Moda mini-charms
 

I just found out that Moda is offering a new pre-cut. They're called mini-charms - same idea as regular charms, in that they consist of 40-42 fabrics, all different. But these mini-charms are 2.5" squares.

That's pretty small... what would you do with these? Are there projects out there, which call for these little squares?

Their suggested retail price for these is $4.00. Using very rough math, you're getting about 1/3 yard of fabric in all.

Any thoughts on this?

Sounds great for postage stamp style quilts--all those little squares already cut. You would have to buy a lot of packs though.

I actually purchased a little box of them a while back -- they may have been a marketing trial. I haven't used them yet, because to be honest, most patterns where I'd use a 2.5 inch square, I'd strip piece. But I do think there is a market for the, particularly among new quilters who are not versed in strip piecing and rotary cutting. I will probably eventually use mine to make something like a saw tooth border.

RST

I use 2 1/2" squares on my flying geese. The mini charms would be perfect for that if I am doing a scrappy quilt.

I think they would be useful for quilters who don't have strength to cut fabric or have painful arthritis. I've had many quilts that use 2.5" squares but I'll save money and strip cut

Are the edges straight-cut or pinked?

48 squares would cover an area 20 x 15 inches. Finished size would cover an area 16 x 12 inches.
40 squares would cover an area 20 x 12.5 inches. Finished size would cover an area 16 x 10 inches.

The total amount of fabric would be less than a FQ

I MIGHT consider them for something like applique if I was looking for very small pieces - especially if the edges are pinked.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]336903[/ATTACH]Snowball the corners of things! Here are some pics of ideas like this.....

A lady in our guild used these to make a teeny tiny twister quilt!

Jan in Va: Thanks for the photos. I have two shoe boxes of 2.5" squares to use. And the second quilt in your photos...I have that pattern and had forgotten about it. Looks great in your color choices.

Anita

I remember when charm squares just meant they were all different, in any size you wanted, before Moda decided a charm square = 5".

Me, too.

I still prefer a straight edge to the pinked edges. (Even though I know there is apt to be some fraying when the stacks are being handled.)

Love it!!! can't wait to buy some!!

At Quilt Market, the Moda 2.5" square packs were called 'Candies' not mini-charms. So, it will be interesting to see. Shops are going to be able to have display boxes of them on the counters. They are nice.

Just to be clear, not all the pics I posted are of my quilts. Only the two drawn ones and the baby bow ties are mine. I saw and saved the other two in my files for future reference. Kudoes to ones who made those originally.

Jan in VA

I think they have many uses. For stash building, for stretching the fabric required for a stash quilt, for borders, for people struggling with cutting. For baby quilts the list goes on. I purchased 3 packs for the centres of a Cathedral Window quilt, they are perfect for this.

too small for my taste

Bonnie Hunter from quiltville uses lots of 2 1/2" squares in her scrappy quilts, I use them for my leaders and enders.

If you have a charm, cut it in half both ways....mini charms....., so that means 40 minis are equivelant to 10 charms at $4.00...hmm... 2 1/2"squares are a fav for scrap quilts.....just do a search and you will find tons of ideas......I use my GO and cut most "leftover" into 2 1/2" squares, but in a basket and these are my leaders/enders when working on a project as per Hunter/quiltsville....even though my machine has a "cut thread" button, I rather do l/e......

Jan, thanks for sharing. Your quilts are adorable. Have to try these patterns., Again, thanks!!!

oh yes there is a use for 2.5" squares as i am in the process of cutting 300 of them now for a baby quilt. then i will need to cut some for a snowball quilt. too bad strip piecing won't work here.

there is a seller on ebay who is selling 4000 2.5" squares (multiple colors) for around $40.00. i have seriously been considering whether to buy them or not. i am already working on 2 postage stamp quilts (20,000 - 1.5" squares) so my fascination with cutting things small is waning. lol:)

I saw these the other day, I have bought charm packs, but I don't think I'd buy the mini-charms.

I haven't read the entire thread, but these would be perfect for a Mondo Bag. I can't remember whose design it is, but I LOVE the bag. It calls for 280 2-1/2 inch squares, so it would be GREAT to have them precut. I used batiks in mine, and I cut them from a jelly roll. I made mine in a Sue Hausmann class. Everyone used different fabrics, and they all looked terrific. It's a BIG bag - big enough to take a large quilt to Guild for show-and-tell.

I like the idea very much as I do postage stamp quilts. I love the charm packs and have a bunch of them which I use all the time for so many different projects. The thing about the charm packs is that you can see the pattern and if you really love it then buy yardage. Between charm packs and layer cakes I'm in quilting heaven so bring on the 2.5" lovelies.

The Mondo Bag is by Quiltsmart. At Market, Quiltsmart also introduced a smaller version of the Mondo Bag called a Midi Bag.

Would they work for the mini twister?

I would use them to make a mini quilt for my mini quilt stand.

I also purchases them for my tiny twister template. Have yet to do the project--but they will work perfect.

Wow! that would have been great to know for the quilt I am currently working on. 20 blocks, 20 pcs each, Grandmother's Puzzle.

Ditto here, Thanks, Jan...I use my 2.5" squares to make 4/9 patches...helps me improve my 1/4" seam and get a couple of quilts out of them.

When I sent squares to Moda for those quilts they were making for Quilts of Valor, they sent me a package of 2 1/2" squares to thank me. I have put them away and now I can't find them. I will use them (when I find them) on a postage stamp quilt, I think. They are very nice, but I haven't seen them in a store.
Sue

I love your first quilt. how do you make that border? Thanks!

Another use would be as ready-made cornerstones...a time-saver in that one wouldn't have to cut them, especially if the project is a scrappy quilt.