I would not get a rotating mat. It is hard enough to get everything aligned and controlled with a regular mat - I would be afraid of not enough control.

I agree with the idea of 'what did you use most at your relative's home' theory. I started out with a rotary cutter/18x24" cutting mat/ 6" ruler combo, white thread (dark blue and black also if you can), extra bobbins, size 11 sewing machine needles, fiscar's heavy duty scissors, seam ripper, sewing box, nice long pins. Got my pins from a LQS, not from local JoAnns. What I didn't have and have only just discovered was a walking foot for my machine. Had I known about it, I would've bought one years ago!

Welcome and good luck!

Something I have to have in my sewing room is Easy Kut Spring Action Scissors. I have several pair that I bought from Nancy's Notions. I keep them all over my sewing area. I use these at the machine and the cutting table. So much easier to handle then the big scissors when you are cutting machine threads. You may not be able to find that exact scissor but you may find something similar. Here's a picture.

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AllPeopleQuilt.com is a good site for basic information, including a list of basic notions.

Thank you all SOO much for the suggestions!!! I really appreciate it! :) I will let you gals know what I end up purchasing! :)

Candace

Lots of info here... have fun! Don't buy a larger mat than you have space for. The rotating ones are fun, but not as serviceable (IMHO) as the OLFA mats 18 x 24 minimum size. I have the 24 x 36 and it fits great on the kitchen counters.... my friend has one so large it doesn't fit any place except the dining room table... not a bad thing if you can cut at that height...

Long thin glass head pins. Sometimes they are called silk pins. I used the plastic head pins when I first started quilting. The were called quilting pins and are thick and melt. Two bad things if you are quilting.
Everyone else has covered the basics. I would add a good book like the Ultimate quilters guide. I refer to this book all the time for how to's. Welcome to the board from eastern Pa.

I would add a 12 and 6" square for squaring your blocks and corners.

I have a novel idea....why not join a quilt guild and tell the nice ladies you are just getting started and aren't too proud to accept "charity"! I recently brought a lady to my sewing circle with a new embroidery machine and she didn't know stabalizer from a hoop! We all brought a little bit (some pretty threads, machine needles, stabalizer we weren't using, etc) and she was over the moon. None of us will miss the little bits and pieces, and she has something to start with, without going shopping! One lady even shared a pair of curved scissors she just couldn't get the hang of because some of us are left handed! Linda

I agree. Put the rotating mat on your wish list. Get the largest regular mat you can afford right now.