AliKat

Gads, how much space should I use. I have a lot of 'must have' tools.

- a rotary cutter that fits my hands
- a Martelli mat
- bobbin holders - I like those round rubber kind so they don't break when I drop them
- my Seam-Fix seam ripper - it fit my hand best and had a nice cap to protect me!
- a magnetic pin holder
- my design wall next to my sewing machine. It was easy to make and I can take it to the living room and fold it out to 8 ft by 8 ft across my patio door for larger quilts then take a picture and label the rows, etc as I take the blocks down.
- an Ott-like floor lamp. I can move it to where it is needed. I also have a small folding one for sew-ins.
- a good bookcase or two to hold my books and supplies, with hooks to hold my rulers
- my cutting table on wheels because it fits me best and I can roll it out of the way when I want [it is really a kitchen island furniture piece]
- clear plastic totes/makeup bags for holding my 'go to' class or quilt together classes things.
- a small tool box for my special sewing supplies for those classes and sew-ins
- my Swopper - what I sit on at my sewing machine. I like it better than any chair!
- a sleeve ham for ironing seam just right without and wrinkling
- folding Lifetime tables that can be adjusted for height. The smaller ones are for when we do sew-ins at each other's homes. The larger ones are to help hold the weight of larger quilts when putting them together. They fold up and out of the way when not in use.
- two irons, one for steam and one without [it never gets incontinent!]
- a system to store my stash and such. I prefer my IKEA system as it was most affordable and on wheels. Two are stacked in my closet and another one below my embroidery table.
- a camera and my computer and it's printer. I keep pictures of some of my quilts [I forget to take the pics of all of them.] I store pictures of quilts and their directions on my computer and a flash drive by scanning them. Then I recycle the magazines. That way I won't be buried by all the magazines I would like to keep or by 3 ring binders! I have a relative small home.
- not a tool, but important to me: no carpet in my sewing area. Makes for easier cleanup.
- since I took of the double doors to my second bedroom, aka 'studio,' a screen to block the view of my sewing area when non-quilting/sewing friends come over.
- a barrister bookcase in my living room to display my quilts and yet not have them get dusty. My home doesn't have much wall space to hang quilts.

I am sure this isn't an all inclusive list either.

DOTTYMO

Good fabric, sharp rotary cutter, June Taylor ruler iron mats, 24 inch by 12inch ruler , shorter 12inch by 6inch , 12half square ruler but looking for a larger one.
Oh most of all inspiration for a pattern.

ELP

20 1/2 inch square ruler by Creative Grids. Great for cutting out those big fabric pieces.

AliKat

I forgot to add my Alto's Quilt Cut2. It isn't stored with my other tools or my sewing machine.

Also my 1/4" guide foot for my machine.

mom-6

My absolute must have tools are my 6"x24" ruler, cutting mat, my Featherweight, my 45mm rotary cutter, my square up template ruler and plenty of quilting pins. Oh a cutting table that is the right height might be #1 most essential! Also essential are a good seam ripper, snips, good scissors, a handy pincushion, an ironing board and iron. Everything else is nice to have but could be done without.

MadQuilter

My special treat: Perfect Circles! I have both sets.

mom-6

AliKat reminded me that I would be lost without my design wall. Current one is a flannel back tablecloth from the $ store. Want to upgrade to the foam insulation board.

mom-6

Oh one more essential - my comfy secretary chair for sitting at my machine.

Sachis2112

This seam ripper is my favorite thing ever! I bought one for back-up when my current one goes dull and I'll order another the next time I place an order from MSQC.