must have items
 

I am very new to quilting. I have signed up for a class on the 22nd. What are some must haves I need to purchase. The store owner said they had items to borrow such as irons. But I don't want to have to wait and I will be using the stuff at a later date anyway.

I have the jelly roll, my machine and that/s all I have for now. I am going tomorrow to buy the little irons that the quilt store sales. I have pins.

I want to be prepared.

Thanks!

If you don't already have a regular size iron, I would start there rather than a small one. A good pair of scissors, a rotary cutter and mat, and 6.5x24" ruler are handy. You don't need a ton to start, I would buy things as you need them for projects rather than trying to project ahead and buy for the future. At least for me, it's more manageable that way, both for my brain and my pocketbook.

Yes rotary cutter mat, Iron and Scissors and a ruler is really all you need to start! I started with a ruler from the dollar store!WE do not have any classes near me so I am self taught I bought as I went along.

What class are you taking? I'm assuming it is a quilting class. Is it a learn to quilt class or maybe how to make a certain quilt pattern like a log cabin quilt? For most classes you need to buy the book or pattern, so you need to check to find out if it is included in the price of the class.

General quilting supplies besides your machine are scissors, thread, rotary cutter and extra blades, long quilting straight pins, safety pins, several different size quilt rulers, a cutting mat and, of course, the fabrics needed for the class you are taking. Sometimes the instructor has project kits available for an additional cost. The quilt shop usually has cutting mats, irons, ironing boards and water spray bottles available for use during the class so you don't need to take those items to the class with you.

Where are you taking the class? They should have a required for class list. My LQS offers a 10% discount on all supplies and equipment purchesed for the class on class day (not machines) rullers, fabric, thread ect, Don't buy it all right away, if you can use the shop rulers and mats ect. do. It's like test driving a car. Try it before you buy. Some scissors, and rotery cutters feal better in hand than others, Some brands of rullers have yellow lines and numbers, some have black, which do you find easyer to see? Some times you really need to try a tool before you buy. Good luck and Have fun with your class!

The one ruler that I find indispensible is the good old 6-1/2" square - I use it probably more than any other. But the 6x24 is also a great size to have. If you think you will love quilting (which of course you will) go ahead and buy a few basic supplies, but you will definitely add more as time goes by. Rotary cutter, cutting mat, a couple of rulers, scissors, pins, and don't forget the essential seam ripper (we all have to unsew at times)... Have fun at your class and hopefully you will be totally hooked on quilting!!

What they said and thread. Take a pencil (for marking and notes) and practice the 1/4 inch seam.That way you know where your needle needs to be or if your foot is a true 1/4. Not all quarter inch feet are really that,and it's nice to know what YOUR machine does.

About those pins. Regular sewing pins are fat by comparison with quilters' pins. You can use regular pins, but they tend to distort your work. When you get that ruler, make sure you can see through it well. IMHO, the ones with fairly wide yellow lines are a poor bet. Make sure there are marks which allow you to check on 1/4" measures.

Enjoy. Besides your instructor, you have lots of buddies here to give you hints as you go along.

When I started quilting I was in Italy. Needless to say no quilting stores to be found anywhere so I asked a friend from the states to bring me the most important things and this is what she brought me: rotary cutter, cutting mat and 6x24 ruler. These are the same things I use now, 10 years later. You need a pair of sizors and I am sure you have an iron at home. When I moved back to the states I took every single class the City Quilter inNY had to offer. Over the years I added a few items, but the original three I still use every day. I would go for a small mat for classes and down the road get a larger one just for home. I have a small tool box for on the go quilting with basic sewing kit (needles, thread, thread snips, seam ripper, extra bobbins and replacement needle for my machine), my rotary cutter, sizors, and a pair of dollar store sizors for paper. I never had to wait longer than a few minutes to press my stuff in class. Carrying your own iron is a pain in the neck since it is very hot after class. Those little seam irons never really worked for me. Enjoy, have fun and happy quilting.

this is excellent advice... my favorite ruler is the 6.5x24"... if i had to choose just one, this would be it.

Add in a seam ripper jut in case!

Agree with that and definitely FLAT pins. The ones with round heads just get in the way.

If you live near a JoAnn's or Hancocks, sign up for their mailing list. You will get coupons that will help with the cost of your supplies. Good luck and hope you enjoy your class.

And if you can afford it get the non slip rulers.

When I first started acquiring rulers I bought the 6" X 24" and there were many times I wished it was a 6 1/2" X 24 " ruler! Now most of them have that 1/2" added to it. Can't forget the seam allowance!

Also, a big, study tote bag to carry all your supplies in. I have been known to just use a laundry basket when there was a lot to carry to class.

A lot of people have two machines. A nice one with a big throat space and lots of stitches and a small one that is easy to carry to class. A lot of people here can tell you their favorites. Me, I have to lug my big heavy machine to class.

