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If you’re entering the brave new world of quilting, you might need a few new gadgets for your workroom.
Before we get into the nitty gritty, you should know that quilting is an up-and-coming area of sewing. But why?
Quilting is an excellent way for a beginner seamstress to hone her quilting skills. The majority of basic quilting is just sewing in straight lines, which is good practice for any aspirational fashion designer.
Quilts are also an awesome gift for any birthday, wedding, holiday, or baby shower. Although the sewing machine itself is an investment, it will pay for itself in no time, given all of the gifts that you’ll make. Using a sewing machine, for those who aren’t familiar, is amazingly therapeutic. Just push the pedal down, and you’ll instantly relax. It’s not too different from driving a car for a long and glorious joy ride.
You only need a few staples to start quilting, so why not start today? Obviously, you’ll need a decent sewing machine. I recommend either a Brother or Singer for a reasonably priced, well functioning machine. But there are also a few tools you might not think of. Check out my top picks of 5 Tools Every Quilter Must Have. I use all of these products at home!
Fabric Scissors
What most people don’t know about fabric scissors is that they’re completely different from paper scissors. Fabric scissors are very sharp, and they should never be used to cut paper (otherwise you’ll dull your fabric scissors). A good pair of fabric scissors will benefit you in the long run. You’ll be able to cut through multiple layers of fabric, and your cuts will not fray your fabric.
1. Knife Edge Bent Trimmer Shears 8
2. Knife Edge Bent Trimmer Shears 8 (Left Handed)
3. Knife Edge Tailor’s Point Scissors 5
Quilter’s Rulers
Quilting requires a lot of measurement. Quilter’s rulers allow a quilter to cut out a precise quilt block to get a crisp and geometric look. If you’re just starting out, you don’t need to get a fancy quilting ruler. Just get a basic one.
1. Omnigrid Quilter’s Square-15 X 15
2. Omnigrid Quilter’s Square-9-1/2 X 9-1/2
3. Omnigrid Quilter’s Square-6 X 6
Sewing Irons
An iron with basic steaming capabilities is a quilting MUST. If you want to get a professional look for your quilt, iron open your seams before you place the backing onto your quilt. The practice of ironing open seams will transfer to all of your sewing projects from here on out. Your quilts will now look flat and look gorgeous.
Pins and Needles
Pins help to hold your quilt blocks together while you sew, while needles work inside the machine to sew the quilt. Quilting pins work especially well because they poke through the thickest of quilting fabrics. I highly recommend these Clover quilting pins!
Rotary Cutters
Rotary cutters are the least essential item on our list, but they’re still helpful nonetheless. Rotary cutters allow you to cut in curved lines, more precisely than a pair of fabric scissors. If you’re a beginner, you might not work with a lot of curved patterns. For advanced quilters, this is a fun toy to have in your quilting box!
What Quilting Tools Are Your Favorites? Comment Below!
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I love the 45mm rotary cutter and 6 x 24′ ruler. They are great for cutting strips and squares (like the ones in the jelly rolls, charm packs etc.) from your scraps to make great quilts.
Sharp fabric scissors!
Happy Holidays fellow stitches..my favorite item for quilting is an old dart. I use it all the time..to bring up the bobbin thread from the other side of a quilt. It works great to “nudge” fabric under the foot when sewing thick quilts or slippery fabrics. Happy sewing , all.