You've decided to learn how to quilt! Welcome to the first class! Once you learn the basics, quilting will provide you with many hours of enjoyment. The first order of business is getting you set up with the proper equipment. Here's a basic list of items that will make your quilting lessons easier.

E Q U I P M E N T

NEEDLES - It's good to always have a supply on hand! If you plan to hand-sew, look for quilting needles, called betweens. If you will be doing machine quilting, have extra machine needles available, just in case your needle breaks.

THREAD -  Since most quilters use cotton fabric, it seems logical to use cotton thread. But cotton is a natural fiber and has some shrinkage. Some quilters feel that cotton thread puckers along the seams when the quilt is handled or wet, and they prefer cotton-wrapped polyester thread. Experiment with both on small pieces, and see which you prefer. You should always have a good supply of neutrals on hand- white, bone, ecru, and black. (You'll find you will use these often!) As your thread collection grows, you may wish to add metallic or monofilament threads for special effects. Your local fabric store has thread organizers and stands to help you with storage.

WALKING FOOT or EVEN FEED FOOT for your machine will make machine quilting easier.

SCISSORS - The most important rule is to buy the best scissors you can afford, and never, ever use them on paper. A good basic sewing scissors (8" knife bent right or left.) will be sufficient for a while. As you become a more experienced sewer or quilter, you might wish to add: dressmaker shears, a small sharp scissors for appliqué work, and pinking shears for folk art looks.      

ROTARY CUTTER - A circular blade that enables you to cut many layers of fabric at one time. Rotary cutters have dramatically changed quilting procedures, by enabling the quilter to cut many identical strips at once, reducing cutting time by half. The strips are then sewn together in various ways to make strip pieced quilts. Rotary cutters have replaceable blades, so they always remain sharp. Some quilters mark the cutter with the date of purchase, to remind them when the blade needs to be replaced. The rotary cutter is usually used with a see-through ruler (see below) and cutting mat.

TEMPLATE MATERIAL - Clear plastic material, made especially for making templates.

CUTTING MAT - A self-healing mat that is used with the rotary cutter. A cutting mat provides a perpetually smooth and straight surface. Some cutting mats have rules printed on them to make the cutting process even easier.

SEE THROUGH RULER - A must-have for any serious sewer or quilter. The see-through ruler is used with the rotary cutter to make straight cuts. See-through rulers often have quilting measurements printed right on them--just line up the fabric and cut with the rotary cutter. To get the most use of your ruler, purchase one that is at least 6-1/2"x24" long.

TAPE MEASURE - Essential for garment measurements.

BALL HEAD PINS - There are many varieties of pins available, but ball-head pins areeasier to see and handle. There are larger ones made especially for quilting. You'll need the pins for basting and other quilting procedures.

MAGNETIC PIN CUSHION - Just hold over those spilled pins, and the magnet gathers them all up! (Do not use if your machine is computerized!)

THIMBLE (Great if you do a lot of hand-sewing) - Hand-sewers can experience tenderness in the finger they use to push the needle through fabric. Thimbles cushion and protect the finger. They are available in different sizes and shapes to meet every sewing need.

IRON - Purchase the best iron you can afford! (You'll be using it a lot to press down seams as you work).

IRONING BOARD - Try to keep your ironing board up and your iron on as you're working. Be sure that the ironing surface is clean and smooth. Your project will ultimately lay smoother, too.

Continue on:
  Quilting 102: Purchasing Your Fabric