Precut charm squares, are they really suppose to be exactly 5" square?
 

This is the first time I have used precut packaged charm squares for a quilt class at my LQS. After getting them all arranged on my design wall I realized that the really aren't 5" squares. They all very 1/8" to 1/4" and some are just off square. All of them have to be cut to be 5". Is this normal for precuts like charm squares and jelly rolls? Do you just use them the way they are or square them all up? I squared mine up as thats what I was taught in my beginner classes. It was a LOT of squaring !! At this point I could cut them myself and have a better cut. Is it just me or should I deal with it? What do you do?

I think it depends on where you get them. The charms I've gotten from fabric manufacturers like Moda, Kaufmann, etc. seem to be accruate. However, I purchased a number of charms on eBay that were cut by the seller and some were off in size or weren't square. These were set aside to be used in other projects where I could square them to the size required.

Ditto. manufacturers are the best source although they are not always perfect either!

I bought a charm pack from Moda and put a quilt together only to have it end up not being the right size. The charms weren't exactly 5 inches. I didn't check first. I still have to take it all apart and start from scratch. Do you measure the charms from the outside edge or inside edge?

That is one reason I don't buy pre cuts anymore. I've gotten a few bad ones and I would rather just buy yardage and cut my own. That way if they are off...it's my fault.

I think the charm squares that have pinked edges can sometimes be a problem.

it's a lot cheaper (and more accurate) to cut your own.

I never buy pre-cuts. There is no sense starting out the project with a problem!


Dayle

What you are saying is the exact reason I do not buy precuts. The ease of getting a good coordinated variety is lost when I am left with frustration because I have to re-cut .

I won't buy pre-cuts either. I often like the fabric but I find it is an expensive way to buy it and accuracy can be a problem. If I like the fabric enough to buy it, I want more than a 5" square.

Thanks to all for this information. I've thought about getting some charm squares for convenience, but it looks like I'd be better off cutting my own.

I refuse to waste my money on them - I have never ever gotten one that was properly cut. My feeling is if they are advertised as 5", then that is exactly what they should be.

I do buy pre-cuts but don't use them in quilts. I use them for small projects, pincushions, table runners. I usually buy them only when I get a good deal though.

I've not had problems with the moda pre-cuts. They are a pinked edge, and you have to decide where you are lining up--the peak or the valley. But if you're consistent, it's not a big deal.

I got some charms from connecting threads. The good part was that they were very inexpensive and the colors were exactly what I needed for a project. However, they were not as precisely cut, and in a few cases, a big wrinkle made they very skewed. However, for the price, they were ok.

I like using precuts to make a quick, easy, nicely coordinated quilt. The fabrics available tend to be very popular current colors, which makes for quilts that moms of young babies or teens find appealing. Since I'm not spending a lot of time going through my stash finding fabrics to coordinate, I can put a quilt top together very quickly, and have a nice end product with minimal fuss. That works for me. I get why some people don't like them (price, overly matchy, etc) but I think it's only fair to recognize that they do serve a purpose.

RST
RST

I prefer to cut my own. Love my Accquilt go and stuido!

They are never all the same. rarely use them because of this very issue. One in a blue moon if its a really good sale I'll buy them. I've had them range a 1/2" difference in one pack, and they were a good brand from a good website.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, you have all been a big help. I do agree that if I really like the fabric I would like more than 5" squares. The packages I got were 20 different Island batiks, all beautiful. But will use your knowledge next time. Guess it will depend on the project and will probably cut my own in the future.

Wont buy pre-cuts for this very reason!!!

I bought 1 precut bundle 1 time. Expensive and not accurately cut. Now I buy the yardage and cut my own. Cheaper and if I screw up, it's on me.

I have found this to be true, even with "good" charms like Modas....Buyer beware!

