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Essential Quilting Supplies

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These Useful Tools Make Quilting Faster and Easier

I have been quilting for about 20 years, and I really enjoy it. I love finding fabric, looking for colors that blend well, and putting it all together in an interesting pattern.

If you think you'd like to make a quilt but you're afraid it's too complicated or difficult, don't let that keep you from jumping right in. Even if you've never quilted before, you can create beautiful quilts from simple patterns. Here are some suggestions for a few basic quilt making supplies that will make quilting much faster and easier for you.

Log Cabin Quilt photo by Terrie Schultz

Table of Contents

Rotary Cutter

OLFA 9654 RTY-2/DX 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter

OLFA 9654 RTY-2/DX 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

One of the most useful quilting tools I have is a rotary cutter. A rotary cutter is like a pizza cutter for fabric. As the name implies, rotary cutters have a rotary blade, allowing you to slice through several layers of fabric at once neatly and accurately. These fabric cutters really save time! Be careful, the blade on a rotary cutter is extremely sharp. Make sure you always keep the safety cover closed when not in use. I have a 45 mm Olfa rotary cutter and I just love it.

Self Healing Rotary Cutter Mat

When using a rotary cutter, you need to have a surface to cut on that won't be damaged by the sharp blade. Self-healing rotary cutter mats are made for that purpose. Rotary cutter mats come in different sizes. I've had an Olfa rotary mat for many years, and it still works fine.
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Omnigrid Clear Ruler

A clear ruler is very helpful when you are cutting fabric using a rotary cutter and mat. Just lay the ruler on top of the fabric, line it up at the width you want, and cut along the line. I have a 6 x 12 inch Omnigrid ruler and use it all the time. It works for most sizes, but a slightly larger ruler might come in handy for cutting larger sizes of fabric.
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Pre-Cut Quilting Fabric

Instead of buying fabric by the yard for your quilt top, sometimes it is simpler to buy a pack of pre-cut fabric that gives you an assortment of different fabrics that go well together. These are often called "charm packs." A charm quilt is a quilt in which every piece is made of a different fabric. Charm packs usually have about 40 different fabrics. If you are making a simple patchwork pattern with squares, you won't even need to cut out the squares, they are already cut for you! Just arrange them in a pattern that pleases you, sew them together, and your quilt top is finished! You can find charm packs in a wide range of palettes, including pastels, batiks, solids or themes such as 1930s prints or Civil War patterns.
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Fabric Calculator

Calculated Industries Quilter's FabriCalc Quilt Design and Fabric Estimating Calculator

Calculated Industries Quilter's FabriCalc Quilt Design and Fabric Estimating Calculator

Amazon Price: $19.90 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Love quilting but hate math? This calculator will help you figure out how much fabric you need for your quilting projects.

Sewing Machine

While I love to quilt by hand, I sew the fabric pieces together for the quilt top using a sewing machine. I know some quilters who hand piece, but I'd never finish anything if I tried to do that! I also sometimes machine quilt when I want to actually finish the quilt in the same calendar year I started it.
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Free Motion Quilting Foot

Brother SA129 Quilting Foot

Brother SA129 Quilting Foot

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

If you want to machine quilt, this free motion quilting foot will allow you to do stippling and other free motion quilting designs.

Quilting Hoop

For hand quilting, you will need a quilting hoop. This is basically like a giant embroidery hoop that holds the three layers of the quilt sandwich (quilt top, batting and backing) together and keeps them flat and stable so you can stitch them together. I have a simple 18 inch wood quilt hoop, and it works fine. I simply hold it on my lap when I am hand quilting. You can also get a quilting hoop on a stand, so you can tilt it at whatever angle is most comfortable for you while you are quilting.
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My Current Quilting Project

Quilt in Hoop

This is the quilt I'm currently working on. It's going to be a wall quilt, and it's made with a variety of batik fabrics. I'm hand quilting it, using a quilting hoop.
Photo by Terrie Schultz

Quilting Books

Ready to start quilting but need some instruction or inspiration? Here are some quilting books to help you get started.
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Some Great Quilting Blogs

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Please leave a comment!

  • marsha32 May 23, 2012 @ 1:00 am | delete
    I knew I had been here before...I love the quilt lenses though and can't get enough of them!
  • orange3 May 20, 2012 @ 10:19 pm | delete
    Someday I'm going to try to make a quilt. My grandmothers always made quilts and its something that I've always wanted to do. Thanks for the info.
  • scarlettohairy Apr 24, 2012 @ 9:54 pm | delete
    Your quilts are gorgeous! I love the log cabin quilt. So delicate and beautiful!
  • MTF-briguy Apr 19, 2012 @ 6:07 pm | delete
    Thanks for sharing about the essential supplies that you need when quilting!
  • mamabush Mar 28, 2012 @ 11:09 pm | delete
    Returning to give this lens a SquidAngel Blessing...your quilts are beautiful! :)
  • poutine Mar 20, 2012 @ 4:23 pm | delete
    Hello,
    thanks for listing my lens about quilting blogs.

    I posted yours under " Explore related pages" on the right side.
  • vallain Mar 17, 2012 @ 2:25 pm | delete
    I'm pretty well set for all the gear and lots of fabric, but my sewing machine is on the fritz. Need to get that fixed and get back to some sewing.
  • mamabush Mar 15, 2012 @ 10:59 pm | delete
    I've made a couple of simple block quilts. In fact, my MIL and I made block quilt curtains for my living room and I love them! My MIL also introduced me to the rotary tool and the self-healing cutting mat...my favorite tools! :)
  • GayleMcLaughlin Mar 8, 2012 @ 1:21 pm | delete
    I am a novice quilter! I have only completed one quilt! But I enjoyed it.
  • wordstock Feb 29, 2012 @ 6:33 pm | delete
    I am a quilter but have been putting more time into crafts. Still, I find that your suggestions here are craft worthy too.
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Terrie_Schultz

I have a background in biology, and I am fascinated by plants, animals, oceans, geology, and all aspects of the natural world. I am very interested in... more »

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