial...it is excellent!!

    Smiles,
    Kelly

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  55. You really got your monies worth out of that charm pack. I love the fabric you used. Halloween is always fun fabric! I would love to give a home to a mug rug. Thanks for the great tutorial and all the pointers. I'm a new follower and I know I'm going to learn lots from you.

    Thanks for the giveaway and a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  56. Such a great tut! All that work. Good job.
    Thanks.

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  57. Wow. That's just amazing how much you got from that one. I really love those little fabric baskets and have to get around to making some myself. I need one in my bedroom on the table next to our bed as it's the right size for that table. Why do we never get around to making things for ourselves anyway?

    I just love the colors of Halloween and yet never buy those colors which is really strange too.

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  58. What amazing projects! Thank you so much for participating in the blog hop! I loved your insight!

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  59. You are inspiring!! I love the project ideas you showed. I think a mug rug will be very happy in my house. Just sayin...

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  60. I like the idea of using your marked mat to see where the squares go. I would love to have a Halloween mug rug.

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  61. What a cute idea.....and love your projects. The fabrics are perfect!

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  62. How adorable are those. Happy Halloween!

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  63. Hello Terrie,

    Lovely projects made for Halloween.
    Happy days.
    Bev.xoxo

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  64. Hi Terrie..Wow I love your lesson, have to try it but then I could win and whoa la!

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