I'm in a habit that after the school year starts, I go to stores like Wal-Mart and Staples and buy the discounted school supplies. I especially like the see through school boxes. I think the most I have paid is $1 for the large size. Plenty big enough for scissors, pencils, markers, etc to be carried in. I buy the pencil boxes for my rotary cutters - sometimes only 25 cents each. Pencil sharpeners that have the big and little holes - great for sharpening the chalk pencils - 50 cents each. Notebooks for taking notes. I have even bought these for 10 cents each.

This forum is a great place to ask questions and get really good answers. I have learned a lot just by reading posts. Whenever anyone asks a question, you can just bet there are dozens more that would like to know the answer too!

Good luck and post often!

I would also suggest take extra sewing machine needles. It is amazing how often they break while you're in the learning curve. If the machine is getting noisy it sometimes means the needle is getting dull, so change it. A seam ripper is good. I learned to sew clothes before I ever did any quilting and I think I wore out 2 seam rippers in the first year while learning to sew. I still find them very handy, it seems I still make mistakes that need to be taken out.
Have fun learning and when you feel overwhelmed don't get discouraged. It is a very gratifying activity once you get the hang of it.

I notice everyone is recommending the 6.5"x24" ruler, but I use the 8.5"x24" instead. I would love it if it were even wider. Why the preference for the 6.5"?

I think the 6 and/or 6.5 x 24 inch rulers have been around longer than the 8.5 x 24 inch ruler.

Seam ripper, don't forget the seam ripper as being new I am sure when you start you will use it. I also would look into the 1/4" sewing machine foot as the seams sometimes need to be right on. I also recommend a good basic beginner quilt book. There are several on the market so look for one that covers most all topics. I can't remember what it is called that I bought but it was something like the "Quilters Bible" that showed step by step instructions for most everything quilting.

Water erasable markers, to use for hand quilting.
I buy the crayola ones, test these first, i never have a prob getting them out.

Hate the purple one, blue doesn't always show for me.

I bought an old item that had been marked with those - it showed fade lines where it had been marked.

Add a roll of blue painter's tape (NOT masking tape). With that, you can make seam guides, label your quilt pieces, make your own sticky notes, and about a million other things! :)

Definitely don't buy a ruler shorter than 24" long as you won't be able to cut wof (width of fabric) strips easily with a shorter one - ask me what I bought as my first ruler - why 18" of course........ Same for a cutting mat.
Like you, I started from scratch and it is very tempting to buy everything at once, but take your time. The supplies aren't going anywhere and can probably be bought as you need them. Seam ripper, scissors and some quilting pins are mostly what you need for the moment. I hope you enjoy your class. :)

It's good that you want to be prepared for the class.

Do you have any other sewing supplies?

Matt and rotary cutter, ruler are things most have

Definitely only buy what you absolutely need for the class. Check out different types of rulers to see which are best for you. I can't see well on the ones with yellow lines but am very happy with the Nifty Notions Pink and Teal by Kay England. I just recently purchased a rotary cutter and the rulers from TruCut. I have been looking at them for some time online because I bought their electric rotary blade sharpener. BUT I wasn't going to buy them til I tried them. I found them at a store when I participated in a shop hop and found both DH and I like them very much.

One thing I found was do your research...and don't buy the cheap stuff. You will end up paying more later to upgrade...I agree with the quiliting pins. I bought the regular ones when I started and they are hard to get throught the fabric. Seam rippers many are too dull and thick. find a thin, sharp pair. Best advice I had was to purchase really good Ginger sissors. I love Accuquilt dies if you plan and making a lot of quilts but do not have a lot of time to cut out pieces. Not cheap but I love it...though if I have to do it over again would not buy as many dies as I did. I mainly use about 6 out of the too many to count dies that I have. Cutting board...their is a difference between brands, rotary cutter....I just upgraded after two years of using...now why did I not have this one to begin with...it works so much butter. I also would not have bought expensive non sale fabric like I did when I started. Fabric goes on sale all the time and if I knew then what I know now...I would have started with 100 percent cotton shirts from my closet...or all of those flannel shirts I donated of my husbands. You will love quilting enjoy...stock up on thread when it hits the 50 percent off sales. Before you buy thread though make sure you like that brand. That was another mistake that I made. Pick up your notions on sales...never pay full price for anything that is my motto ; )

an un-sewer (aka seam ripper). best wishes in your new journey.

