Quilting used to be a way of using up scraps and keeping your loved ones warm. Today, quilting has become less utilitarian, and more of an art form. Below I list some of my favorite sewing and quilting essentials. These are items I regularly use, and as a reference, you can click on the affiliate links to learn more. I am not receiving any payment of any sort from these companies. As you become more addicted to quilting (and you will!), there are hundreds more. But don’t let today’s modern tools and techniques overwhelm you. Start small, and keep it simple! Always remember that those lovely antique quilts were made without any of these fancier tools!
- Quilt Shops. You can buy just about anything you need to make a quilt online. But your local quilt shops are really your best source. It is here where you can try out different types of sewing machines. It is here where you can take sewing and quilting classes. It is here where you can touch and feel fabric, taking in the colors and textures. You can sometimes find better prices online, but your local quilt shops have a wealth of knowledge to offer.
- Sewing Machine. In lieu of hand piecing a quilt, I’ve opted to use a sewing machine. My first machine was a used Pfaff Hobbymatic which served me well for about 10 years. I then purchased a one year old BabyLock Ellisimo II. I love it! It has allowed me to grow as a quilter and sewist, and it also has an embroidery module! Purchase your machine at a local shop that offers lessons on how to use it. And then study the manual so you will know how to use all of your machine’s features.
- Sewing Table. I started out on the dining room table, graduating to a small drop leaf table. But when I invested in my Babylock, I knew I wanted a large good quality piece of sewing furniture. So I invested in a Koala Sewing Cabinet with a drop in and extended leaf.
- Iron. I rarely iron clothes. But pressing (not ironing) fabric is a really important part of quilting. I love my Oliso Pro iron! A regular less expensive iron will do, but I treated myself to this one.
- Fabric. Good quality 100% cotton quilting fabric can make or break your finished product. It will be easier to cut, easier to piece, easier to quilt and easier to wash. The goal is for your quilt to last for generations to come.
- Thread. Good quality thread makes for easier machine and hand sewing, and will insure your quilt does not need mending in the future. My current favorite for machine piecing is Aurifil 50 wt cotton thread and for machine quilting Aurifil 40 wt cotton thread. Although the many available colors are glorious, I have found I can use a silver/gray (for cool colors) and a gold/tan (for warm colors) for most piecing. I am a little more adventurous with thread color when quilting, sometimes want to blend in with the fabric colors, and sometimes wanting the quilting to stand out!
- Needles. I tend to use Schmetz Quilting Needles (size 11/75) for piecing, Schmetz Stretch Needles (size 75/11) for machine quilting, and Schmetz Topstitch Needles (size 90/14 for binding). There is a lot to learn about needles! You will need to experiment and see what works best with your machine.
- Quilt Patterns. Now don’t for one minute think that you cannot make up your own quilt pattern. For example, you can take squares of fabric, any size, piece them together, and you will have a quilt top! But there are many talented quilt pattern designers. Follow them online in Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media outlets. Sign up for their email newsletters. Many offer free patterns to get you started. Another great resource are pattern books. Get one or two that have illustrations of quilt blocks. I still use one of my first quilt books ever purchased, First-Time Quiltmaking, Learning to quilt in six easy lessons. It’s a great reference. And by the way, I have several FREE patterns.
- Quilting Rulers and Templates. Modern quilting was born when rulers and templates were developed. I cannot imagine tracing shapes onto fabric and then cutting out individual pieces. There are hundreds from which to choose. Start out with a couple basic rulers. You’ll want a 24×6 ruler, like this one from Quilt in a Day, to square up and cut 40″ cuts of fabric (folded in half). I also like to have on hand 6.5″x12.5″ and 6.5″x6.5″ rulers. I have MANY more…!
- Cutting Mats and Rotary Cutters. And how do you use all those rulers and templates? I have a 24×36 rotary mat and a 45mm rotary cutter, both from Olfa. There are fancier (and safer) cutters, but I find this one easier on my wrist and elbow. Do close it when not in use!
- Scissors. My favorites are my Red Perfect Curved Scissors (thread snips) by Karen Kay Buckley. And my Gingher 8″ Knife Edge Dressmaker Shears and my Gingher 4″ Embroidery scissors. All 3 come with a nice safety sheath.
- Pins. You’ll need straight pins when piecing, and curved safety pins when basting. These are from Dritz; there are MANY to choose from…
- Sewing/Quilting Notions. There are many must-haves and great-to-haves. Here are a couple to get you started. This measuring gauge is helpful to make sure your stitch width is accurate. Most certainly, you will need a good seam ripper! I use these Needle Tip Tweezers a lot, especially when machine quilting to pull the bobbin thread to the top. For free-motion quilting (FMQ), I have a Supreme Slider. These Wonder Clips are wonderful to use when attaching the binding to your quilt. Probably the niftiest (and least expensive!) tool I own is my Purple Thang! It was developed by Little Foot Quilt Shoppe. It has 101 uses; you’ll want to get a couple!
This is a really exhaustive list and very helpful!
I hope so!