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A Quilter's Alphabet

A Quilter’s Alphabet: C is for Charms, Chain Piecing and more!

October 21, 2020March 15, 2021 Post a comment

Hi Friends!

This week in the Quilter’s Alphabet series, Tammy and I are exploring some quilting terms that start with the letter C!

A Quilter’s Alphabet: C

Charm Packs

My first C is for Charm Packs. I LOVE Charm Packs! What are they? Charm packs are adorable, addicting bundles of 5″ x 5″ squares, usually put together by fabric companies with lots of different prints, usually from one line of fabric.

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs
Charm pack of Mirabelle fabric from Fig Tree for Moda

Each company uses a different number of squares in their packs, and technically, Charm is the name used by Moda Fabrics.

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs
Mix of Precuts and yardage

But a lot of people just call all packs of 5″ squares Charm Packs.

Chain Piecing

Chain piecing is the act of sewing multiple units at once, in a continuous chain without breaking the thread between units.

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

It is a great way to sew many units together quickly!

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

Once they are all pieced, snip the few threads in between the pieces and move onto the next step!

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

I love to chain piece and often get a little snarky when I can’t.

Concave and Convex

These terms refer to the different arcs of a curved block- such as a Drunkard’s Path block. I always had a hard time remembering which was which.

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

Concave is an arc the curves inward. This one is a concave piece and how I remember it now is by thinking about going into a cave.

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

That makes this one convex! A convex arc curves outward.

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

I have 2 new patterns coming soon that use this block! Can’t wait for you to see them both!!

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

Click here to check out Tammy’s post and see what C words she is defining for you today!

happy quilting!

Kate

Like this Quilter’s Alphabet post? Pin it!

A Quilter's Alphabet: chain piecing tips featured by top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs

Chain piecingCharm packConcaveconvex
About Kate

About Kate

Hi! I'm Kate Colleran, a designer who creates quilt patterns, fabric and surface designs. I lecture and teach about quilting. Welcome to my online home!

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