It's so funny. I haven't quilted in over a month (not the funny part) and my LQS owner, Dawn, made a class for me for the 22nd of Sept, too (the funny part). The pattern is "Woven" which I know nothing about but have the pattern. I have quite a bit of batiks and want to save myself some money, so I thought I'd bring the 15 fabrics I have over to her store and have her help me select what I need (at 20% off for the class) to make this quilt. She's loaning me a sewing machine with needle up/down and a threader, so I don't have to lug my 47 pound sewing machine 45 minutes to her shop. Is it weird that I bring my batiks and ask her if I can use any of them for the quilt? Or should I just buy all new? They are all about 3 yard cuts. I thought maybe I could use a couple of my batiks along with some from her store and save me some moolah.

As previously said, don't waste money on a small craft iron if you're on a budget. Get a regular full size iron.

My one suggestion would be to buy the self healing mats. The plastic ones tend to dull your rotary cutter. I also suggest you get the 45mm rotary cutter to start. Also in picking a seam ripper get one with a small point that will slip under your stitches if having to rip out a seam. I cut every 4 or 5 stitches then pull the thread from the other side. There is a pattern out for an iron tote to take to classes. When it opens out it is an ironing mat with the silver ironing board fabric as a lining. This is something to think about for later on when you will want to take your own iron to class. Good luck, have fun.

I'm with those who said cutting mat, 6.5 ruler, good rotary cutter and good (very important) scissors. There will be other things you need/want but wait until your class because many times shops offer a discount on things you buy when you are in a class. Also, sign up for Hancock fabrics, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby because they send great coupons that can help you acquire those "needs" at good prices. If your LQS has an e-mail, sign up for that so you know when they are holding sales.

enjoy your class,

I think someone said to try rulers. See what others are using in your class and what you LQS uses. I would think there would be more than one brand. Try them. When I got to my 2nd Friday sew-in, cutters, rulers and mats are provided, but if I'm planning on cutting, I always take my cutter and ruler. I prefer my Ergo 2000 cutter to others on the market and I do not like the rulers they have at the shop.

The other thing to remember as you stay with quilting, you may find that you no longer use later down the road. Not because it was a bad purchase -- but because you find other ways to accomplish the task. I have at least 3 specialty rulers for making half square triangles & two different types of papers. I seldom use the papers for a list of reasons which others would consider a pro instead of a con (I often say if you ask 10 different quilters the best way to my HSTs, you'll get at least 12 answers). Of the rulers, I loved the first one I bought. The issues others list as cons I embrace as pros -- but I seldom use it any more. Not because I don't like it, but because my style of quilting has changed. That ruler is great when making tons of matching HSTs. I tend to make scrappy HSTs so I go to my other two rulers.

So, buy what you need when you need it, not because some one says "Oh, you have to get this because you won't be able to quilt without it" (I am referring to stuff other than the bare basics). Whoever said that to you may only know one way of doing whatever it is, or quilts in a style other than your own -- which will evolve.

Above all have fun.

I want to add a warning -When you purchase that very good pair of sewing scissors - make SURE that fabric is the only thing those scissors blades ever cut! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER cut ANYTHING else with them! No paper! It really will dull the blades! I have heard of some people on here who have gone as far as putting a padlock on their sewing scissors to keep their kids or husbands from borrowing their sewing scissors.

You have received some great advice here! Have fun starting on quilting!

I agree with what the others have said-scissors, rotary cutter & mat, thread, needles, etc. The 6 x 24 inch ruler is fantastic. It also works great as a folding ruler. As your stash grows, simply wrap the fabric around the ruler, slip it off and it's nice and neat to stack.

Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting.However, do take care,heed the advice from long time quilters. You do not have to buy everyone of the 'new rulers ' available or every new gadget that comes along. Believe me, I have been there and done it! A good cutting mat, the bigger the better,a good rotary cutter and at least a 6'' by 24'' ruler is a good start. Then look for all the wonderful advice from sites like this.As to irons, most of us have an iron for everyday use. Good luck with your class, I hope you get lots of honest advice and help which will start you on a wonderful journey. love Letty.

Buy the best you can afford not what is cheaper (unless it's on a sale). In quilting tools, you get what you pay for. The best will give you years of use and do what they are suppose to do.

Good advice. Be sure to take a notebook and a pen and perhaps a marking pen of some sort. Get a box or something to keep all your stuff in and mark everything with your name or with a piece of ribbon. It's amazing how quickly scissors grow legs and walk away. Don't loan your stuff, either. Some people never read the directions and borrow all they can from others and frequently forget to return the borrowed items. That being said, have a wonderful time and learn all you can. Show us what you did in class. Enjoy

That's what I did, too. I bought a small mat to start, a rotary cutter and a 6x24 ruler. I've received additional rulers and another rotary cutter as gifts but to begin, all you really need is machine, mat, ruler and cutter. And fabric, of course! ;)

If you are near a Jo-ann Fabric store, get there coupon for buying ruler, mat and rotary cutter. You'll save a ton. I buy all my fabic etc from my local quilt shop