How to Cut Your Own Charm Squares from Your Yardage

In this tutorial, we will be showing you how to cut your own charm squares for quilting (or anything else for that matter).

Charm squares are 5″ x 5″ squares of fabric and are sold by the company Moda. They usually come in a pack of 42 squares and are coordinated so that you can easily use them in a project.

However, other companies also make ‘charm squares’…they just won’t call them that since the name is already used by Moda.

Either way, if you want to cut your own, then keep reading as we will show you step-by-step.

Tools used in this tutorial

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Watch the video below or scroll down for the step-by-step written instructions

We started with a half yard of fabric (which is .45 of a meter).
  • The first step is to straighten one edge of the fabric, so lay the fabric on the table with the folded end facing towards you and the selvedge end facing away.
  • Line up your ruler along the top of the folded edge.

how to cut charm squares

  • Trim the edge to straighten.

how to cut charm squares

  • Now we need to trim off the selvedge ends, so turn your fabric so that the selvedges are on your right-hand side.

  • Line up the ruler along the edge closest to you and trim the selvedges.

cutting charm squares from yardage

  • Now we are ready to cut some 5″ strips.
  • Turn the fabric again so that the folded edge is facing you.
  • Line up your ruler along the edge of the fabric at the 5″ line of your ruler and cut.
  • You should now have one 5″ strip.

how to cut charm squares

  • Repeat this process.
  • You should end up with 3 strips.

cutting charm squares

  • Line up the 3 strips so that the folded edges are on your right.
  • You will need to line them up perfectly. I have cut 3 strips at a time, but if you find this difficult, just cut one.
  • Line up the ruler on the  5″ line and cut.

  • This will give you your first lot of 5″ squares.
  • Move your ruler along, lining up at the 5″ line and repeat the process.
  • You should end up with 24 charm squares in total (depending on the width of your fabric).

cutting charm squares

 

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Comments

  1. Latechia Arnold says

    I was trying to watch your tutorial on how to do binding, however when I use the link for that it show’s how to cut the 5″ charm squares. So I then tried the link for the charm squares thinking they may have gotten mixed up somehow, however it was still the tutorial on the squares. Could you send me a link for the binding tutorial please? Thank you for all of your tutorial’s they are really good and easy to understand.

  2. Deirdre says

    Hello,
    I’m trying to sign up for quilting tutorials newsletters. I have tried both email addresses
    I want these tutorials very much. Please tell me what I am doing wrong. Thanks, Deirdre

    • Alanda says

      Sorry to hear you are having a problem Deirdre. Please can you tell me what message you are getting when you try to sign up.

  3. Dori says

    Your tutorials are always so clearly explained that it makes it very easy to do the task on your own. Thanks for taking the time!! 👍 from Texas!!

    • Alanda Craft says

      Thank you Connie 😊. It’s certainly helps to save money when you cut your own. Plus you can choose fabric that you like to mix and match.

  4. Gayle Linch says

    I have signed up several times for the news letter and have never been able to get the free quilt planner. Is there a way you can send that to me?

    Just watched the kids placemats and table runner and I am going to make these for my two grandson’s who live in Colorado (I live in Idaho) for Christmas. They will love it.

    • Alanda Craft says

      I have sent you a direct link to your email address, Gayle. Sorry to hear you have had a problem getting the file.
      Lovely to hear you are going to make the place mats and table runner for your grandsons. My grandsons love theirs. I think it makes them feel a little bit special when they have their own place mat. You are a bit like me having a 13 hour hike to see them, my grandchildren and great grandchildren live interstate in Queensland (and one is in Germany) so visits are few and far between, but boy are they worthwhile when we get together.

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