Looks like we all have different favorites. Hopefully we' ve given you enough suggestions to get started and discover what your own favorites will be. Have fun on your new adventure. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

The address for Ginger is: Ginger, Inc. 322-D Edwardia Drive Greensboro, N.C. 27409. You must send 7.50 with you scissors and they recomend that you insure you shipment. They will pay postage to return you scisors to you.

+A good pair of snips,Gingher.Go to a hardware store or walmarts car (?) section for lots of good stuff to make it easier & less expensive .

I love my ginghers, HOWEVER....do not let them get cold (ie don't set them on a window sill that has a draft while hand sewing in your favorite easy chair lol). They will swell a little and stick as you are trying to cut. Once they get back to the temp that they like they will no longer stick but it is a PITA when you are trying to snip a little thread and they stick.

Ask me how I know this. I ALMOST returned a brand new pair for this exact reason. lol oops.

Please don't forget to have sticky notes nearby, just to remind yourself where you are! Also, I keep a box of zip top baggies nearby, mostly to keep things together if I am called away from my project. Have fun, and don't forget to keep on, keeping on!

For those who do their own quilting I found the greatest little tool for pulling those pesky threads back into the batting. It is called "Snag Magic" and the only place I found it was Nancy's Notions. I bought them for all my quilting group for Christmas

As you begin to quilt more you will find other things that you need. Since you pretty much have the basics I would wait until you have a need before buying other things.

I have a bunch or 60 inch plastic measuring tapes all over, I find them very handy for measuring quilt tops, large lengths of fabric, etc.

I also like an after market box to store my feet in. It's made by Bernina, which I have and it holds their feet, extra bobbins, walking foot and other accessories really well, it's a small footprint on my sewing area, has several drawers. I got it on E-bay (or fleabay as DH Calls it).

:thumbup: Sad but true. However, one positive thought....Every time you have to rip you "know you've learned a valuable lesson".

With regard to starch, I advise using Mary Ellen's Best Press - it dries right away and never gets white flecks on your fabric. I know if I waited until it was dry
I could avoid the white flecks but it's just not in me to wait.

Many people have mentioned a good pair of scissors, but in addition to having a good scissors is making sure they STAY good - and that means never, never, NEVER use them, or let anyone else use them for ANYTHING but fabric! I have had to be a scissors witch when it comes to anyone using my scissors for even one snip of paper. It really ruins them for fabric use!

So true!!!!!!!

a good pair of scissors that you only use to cut material , some extra sewing machine needles, various colors of thread

Some have put a lock on their scissors. When I still had kids at home I kept all my notions in a locked toolbox.

I agree my most have notion is the Bernina #830!!!

If you are going to pin baste your quilts together, I suggest a grapefruit spoon (jagged edge to cut the grapefruit). It will save your fingers plenty when you are pinning/sandwiching your quilt. Use the spoon instead of your fingers to help you get the fabric onto the pin and then close the pin.

Those things are simply AMAZING!

However you can also get them from the manufactor in single packs they have another one called sewfast that has a smaller plastic eye on it. http://snagmagic.com/purchase.php


This would be easier than the thread going both directions through the eye of the needle method I am using. lol same concept though.

My favorite tool is from "Quilt in a day"...it's the square for 1/2 sq. triangles. Squares from 1 1/2" to 6 1/2". You can't believe the difference it makes in a quilt!

Ask at your local quilt store. They will be happy to give you some free advice!

You will want a 12 1/2" square for squaring up your blocks. Purchase good thread, not the stuff that will leave a lot of lint around your bobbin case. A good pair of small scissors is nice. Try them out to get a feel for the ones you like. They can be expensive but it will be well worth it. Maybe a good present for you? you might want a 120" tape measure for calculating boarders. It is easier and the standard 60" & remember those tape measurers stretch so if you have an old one, buy a new one, they are inexpensive! I like the orange and yellow tape for the rulers to mark my cutting line. A must for me was the little sandpaper circles that you put on the corners of your rulers to keep them from sliding around. They are peel and stick, cheap and easy to replace when they wear down. My favorite notion! Don't forget a good seam ripper for "unsewing!"

