Sweet Treats Blog Hop – A Cushion

{Giveaway now closed}
Congratulations to the winner of the $25 gift certificate: Amira of littlemushroomcap!

Today is my day on the Sweet Treats Blog Hop! Have you seen those itty bitty mini charm square packs – you know the 2.5” ones? They are ridiculously cute, but what could you make with them? Well wonder no longer – this blog hop will give you some great ideas, tutorials and patterns!

When Alyce invited me to the blog hop, she added “I don’t think paper piecing will quite work for mini charms” (and something else about feel free to try it out etc etc) – all I heard was “I challenge you to paper piece with 2.5” squares”. To which of course I answered Challenge Accepted!!

So, I give you… Too Pretty for Pickles! A paper pieced pattern similar to a pickle dish design BUT no curves! Yay! You can find the pattern in my Craftsy shop – it’s free for the month of October (after that, it goes towards paying for my fabric habit hehe). The pattern makes a 12” block.



The 2.5” mini charms are perfect for this, and with coordinating solids, so pretty pretty! But what to make the block into?! I decided on a cushion/throw pillow/soft decorative thing/call it what you will.



Right, so details! This cushion cover used 2 mini charm packs of Kate Spain’s Cuzco (love!), a 1/2 yard Platinum Bella Solid and the purple is less than a fat quarter of Amelia Purple Bella Solid. Did you know United Notions lists the coordinating Bella Solids for their Moda fabric ranges? Seriously awesome. All I had to do was whip over to the Fat Quarter Shop and pick up my supplies!  (Ok and then wait for what seemed like forever for the postie to deliver them! Patience is perhaps not my forte hehe)



Once I had the block finished, I added some small grey borders then I decided to piece the rest of the mini charms into a gorgeous scrappy border which gave me an 18” block – perfect for the cushion form I had floating around!



I used the rest of the Platinum for the backing and even added in my very first invisible zipper (which is not so invisible but the grey matches nicely with the Platinum so we’ll pretend.



So there you have it! Challenge completed! A paper pieced pattern featuring 2.5” mini charms. I had an absolute blast making this and it was a delight to work with Cuzco again!



I will add – there are a few angles in the paper piecing which can be a little swear-word inducing. So! I have done a little tutorial on how I paper piece angles to help you out. You can find the tutorial here and the pattern is here.
 


A big thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring this blog hop  and also to Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts for hosting it. We’re headed towards the end of the hop now but it’s absolutely worth checking out all of the hoppers – each of us has a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop to giveaway (with a big $50 giveaway happening on Alyce’s blog on the 13th!).

Monday 8th - Beth at Plum and June

Tuesday 9th - Jennie and Clara at Clover and Violet

Wednesday 10th - Lindsey at Happier Than A Bird

Thursday 11th - Kristy at Quiet Play – you are here!

Friday 12th - Jane at Want It, Need It, Quilt

Saturday 13th - Wrap up at Blossom Heart Quilts – Big giveaway! 

Giveaway! Now closed.
Want to win a $25 gift voucher to the Fat Quarter Shop? Why that'd cover the supplies to make your very own cushion just like this one with some to spare! ;) 
 

To enter the giveaway, simply leave me a comment on this post – any comment you like!

For a second chance, leave a separate comment telling me you’re a follower of my little blog.

Entries close on 17th October and winner will be notified by email so please make sure you can be contacted (i.e. not a no reply blogger).

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!!