We're going to run a regular feature of super handy, sometimes overlooked or just plain quirky products that we carry at Bolt. First up is April's pick: Kona Solid Charm Packs!

Charm packs are (generally) 5" square packs of fabric perfect for quilting and small craft projects. Often fabric manufacturers will build entire patterns around charm packs and their cousins-- jelly rolls, layer cakes, fat 1/8s, etc. They make building half square triangles a snap and can be sliced and diced quickly for coin quilts, square patchwork, and any number of traditional blocks. They are economical and cute (two big advantages in my book).

But there's more! Try some of these out for size:

Kid art-- set your small people up with a stack of squares (use masking tape to fasten them to your table and to tape off a seam allowance) and a bunch of fabric pens. You can sew up their finished product into a wall hanging or pillow. They would also make fantastic tiles for an on-the-go version of Memory.

Bunting-- I love any kind of bunting or party flags. Leave them square, cut them into a triangle or rectangle and enclose the edges in a length of folded bias tape with fabric glue or your sewing machine.

Community Giving-- Pass them out to crafty friends before a shower or party and ask them to come up with a sewn block or mini embroidery. Assemble them before hand (or at the party!) and you will give a memorable and meaningful gift.

Do you buy charm packs? What is your favourite thing to use them for?

(Sew Everything Workshop)

--Melissa

As I mentioned yesterday, there are lots of thoughtful ways to give a handmade gift on Father's Day and we have the supplies for you to get it done! For so long I wasn't sure I could make something for Father's Day that a guy would actually like and use-- but no more. A tie made from Liberty Tana Lawn? Silk? Voile? Sure thing. We've got the All Tied Up stand alone pattern, or buy the book Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp and you've got patterns for boxers, ties and a whole lot more. I sewed up the Foxy Boxers pattern last night and despite a bit of tricky fly construction (it only looks tricky-- it's actually very simple to sew) the entire project took me just more than an hour.

The sizing is generous, and while its intended recipient usually wears a medium, I sewed up a small with good fit results. This is fantastic project for novelty fabric and we have plenty to go around: robots, chickens, tools, skeletons-- you name it! Jalie also makes a great stand alone boxer pattern that includes sizing for both children and adults.

I'm really excited about the new organic prints from Monaluna's Anika and Marin lines. The two lines coordinate beautifully and I don't think any of it (but especially those foxes) is going to stick around here very long.

Both the Woman and Child issues of Ottobre magazine are here (3/2011 for those keeping track). I took a good, long look at the children's issue and I'll be bringing one home with me. Even though it's a summer issue, there is a lot of beautiful, functional transitional clothing that your kids will want to wear all year long. You can preview all their patterns here.

Have you thought about handmade for Father's Day? We'll be doing a boxer short pattern review tomorrow, and we also carry patterns for ties, pjs, and other apparel. Look through our Jalie patterns for inspiration, or check Stitch magazine-- they always has at least a couple of patterns per issue with men in mind!