I agree with the post that said it depends on where you get them. Moda is usually really good, plus you can tell when they come in a stack if they are off. Ebay is iffy at best. I bought a few jelly rolls that came up short (I am talking about 1.5 to2 inches in length). I go by the learning experience, if I have good results, I stick with them, or cut them myself.

I love the charm squares, especially the Moda's. I have a lot of them that I bought from a store going out of business and am making bags from them. They are close enough to 5 inches for me. I love having all the fabrics from one designer. My only problem and it isn't a big one is all the little pieces of lint coming off the pinked edges and sticking to my shirt.

I haven't had a problem so much with the precut "squares" but hoffman bali pops are not cut to an accurate 2 1/2 inches, i learned this lesson the hard way

There doesn't seem to be any point in buying precuts if you have to recut them!!!I have never bought precuts and now will be very careful , where I buy them from .

I have had good luck with Moda charms but bad luck with ebay where the seller does the cutting. Some of the squares were cut including the slevege edge in the five inches.

When I cut mine (for sale) I do not use a pinked edge, do not include selvage and if they are even 1/8" off I put them aside to cut the next smaller size out of them. Plus I always add a few extra just in case there is one in the bundle that the buyer has a problem with.

DH usually does most of the fabric cutting but I do NOT let him cut charm squares because he is not as precise as I am.

I too have had problems with charm pk and jelly rolls. I decided to that I would not spend any more money on these. I went out and bought the GO. Now I know they a perfect. No more problems.

I second this. I got some beautiful batik charm packs that were pinked, and had a heck of a time working with them. They seemed to be 5" at the outer edge, so that if you sewed a 1/4" seam, there wasn't much holding at the inside edge. So, I guess I unconsciously adjusted for this, and ended up with bigger seams allowances, and thus smaller blocks.

I was using them inter-mixed with true 5" squares, and it was a real struggle.

I will avoid pinked edges in the future.

If you compare the cost of pre-cut fabric with cutting your own you will be shocked. You know it has to be a little more to pay the person who cut them, but sometimes it is about 10 times more! That is unreasonable.

i buy charm packs all the time from walmart & from missouri s. quilt co., and they are never 5 in. not even moda, i got a go so now i can cut my own. sometimes i stiill buy them when they are 99 cents, but then i have to pay 5 dollars for a flat fee. just expect they are never sq

I like them for the variety I can get for my small applique Sunbonnet Sue wall hangings and other small quilts. I don't "do" bed size quilts so they work fine for me.

I don't buy precuts either. I don't like the pinked edges and don't trust the accuracy of the squares. I'd rather cut my own.

you are paying for the variety. Obviously if you need 100 5" squares all cut from the same fabric, you are much better off making your own. If you want 50 different prints, and you don't have much of a stash, you are better off buying a charm pack.

I never buy precuts, especially would never buy any with pinked edges. More economic to deal with my own miscuts.

Ditto. I buy mine for the variety. It's nice having the entire collection with out having to buy yardage of it. I also use mine in machine applique. Sometimes all you need is a small piece and the precuts are perfect for that.

I've used lots of Moda and two packs of RJ something precuts and the measurements were perfect. The company that markets Bali precut strips admits they are not straight and has directions on making a 2 1/2" guide on the left side of the needle on your sewing machine and using that rather than the quarter inch on the right.

The pinked edge on the Moda hasn't been a problem, in fact I rather like being able to peek at my underneath fabric to make sure it's even.

The only precut charm squares I have bought come from places like Moda where they use a die to do the cutting. Always exact.

Someone from my quilt group gave me some fat quarters for Christmas and I bought a blade for my rotary cutter that pinks. I have been using charm packs that have pinked edges and like to work with them. So I guess it is what you get use to. I have to say the pre cuts I have gotten from Connecting threads have not been cut correctly. The last one had 2 1/2 strips and some of the strips were way off.

Moda has improved in the cutting of jelly rolls, charm packs and 5in squares. They now use a very small pinking shear cutting which make them more precise. I only buy Moda on line.