| Charm Quilts usually feature a single shape, such as a | | | | luck.Renewed interest in this type of quilt began with |
| square, hexagon or diamond, with no two patches | | | | the creation of Millennium Quilts in recent times - a |
| cut from the same fabric. Creating these enchanting | | | | version of a Charm Quilt with 2000 different fabric |
| quilts was originally popular from 1860 - 1900.Charm | | | | squares.Just think how much fun it would be to |
| Quilts are the type of quilt you only do once. It can | | | | collect, trade and touch so many different prints. To |
| be an enormous undertaking to accumulate the sheer | | | | get started on your Charm Quilt go through your |
| number of fabric bits, each different, to complete | | | | own stash. If you are a real fabric-holic you may be |
| this quilt.The collecting is probably a large part of the | | | | able to make a Charm Quilt from your own |
| appeal of a Charm Quilt, similar to that of "Charm | | | | stash.After you look at your own scraps for a while, |
| Strings". In the late 1800's, the gift of a button was | | | | go and look at another quilter's scraps. You will notice |
| considered lucky and young girls collected and traded | | | | that some of hers would go well with yours. You |
| buttons. Strung upon a string, every one of the | | | | suggest a swap. As a fabric lover never forgets |
| buttons was different, each a special | | | | where a fabric came from, a bit of history begins to |
| memento.Collecting is a pastime many enjoy, with | | | | creep into your project.Charming and charmed, a quilt |
| the challenge being to acquire as many different | | | | with no two pieces alike is fun to organize, and fairly |
| examples of an item as possible.Scraps of fabrics | | | | simple to make. This is a great chance to use all kinds |
| gathered and traded with friends and relatives, sewn | | | | of pieces - have a go. Start collecting today to begin |
| into a quilt, would have been an appealing hobby for | | | | on your memories for tomorrow.Pauline Rogers has |
| young women. It would also be a reminder of | | | | travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand for |
| pleasant times and the loved ones.These quilts were | | | | over 20 years, teaching the art of patchwork and |
| at times called Beggar Quilts, referring to the method | | | | quilting. She operates an award winning shop, Country |
| of attaining the fabrics. The name Charm Quilt is | | | | Fabrics and Quilters, in Toowoomba, Queensland as |
| more common, and may have originated with the | | | | well as a successful mail order and online service. She |
| belief that pieces that came from so many hands | | | | founded Quiltfest, an annual quilting event and |
| possessed good fortune. The finished quilt acquired a | | | | Margie's Quilts of Hope, a quilting challenge which |
| magical quality - to be charmed or to bring good | | | | raises funds for breast cancer research. |