Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn a little box of July wool charms into a bright charm pack baby quilt with simple appliqué blocks.
Here we go.
First, let's look at the fabric
This one is #Charms11 July.
It's a set of 11 Wooly Charms. They come packaged in a clear box, with a laser engraved keepsake tucked in there too.
The wool is hand-dyed. It is felted, and it is ready for stitching right out of the box. No extra prep to fuss with.
It's listed as 100% wool, in assorted colors — rich and vibrant, just right for a baby quilt.
I love felted wool for appliqué. It does not fray the way a raw cotton edge does. So you can cut a simple shape, place it, and stitch it down. Just like that.
The product notes call these a perfect gift for wool enthusiasts. For this project, though, we are keeping them. Super duper sweet.
The project: a charm pack baby quilt
We're making a baby quilt, about 36 by 48 inches finished.
That is a nice crib and tummy-time size. Big enough for every day, small enough to finish in a weekend or two.
The idea is simple. You make plain cotton blocks for the background. Then you cut sweet shapes from the wool charms — a sun, a flower, a heart, a star — and appliqué one to each block.
Why does this wool suit a baby quilt? That felted surface adds soft texture little hands will love to touch. Those vibrant colors pop against a soft white, cream, or pale pastel background. And you only use wool for the little shapes, so the finished quilt still wears like a regular cotton baby quilt.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. It's a classic block quilt, with a little wool love on top.
Materials list
- One pack of #Charms11 July — 11 Wooly Charms, hand-dyed felted wool
- About 1 yard of quilting cotton for backgrounds — cut twelve squares, 9 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches
- About 1/2 yard of quilting cotton for sashing and a small border, if you want one
- About 1 1/4 yards of backing fabric
- Batting cut about 40 by 52 inches
- Piecing thread, plus thread that blends with your appliqué shapes
- A size 80/12 needle for piecing, and a hand needle you like for appliqué
- Paper-backed fusible web, optional, and small, sharp scissors
Brief steps
1. Cut your backgrounds. Cut twelve cotton squares at 9 1/2 inches. Press them flat. Lay them out in three rows of four. Completely up to you.
2. Cut your wool shapes. Draw simple shapes on paper first. Keep them bold — about 3 to 4 inches across works really really well. Cut one from each charm, and save scraps for leaves, dots, and flower centers.
3. Place and stitch. Center one shape on each square. Pin it, or fuse it lightly. Stitch it down with a small blanket stitch or running stitch, about 4 to 5 stitches per inch. Slow down on tight curves, or the needle can jump right off the edge.
4. Piece the top. Sew blocks together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press as you go. Add sashing or a border if you like that framed look.
5. Layer and quilt. Layer backing, batting, and top. Quilt gently — stitch in the ditch around the blocks, or a soft meander in the background. Travel around your wool shapes instead of quilting through them, so they stay soft and raised.
6. Bind it. Trim, bind all the way around, and press from the cotton side, not right on the wool.
Practical tips from my table
Keep your shapes simple, y'all. A wobbly sun still reads as a sun. A tiny, fiddly shape will just fight you.
Test your stitch on a scrap first. If your thread pulls too tight, loosen up just a touch. Wool is forgiving, but it will pucker if you tug.
Press with care. Use a warm iron on the cotton, and keep direct heat off your appliqué. A pressing cloth helps here, folks.
I cut my first flower with way too many petals. Oh my goodness, it took forever to stitch. Fewer petals, bigger shapes — that is the lesson I learned, so you don't have to.
And here's your permission beat. It doesn't have to be perfect. A stitch that wanders a little is handmade charm, not a mistake. You're your own worst critic, I promise. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the #Charms11 July at Linda's Electric Quilters.
