Mini Charm Pack Size Guide: Pieces, Yardage and How Many for a Quilt

A typical mini charm pack has 42 pieces, each 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. Usually 42 squares (Moda); counts vary by collection. Always check the label, because counts and exact sizes vary by manufacturer and collection, and some pieces are pinked at the edges, which slightly reduces the usable size.

A 50 x 65 inch throw top is 3,250 square inches. With each square finishing 1/2 inch smaller than cut, one pack covers about 168 square inches, so plan about 20. That is for the patchwork only: sashing, borders, backing and binding need separate yardage.

A 90 x 95 inch queen top is 8,550 square inches, so you would need about 51 at roughly 168 square inches each. Many quilters stretch fewer precuts by adding a solid background fabric, wide sashing or a border, which also makes the prints stand out.

A mini charm pack holds about 262.5 square inches of fabric, which is roughly 0.17 yard of 42 inch cotton by area. Precuts give far more print variety than one yard of a single fabric, which is why they cost more per square inch. The trade-off is less flexibility in what you can cut.

One pack covers about 168 square inches of finished patchwork, which suits a table runner, pillow, pot holders, a mini quilt or a pieced tote. Combined with background fabric it can become the center of a baby quilt; a 40 x 40 inch baby top made only from these needs about 10.