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My friend is starting to get into quilting (she finished the quilt top of a 9 year old BOM from Joanns. It's staying at my house until she's ready to pin and quilt :D ). Anyway, so she's ready to start shopping for basic supplies and wants me to put a list together. Please add your thoughts on what she needs
Rotary cutter & blades Cutting mat Ruler IBC silk pins Lots of fabric (she carried her stash over in one box) Diff colored threads More bobbins Seam ripper |
sharp small tipped scissors if she plans any applique.
A nice tin to hold the jabillion safety pins she will have for quilting. That's what I can think for now.... |
Oh, and a looseleaf binder with page protectors for her to chronicle her creations! Start her on that now before she gets too many projects into it!! :) :)
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Probably 3 rulers - 3x18, 6x24, and an 8" or 12" square. A marking tool (disappearing ink?), pin cushion, scissors. That's the rest of basics, I think.
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It's a little out there, but I keep a number of plastic bags to put my cut pieces in til I make the block. I put all the pieces for a block in one bag and that way I can find them and they don't get lost in the shuffle.
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How about a walking foot and a 1/4 inch foot for her sewing machine and if traveling an extension cord so no matter where she sews she can reach the plug. That seems to be one of the forgotten things by quilters on a retreat. Marge
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magnet to pick up loose/dropped pins
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A book of basic quilt blocks. Curved safety pins.
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The one thing I did without for a long time is a design wall. I don't know how I ever did without it!! It doesn't have to be elaborate, there have been many posts here about making one!!
The other...a can of 505 basting spray!! Ditter |
That sounds like a great starter kit. More can be added as she expands her quilting. She probably already has a lint roller. Great for cleaning up the little threads that appear on the ironing board. Don't forget spray starch! I'm constantly using my small tape measure, especially when doing borders. Also my seam gauge, especially for bindings. I'm continually searching out my calculator to see if I have enough fabric for whatever pieces I need to cut or to figure out how much fabric I'll need, so I really should get one just for my Studio.
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How about one of those tiny rulers that have the little arrow at the end to measure small pcs? I'm pretty new, and my aunt got me one of these. I never thought I would need it, but use it all the time. And - one of those little plastic seam allowance measurers . . boy I should learn my notions!
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small tote with a handle to keep basics in when traveling
bobbin holder chocolate for inspiration labels for fabric and for small items journal for what you want to do and what you have done this isn't a necessity, but I love my shape cutter for cutting strips |
Originally Posted by Honey
small tote with a handle to keep basics in when traveling
bobbin holder chocolate for inspiration labels for fabric and for small items journal for what you want to do and what you have done this isn't a necessity, but I love my shape cutter for cutting strips I need to get some. |
STARCH!!
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A koozie to keep your little mini-wine bottles cool. I find these are more stable than a wine glass - which can get knocked over pretty easily.
Project totes and a scrap tote. I have a couple with handles but a couple that are clear and more flat to put completed blocks in. Looks like you have most everything - I agree with a good basic book that has techniques and a good index/glossary. Actually a Joanns coupon - there are some great starter kits out there but they're pricey but a very good value with a coupon. |
Originally Posted by cminor
How about one of those tiny rulers that have the little arrow at the end to measure small pcs? I'm pretty new, and my aunt got me one of these. I never thought I would need it, but use it all the time. And - one of those little plastic seam allowance measurers . . boy I should learn my notions!
You might want to add to the list: - slef healing cutting mat, minimum 18" x 24", preferable 24" x 36" - self closing rotary cutter (Olfa makes one?) for safety's sake - 6" x 24" ruler (to cut strip in one move), 5" x 12" ruler, and 12.5" square ruler - walking foot for her machine - beige or light grey 50 wt thread for piecing - wooden chop stick to guide fabric under the needle or, better yet, the purple thingy tool - box of Jumbo size zip bags to keep all the fabric for a project together in one place - blue painter's tape (handy when layering layers on the floor; and, 3-4 layers cut an inch long makes a nice 1/4" fence on your machine) That's all I can think of for now. I'm tying to put together a list to start an informal group here in work. Best of luck! |
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When she or anyone is ready to layer for quilting get a Micro Stitch tacking gun!!! I've used this for all my quilts and never "get stuck" or have to fiddle with safety pins (not fun for arthritic hands). Get this brand as the other one I saw had longer tacks and a fatter piercing needle. This was an "as seen on TV" at one time but now available at fabric and quilting stores.
