Everything You Need to Start Quilting

Bee Plaids Charm Pack | Jelly Roll | Iron | Thread | Scissors | Snips | Rotary Cutter | Omnigrid Ruler | Creative Grids Ruler | Pins | Pin Cushion | Cutting Mat

Hey, thank you for reading. When I really started quilting (my story linked here), even though, I worked at a quilt store I was still learning what you needed to quilt. I went home and did some research. I had such a tough time finding what you had to have to begin. Everyone has their favorite products but there was no concise list. The next day I went to work and asked one of my coworkers what the recommended. Not only did this help me get started but it also helped me with customers who were beginning quilters. So today I am talking about all the basics you need to start quilting and telling you my favorite products I have come to love over the years.

Sewing Machine

There are so many different sewing machines to choose from. When purchasing a machine there are several factors to consider. There are the different brands, to what the stores carry in your area, and how much you are wanting to spend on a machine. But the most important factor I would say is what you want your machine to do for you.

I personally use a Baby Lock Rachel right now and am hoping to get a Baby Lock Soprano someday. I believe, Baby Locks are some of the best machines out there. So please take time and do your research to make sure you are getting the machine that will work the best for you.

Aurifil Thread | Mettler Thread

Thread

Thread is one of those things where there is a million brands and kinds. It can become tricky to figure out which one to go with. My grandmother told me that for quilting you want to use cotton thread on cotton fabric because it does not wear the fabric down as much as polyester thread would.

With that in mind there are many brands of thread to choose from. My favorite thread to use to piece with is Aurifil. I like to use white thread when I piece, and some ladies I know like to use light grey. Another excellent brand I recommend is Mettler.

When I applique, I use both Aurifil and Mettler. I like to match the thread to the color of fabric. Most of the ladies I know do the same thing, but some do like to use a single-color thread throughout their whole project.

Ruler

For so long I made do using only one ruler. A couple of years ago I started getting different sized rulers and it turned out to be so helpful when cutting and trimming fabric.

The ruler I use the most is an Omnigrid 6”x10” ruler. For a longer ruler you can use the Omnigrid 6”x24” ruler. I love how the yellow on the ruler pops against the fabric making it easier to see measurements. Creative grid rulers are great for trimming fabric. They come is so many sizes and I love how on one side they show half inch increments which is wonderful to use when trimming a block with a half inch measurement.

Mat

No one likes to have cut marks all over there table when your done cutting hence why you need a cutting mat. Not only does the mat protect your table but it also helps with the wear and tear on your rotary cutter.

The cutting mats I have are the Olfa cutting mats. I use my 18”x24” mat the most, it is big enough to do whatever you need to do. I also have the 12”x 18” mat which is perfect for travelling to my sew days. I even use this little mat on my ironing board sometimes to trim blocks while I am ironing.

Scissors | Snips | Classic Rotary Cutter | Ergonomic Rotary Cutter | Omnigrid Ruler | Creative Grids Ruler | Pins | Pin Cushion | Cutting Mat

Rotary Cutter

Nothing is better than a good sharp rotary cutter when cutting fabric. Rotary cutters are one of the most important and most used tools when quilting besides your sewing machine.

I love the Olfa rotary cutters I have multiple sizes, but my favorite size is the 45mm. I have some of the classic style, but I prefer to use the ergonomic style because it closes itself when you are done using it.

Scissors

A good pair of scissors is always good to have on hand. I love my Gingher scissors because they cut through fabric like butter. It is also a good to have some snips around to get little threads and for hand sewing.

Pins

Pins are wonderful to keep fabric together while sewing. There are so many to choose from so look for ones that make you happy.

Fabric Pencils and Pens

Many patterns will have you draw lines on the back side of the fabric to mark cut lines and so you know where to stitch. So, it is good to have different fabric pens and pencils on hand.

My favorite fabric pen is the Frixion marking pen. The best thing about this pen is after you mark your fabric you can iron the mark away. I have recently been using a pencil to draw cut lines on the back of my fabric. It is also good to have a white or blue pencil on hand for marking on darker fabrics.

Iron and Ironing Board

It might seem silly to go into an explanation about common household items you may have in your house, but it is important to press your fabric and seams on the blocks you will be making. Surprisingly, there is so many options for irons, ironing boards, and pressing mats.

A lot of quilters I know have fancy irons that are for sewing. I just use a twenty dollar Black and Decker iron and it gets the job done just as good as the fancy ones. I also have a little Steamfast iron I love for traveling or when I go to my sew days.

When I am at home, I use a full-size ironing board that I have had for many years. When I go to my sew days, I use a little makeshift ironing board I made with a TV table, batting and fabric. Some ladies I know use a wool pressing mat on their table when traveling and at home.

Pattern and Fabric

Finally, down to the last items you need to start sewing a pattern and fabric. When I made my first quilt, I choose the fabric I wanted then found a pattern that was simple and would highlight the fabric I wanted to sew with. Now I go back and forth between choosing my fabric first or my pattern.

When you are a new quilter and starting your first project, I encourage you to find an easy pattern to do for your first quilt. When I was working at the quilt store, we would get new quilters who wanted to begin with elaborate or difficult quilt patterns. Soon after they would come back frustrated and ready to quit because it was not going the way they wanted. We would tell them to set that project aside and help them find an easier pattern to do. Those customers would come back much happier once they finished their first quilt and were ready to begin their next project.

There is so much fabric out there, you can easily get overwhelmed with all the choices. When quilting you want to use cotton fabric. Cotton sews together so nice and once you wash the quilt it becomes soft and has a loved look to it. I recommend you either go to your local quilt shop to see all the current and new fabric lines or if you do not have a quilt shop nearby, check out The Fat Quarter Shop. They carry all the fabric a quilt store would have and have everything else you need for quilting.

I really hope this post helps you get started with your quilting journey. Throughout the post I have all my favorite products linked. Below I have a concise list of what you need to start quilting.

What You Need

• Sewing machine

• Tread

• Ruler

• Mat

• Rotary cutter

• Scissors

• Pins

• Fabric pencil or pen

• Iron

• Ironing Board

• Pattern

• Fabric