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Quilting Supplies Every Beginner Needs
Are you a beginner quilter wondering what supplies you need to start quilting? I've compiled a list of essential quilting supplies that every new quilter needs before starting their first quilt top!
01 - Sewing Machine
This one's probably obvious unless you'd like to handpiece your quilt! I recommend shopping with your local sewing machine dealer/sewing centre. I know it can be tempting just to order from Amazon, but they lack the customer service and expertise that a dealer can provide. When you shop with a dealer, you can ask them for advice on which sewing machine to purchase based on your budget and intended uses. Most dealers will also have display models and will probably let you test out the sewing machine you are interested in. Starting a relationship with your local dealer also means that when your sewing machine needs servicing or you've got a problem, you have somewhere to take it. It's just better than Amazon, trust me.😊
If you're here because you received a sewing machine for Christmas and want to know what else you need, skip to #2!
02 - Rotary Cutter
There are several different methods of quilting. Traditionally, quilts were cut out with scissors and typically some sort of template. Nowadays, most quilters do precision quilting. This requires precision cutting which requires 3 tools: a Rotary Cutter, a Cutting Mat, and an Acrylic Ruler. I call this the precision-cutting trifecta. No one part of this trifecta is less important than the other! You need all three in order to use them!
We'll begin with the rotary cutter. Rotary cutters come in various sizes but for a beginner quilter, I'd recommend that you stick to a 45mm. This will be the most versatile size!
03 - Rotary Mat
To use a rotary cutter, you'll need a rotary mat. The rotary mat protects your workspace from the rotary blade and it also protects the rotary blade from your workspace! It'd be a terrible idea to try using a rotary cutter without a mat!
For beginner quilters, I recommend an 18" x 24" cutting mat. This size will be large enough for most projects without taking up too much space in your home or budget. We use the OLFA cuttings mats and they are great. I haven't used them yet, but Creative Grids also makes cutting mats. If their mats are anything like their rulers, then they'll be top of the line.
04 - Acrylic Ruler
The precision-cutting trifecta concludes with an acrylic ruler. This is what you'll use to guide your rotary cutter ensuring straight cuts!
The 6½" by 24" rectangle ruler by Creative Grids would be a great size for a beginner quilter. It's available in a Right-hand version (the first one below) and a Left-Hand version. This ruler size will allow you to cut a wide variety of strips and squares. If you're looking to purchase a second ruler, I'd recommend a mid-size square like a 5½" square or a 6½" square. These are great for trimming up smaller blocks and they can also be used when making HSTs.
05 - Scissors
No quilter's toolkit is complete without a pair of scissors! I'd recommend starting with a smaller pair like the two shown below. You'll find you use them constantly and small scissors are convenient to keep beside your sewing machine. I have the Mundial Embroidery Scissors and I love them!
06 - Pins
You will need pins at some point. There'll be a pattern that just won't go together right without pins. And even for quilt patterns that work without pins, pinning can still improve the quality of your work! The Quilting Pins below are my favs!
07 - Fabric Marking Pens
You'll for sure need a fabric pencil or pen of some sort. You'll need one that's light for marking dark fabrics and one that's dark for marking light fabrics.
The Disappearing Ink Fabric Marking Pen in Purple is one of my favourite fabric marking tools, but it's best on lighter fabrics. A lot of quilters also love the Frixion pens (they're heat erase), but you can't use them for everything because they do leave a residual white mark. The Purple marker mentioned earlier is more multi-purpose. A white pencil like the middle one below is great for dark fabrics.
08 - Seam Ripper
It might be an unpleasant thought, but you're gonna need one of these! The SeamFix seam ripper is my favourite. The handle is super comfy and the lid features a silicone thread grabber making it easy to get the bits of thread off the fabric piece.
09 - Tape Measure
Tape measures are a crucial tool in any quilter or sewist toolkit. A standard 60" tape measure will work but I love my 120" quilters tape measure!
10 - Iron and Ironing Board
Of course, you'll need an iron and ironing board. We got our iron from Walmart, but I can't say enough terrible things about it so I won't recommend that one. Oliso is much raved about in the quilting world, but you don't need to start with anything that expensive. If you've already got an iron and ironing board, just start with that!
11 - Thread
You'll need thread for piecing. The threads shown below are both great options for piecing. Aurifil is a cotton thread that's much loved in the quilting industry. Gütermann's polyester sew-all is another great option. I use both of these threads myself.
If you're unsure what fabrics you're using you can stick to a neutral colour like grey or beige.
12 - Sewing Machine Needles
For machine needles, I'd recommend either a Universal Sharps or a Quilting Needle (for piecing, either will work just fine) in size 80/12. You can get away with slightly smaller or slightly bigger, but 80/12 is the best size for quilting cotton.
13 Fabric and Quilt Pattern
The final and most important thing you'll need to start quilting is, of course, fabric and a beginner-friendly quilt pattern! I'll be doing another article later this month on my favourite beginner quilt patterns. So, stay tuned for that!
I'd recommend choosing a quilt pattern before choosing fabrics. If you start with a pattern, you can purchase exactly what you need to complete the pattern. You can also choose a fat quarter bundle or quilt kit if you are feeling overwhelmed with the fabrics available. Fat quarter bundles and quilt kits are great because you don't need to worry about fabric matching. Everything is all ready to go.
If you've come to the end of this article and have additional questions or need help in any way, please reach out to us at help@lindleygeneralstore.ca. We'd love to help you get started in quilting!
About The Author
Hello there, I'm Abigail!
I've been quilting on and off since the age of 8! I have always loved quilts and quilting. I also love teaching about quilting and helping others to get started in this wonderful craft! My non-quilting hobbies include sewing, baking, and hand embroidery. You can find me on IG @abigaildkelly where I share snippets of work and life!