Tia, I'm a fairly new quilter, so I just bought many of these items. I took lessons from a very talented lady who has been quilting a long time. She recommended the following:
Sewing machine, 18 X 24 or 24 X 36 inch mat, 45 mm rotary cutter, extra blades, extra needles for your sewing machine, good cotton thread (no polyester), good straight pins (she recommended Clover glass head pins, seam ripper, rulers that are accurate and be sure to buy all the same brand as they sometimes measure differently (she recommended Omnigrid), pin cushion, "betweens" needles if you're going to hand quilt and a hoop. Then, to begin a simple pattern like a Turning Twenty or simple nine patch and good 100% cotton fabric. Start simple and gain confidence. I also use the www.about.com site for much information. She's a friend and does a great job with info. There are many helpful sites online for beginners as well.
Don't get discouraged, keep practicing and practicing. You'll become addicted so quick!! Good Luck!

I'm new too. What is a wand magnet and stiletto? What are the glue sticks for? Why the starch?

great suggestions. I'll have to remember some of these. We're doing to scare her thinking about all these things but she can get a little at time when she starts a new project and buys fabric, etc. for the project.

FABRIC !!! and good basic book, especially on rotary cutting.
Fons & Porter have a good basic. try Amazon.
welcome to the the Quilters world ! oh, you may also need some will power to stay off this site & get some work done.

i really use my 2 1/2 inch wide 18 inch long clear ruler alot!!
tiger tape to sew accurate 1/4 inch seams is great also. :D

You also gave one beautiful baby on your Avitar.

The best, sharpest scissors you can find. A large, fabric-cutting pair and a very small pair. You don't have to spend a lot, either--you can use JoAnn or Hancock coupons. I'd ask the cutters in the store for recommendations.

Dana

I love my rotating cutting mat and wonder why I waited so long to get one!

Hello, I liked your idea to help her. But I would like to ask where did you get that snoopy. I am a snoopy lover.

a good book that shows you how to quilt. don't do short cuts until you sew it the right way first, you will find your own short cuts and they won't be where you thought they would be. and yes several seem rippers will come in handy. good luck

Amen! If that cute little darling in your avatar is yours, then I'd be going for a sewing room with a door as #1. If that's out, then the locking toolbox for the rotary cutter, pins, seam ripper, scissors, anything that a child could in your wildest imagination stick themselves with.
You've got the basics. Just add fabric.
You can get notions as you go depending on your need and style of quilting.

Would that be Gingher, instead of Ginger????

Ditto on the seam ripper and a good pair of sewing scissors-- DON'T let anyon use them for anything else. Some good pins, and the blue painter's tape. I also have started using Elmer's school glue.

I wish I had made that rule a long time ago. :hunf: I have so many notions that I've never used. :oops:

I don't know.....I've been know to rip and resew the same mistake! :oops: :oops: :oops:

I agree with sewcrafty. my shape cut is the only one I would fight anyone for!!!!

of course it is not just you!! it is like a pot or a pan that you only use once a yearLOL. when you need it you need it and that is my story and I am sticking to it!!!

Oh, my DDIL gave me one of the bags for Christmas. I immediately emptied 5 mugs and put everything in it and still have room. I've got to get a Purple Thang and I keep forgetting about it. I think I really need to work on my rulers since I only have 2. I'm getting such great ideas here!

I know about the 9 Patch. I just watch a video for the Disappearing 9 Path that looks easy. But I don't know what the Turning Twenty pattern is. Do you have a link for it? So far the rulers I have are Omnigrid.

I would also recommend a variety of pencils.. #2 graphite, white quilters, silver quilters.. and a few Micron sakura markers.. they are great for marking where you need a permanent line or for writing labels and come in a variety of colors and widths and they are archival and will not harm fabrics. And some template plastic and extra fine sharpies for marking on them. You might want to do some applique or hand piecing and those things come in VERY handy
Then a good notebook that zips shut and some plastic sheet protectors.. these are great for storing "project ideas" or quilt block patterns and templates. I have 2, working on 3 and they are a wonderful resource for me.
I have patterns from 20 years ago that are not available any more.