... and the question is this:
What generally does one do with a charm pack? (42 5"X5" squares). All I can think of is putting sashing between them to make a quilt top. Anything else?

I made a Disappearing 9 Patch with charm packs. It was so much fun!

You can also do the 10 minute block with charms. People also use them for mug rugs and tote bags.

Eleanor burns has a book "nickel quilts" and they are made with the charm packs

I use mine for the Lil' Twister,or I've seen disapering 9 patch.

disappearing Four patch, and disappearing pinwheel. tutortials are on this board. and lots of little projects, like purses, table runners, backgrounds for applique. Also, combine with black or white or whatever color and turn into HST's, then do Tons of stuff. They're fun!

1/2 or 1/4 square triangles too :D:D:D

I made this with 2 charm packs. It was really easy.

Some more ideas here:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-70006-1.htm

All of the above! But watch what you are buying. Not all have the same quantity of 5" squares.

Chasing Hawk, your quilt is striking.
I know you said 2 charm packs-are they also 2 different fabric lines/patterns in a disappearing 9 patch? Thanks for letting us see it.

There is also a disappearing 4-patch!

Take a look at Nickel Quilts or More Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth.
http://www.amazon.com or http://www.abe.com

Abe.com is a great source for used books in good condition

charms are wonderful. You can make the disapearing 9 patch several different ways. go to the u tube tutorials or Missouri Star Quilt Co for ideas. I am taking their quilting course on line(20.00) and they have several ways to use charm packs. Precuts are the way to go for me. Jelly rolls are great too.

ChasingHawk, I love that quilt!

I like to use charms in a boxed square. Here is one I did.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-45871-1.htm

me too

Modabakeshop.com has patterns for charm packs as well.

Wow... lots of good answers, thanks! I'll go look up the patterns you all suggested. The Nickle Quilts books look great (did you know she has more than two now?)

I was in a wonderful quilt shop in Jackson MS. yesterday, drooling over a beautiful quilt on the wall, made in Moda's Bliss line. Can't afford to do it right now, but would love to play with some Bliss charm packs!

I must be crazy because they were giving away (in a drawing) some fancy new late-model Bernina machine. All you had to do for your name to go into the drawing was sit and watch a demo of the machine. I didn't even want to spend the time doing that. A complicated, computerized, plastic-housed machine just doesn't appeal to me, even for free! I love my old Bernina 830 and am looking for an even older Singer 15-91... (sigh) Maybe I should go back and watch the demo. That machine could buy an awful lot of fabric and batting. LOL.

Charm packs cut into bow-ties with little waste. There is a cute pattern at Moda Bake Shop.

I made dresden plates out of charm packs. I think Missouri Star Quilt Co. has a U tube on it.

There are tons of free patterns on the web, Moda Bake Shop etc and lots of patterns & books out are using them
Set them all together or sash in 4 patches, 9 patches etc (great for the Disappearing 9 patch) or use 9 patches etc with setting squares; make HST; use whole or cut in half for borders ... also great for table runners, toppers, handbags, tote bags, baby items, the ideas are endless ... :)

I made a couple of table toppers for Xmas with charm packs using the Disappearing Nine Patch. You can make table runners using charm packs in different block patterns. Have also used charm packs to make handbags.

Beautiful!

I used the small DP templates & made this little top with a charm pack!

Here is another one I added white sashing to...

Ohhh, I love them both! Thanks for posting the photos.

I ad them often to scrappy table runners or other little scrappy quilts.

happymrs, those are wonderful!

I'm making a table runner using charms plus some yardage from Moda bake shop. It's nice to have some of the cutting done for you!

I love the Bliss line! I used some for a rag quilt (will post pics when I'm done snipping)! I love the aqua and red and white.

charm are great and fun to work with - lots of good suggestions here

charm are great and fun to work with - lots of good suggestions here

I have made a lot of blocks from a couple charm packs using dyer84's avatar. This is a quick and easy method and makes a striking block. After Christmas, when I have a lot more time (?) I will sash them and make them intoa quilt.

You can make snowball squares out of them. Add a coordinating fabric and make half-square triangles.

Make HST's, make twisters, 9-patch, 4-patch, just use your imagination. Lots of things and lots of fun.

Chasinghawk, love the colors! Very striking quilt! Also use alot of charm packs and find the are quick and easy.

Love your quilts !! They make me smile :)

Here are two projects I did with coordinating charm packs. For the D9P I used 4 (to get the matching look) and then used the extra's plus one more for the table runner.

http://alimaui.blogspot.com/2010/09/...-projects.html


http://alimaui.blogspot.com/2010/09/...d-plum_04.html
This is another charm pack pattern, using only two charm packs (but equal amounts of solid white cut to charmsize.)

http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransso...ilt-redux.html
Here is a tut that uses just one charm pack that I have been meaning to try.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-79336-1.htm

Here is a recent post of mine, all the projects here except for the last one used charm packs. (Figgy/Christmas used three, the next two used two coordinating, and the taggy just uses sixteen charms.

Also there is a pattern desinger who makes patterns called Schnibbles, using charm packs.

Here is the Flickr Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/schnibbles

How many Charm packs do you buy usually?

It kind of depends on how much I like it, and how much it is, and where I am buying it. The last couple times, I bought three... That way I have the option of choosing to do a Scnhibble (Usually takes two) or something a little bigger, or smaller.