Instead of the kitchen floor, see if your local library has a meeting room with those beautiful long tables! Put a few together, take a friend and done! I just phone ahead for a time. |
Wow, Patience
Also a good light by sewing machine! |
Something to mark her quilts with-purple or blue erasable pens, pounce, ceramic pencils or whatever she prefers
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Originally Posted by RatherB Quilting
Oh, and a looseleaf binder with page protectors for her to chronicle her creations! Start her on that now before she gets too many projects into it!! :) :)
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How about some basting spray to make basting easier than pinning.
tell her about ConnectingThreads.com to get some great threads for piecing at economical prices. They have wonderful fabrics too. she'll be quilting to her hearts content with you! warm quilt hugs, sue in CA |
An Ott light for matching colors, and a wool pincushion. A self threading needle (I think they're called that-they have a slit at the top or side of the eye so you can just pop your thread(s) into it) for burying thread ends into the batting or binding. A good quilting reference book to keep on hand.
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I have a thin square board that I lay the cut pieces on by the machine. that way I can pick up the right piece and keep everything in order
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Originally Posted by Kitsie
When she or anyone is ready to layer for quilting get a Micro Stitch tacking gun!!! I've used this for all my quilts and never "get stuck" or have to fiddle with safety pins (not fun for arthritic hands). Get this brand as the other one I saw had longer tacks and a fatter piercing needle. This was an "as seen on TV" at one time but now available at fabric and quilting stores.
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I always use gloves when Im ready to quilt. They help my "sandwich" glide through the machine.
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My oh my! Some great suggestions to get a person started.
My suggestion would be a tote with pockets - big enough to carry your self healing mat without bending it, that also has interior & exterior pockets to carry your sewing machine manual and all the accessories mentioned before. Lots of toys were mentioned but let's not scare a newbee away with the intial expenses. Let's face it some of the toys can add up pretty fast. We all started out with the basics good scissors, pincushion, straight pins and ideas. All the other things come with time, experience and preference. One thing that really got me going was having a supportive friend - to laugh with, rip seams with, share sewing time, go shop hopping with and of course to enjoy a bit of chocolate with. |
Don't forget extra machine needles
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OH YES WITH THE MACHINE NEEDLES. DIFFERENT SIZES. I ADDED A 'DOOR VIEWER' SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR DESIGN WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR QUILT. AVAILABLE IN THE HARDWARE STORE.
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Rotary replacement blades
Different size rulers Books. Two of my favorites include: Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! The Quilter's Ultimate Visual Guide Instructions on not leaving the mat in the sunlight and other storage tips. Instructions on keeping her finger ON the ruler when she rotary cuts and to close the cutter when done! (My friend chopped her finger tip) Instructions on how to get to quilter's cache, assorted quilting sites and of course, the QB. |
rotary cutters are great and a good supply of blades
Harriet Hargrave say you can do most cutting with a 2 1/2 x 12 and a 4 1/2 x 12 rulers plus the precision square that is 6 1/2. Omnigrid mats (the green ones) are better than the blue ones good neutral colored thread works for most projects |
Originally Posted by Honey
small tote with a handle to keep basics in when traveling
bobbin holder chocolate for inspiration labels for fabric and for small items journal for what you want to do and what you have done this isn't a necessity, but I love my shape cutter for cutting strips |
The website listed by QuiltingGranny has a good list of items to start quilting. WWW.QuiltersCache.Com has an almost endless source of patterns. Separate scissors for paper or fabric, bobbins, batting and a carrying case for taking her sewing machine to classes would be nice.
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Do you ever have trouble with your pins jumping out of the pin cushion or right off your fabric or is it super natural :0
good magnet |
I have a magnetic pin caddie that holds the pins straight instean of in a jumble. No more poked fingers! It also has a lid that snaps on so it's ready for class or retreat.
I also have an 'Ort' bag - weighted pin cushion/ scrap bag that holds itself on the table where ever I put it. |
Lots of fabric (she carried her stash over in one box)
This is a crime -- even for a new quilter. |
SEE! You can never go wrong checking with all the folks on here, they will keep you straight and come up with the best ideas and then some.
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One thing no one even MENTIONED!
T H E MOST NECESSARY ITEM! A furbaby... I don't even know what we would do without at least one. |
she will need fabric pens, and if she is going to do any kind of applque, she will need fabric glue,fussibale web, and I have seen elmers school glue used for tempary hold. Once a month my hubby lets me get one thing with a coupon from Joann's, Monday I was able to get a small pair of scissors that were $5.98 and I had a 50% coupon. last month I got the fabric heat seat glue with coupon, granted the scissors were not friskers or gingers but they were what we could afford. so sorry for the spelling, I sat back and read for many months, because I could not spell, but I really like talking to all of you. Penny
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Originally Posted by DJ
That sounds like a great starter kit. More can be added as she expands her quilting. She probably already has a lint roller. Great for cleaning up the little threads that appear on the ironing board. Don't forget spray starch! I'm constantly using my small tape measure, especially when doing borders. Also my seam gauge, especially for bindings. I'm continually searching out my calculator to see if I have enough fabric for whatever pieces I need to cut or to figure out how much fabric I'll need, so I really should get one just for my Studio.
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