So here we are! Week 1 of the Charmed Prints Quilt Along.... the really fun part, picking out fabric.

First, let's get the serious business out of the way.

THE SCHEDULE:

10/26 Quilt Along Announcement

Week 1 11/1 Schedule and Fabric Requirements

Week 2 11/8 Cutting and Layout Planning

Week 3 11/15 Star Block Instructions AND 11/16 Greek Cross Block

Week 4 11/22 Diamond in the Square Block Instructions AND 11/23 Pinwheel Block

Week 5 11/29 Assemble the Quilt Top

Week 6 12/6 Quilting and Finishing

Week 7 12/13 Completed Quilt

There are 4 feature blocks in this quilt. As I mentioned, most of the charms will remain full 5" squares. In Weeks 3 and 4, I will give 2 block tutorials each week. I decided to separate them into Tuesday and Wednesday posts so the instructions for each block are separated. I intentionally put the more difficult blocks in Week 3 and the easier blocks in Week 4. Week 4 is Thanksgiving week and I assume a lot of us will have turkey hangovers and be spending time with family. So that is why the simpler blocks are in Week 4. I hope that helps everyone keep on pace if you're trying to finish by Christmas.

Baby/Child Size Quilt 47” x 47” (6 x 6 charms)

Lap Size Quilt 66.5” x 66.5” (9 x 9 charms)

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:

Fabric	Child Size Yardage Requirements	Lap Size Yardage Requirements
Charm Pack	1 (36 charms)	2 (81 charms)
Sashing	1 yard	2 1/4 yards
Border	½ yard	3/4 yard
Flange Binding	¼ yard	¼ yard
Backing	3 yards (2 ¼ for pieced, scrappy back)	4 yards
Batting	52” x 52”	72” x72”
Binding	3/8 yard	5/8 yard
Assorted scraps	Leftover charms or coordinating scraps for feature blocks	Leftover charms or coordinating scraps for feature blocks

Note: Most charm packs include 42 – 5” squares, but pay attention to the quantity when ordering.

Selecting your fabric: Pick out fabric that you love! Since most of you will be buying precuts of charm packs, the hard part is mostly done for you. The charm pack already contains a full line of coordinating prints. This can be an I-Spy quilt, so if you're inclined, choose a line that has some novelty prints to fussy cut in your feature blocks.

You will need to select a neutral sashing to really show off the charms and a border print that picks up one of the main colors of the charm pack.

To make the feature blocks, you will need either leftover charms or small scraps that coordinate with the fabric line you have chosen. *Note: The Lap size quilt uses all of the charms if you buy 2 charm packs. This quilt is meant to be customized, both with the number of feature blocks you use and your fabric selection, so don't feel restricted to only working with the fabric line you've chosen for the charms. I think you'll be surprised at how you can find other prints in your stash that coordinate and highlight the prints from different lines. Everything doesn't have to be perfectly matchy-matchy unless you like it that way.

Here are my choices: I've decided to make a "boy" quilt with blue and orange accents.

charms: assorted charms from GXQ's Japanese Imports and Spoonflower swaps. Plus a few other Japanese fabrics from my stash.
sashing: Essex Linen in Natural
border/binding: orange gingham from Riley Blake
flange: Kona Amber (not pictured)
assorted coordinates for feature blocks: all from my stash, picking up the oranges or blues in the charms. Some Katie Jump Rope, some more gingham, etc....

To add a little pizzazz to finishing the quilt, I will be including a flange before adding the binding. I plan on using a solid to give the quilt just a little punch. This is also optional - but fun I hope!