What are the bare essentials for making a quilt?
 

I admit it - I am a bit envious -

I would like - so much - to have

a great big organized studio with great lighting and lots of electrical outlets
a long arm quilting machine
a nicely decorated organized studio
storage space so that everything is easily accessible

while I'm at it - an efficiency apartment attached to the studio so that I would not ever have to "go home."

But what is really needed to make something nice?

I wonder what Mrs. Jane A. Stickle had for supplies and tools to make her fabulous quilt?
Or the Farmers Wife Sampler quilts?
or the others made from those eras?

I would expect that - some (mostly) women had "lots" more to work with than others - just as now - but if you were only "allowed" to have the bare minimum to make a quilt using materials and tools available today - and 100 pounds of "stuff" - including machine(s) was all you were allowed - what would you want to have?

(You would be allowed to replenish fabric when prior project is completed)

Machine, iron, rotary cutter, mat, rulers, computer, books, seam ripper, magnifier glasses, scissors, thread... and FABRIC! I don't think I could contain it to 100 lbs!

I could do it with just fabric, scissors, hand sewing needles and thread; just like they did back in the day. The machine, rotary cutter, mat and rulers are a big bonus and make things easier... I have hand pieced and hand quilted a twin size, and it didn't even take that long. (of course, I cut it all with a rotary cutter, so I cheated a little)

My essentials would be a sewing machine, rotary cutter, mat and 24" ruler, pins and a seam ripper.

i remember reading a story of times long ago in which there was one sewing needle that was shared by all of the neighbors. the little girl had dropped it in the woods... took forever to find it.

Ruler, mat, rotary cutter, scissors, thread, fabric and machine. Other items enhance but are not necessarily a necessity

Fabric, Needles, thread, pins, good scissors, a marking pencil and a ruler. Batting
Everything else is nice to have but not necessary to be able to create a wonderful quilt.

I just love having my own room. I can have it messy, organized, or whatever. Nobody goes in it but me and my cat, Carmello :D

FYI ... The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt is a modern made quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird.
As are the rest of the quilts that she has designed.

She has matched the blocks/quilts with older stories/letters that she has acquired.
There is no quilt being re-produced, as was done with the Dear Jane quilt pattern.

Did not know that - thank you for the info - I just "assumed" that it was from an earlier time.

I did everything by hand for the first 4 years that I quilted, I only started machine piecing when I need to get something to the quilting stage quickly, I was making a coverup quilt for my Dad when he was going through cancer treatments.

So, bare necessities are fabric, batting, needles, thread, and either a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat, or something with which to make stencils and a good pair of scissors.

I do mostly machine piece now, though all applique and quilting are still done by hand.

You're Welcome!

All you really need to make something nice is fabric, needle and thread and maybe a quilt hoop.

what I would like to have is a chef and house clearner, Oh I already have that, my DH.

Give me a sewing machine, ruler, mat, rotary, serrated scissors, marking pen, Wonder clips, thread, needle, iron and baskets of pre cuts and I would be a happy quilter. All my extra quilting items are gravy. If I didn't have pre cuts I'd have to have my Go and dies.

I need everything I have, could not part with any of it.

I remember that story.

Has anyone mentioned chocolate? I'm pretty sure that's a bare essential.

I read that needles were very scarce, no general store for hours away in most places. The needle that was to be borrowed was stuck in a potatoe so it wouldn't get lost in transport.

Besides some of the items listed above, I could not do without graph paper and colored pencils. I like to sketch out my quilts before starting them. Sometimes, I'm not thrilled with the layout, and will cut out the little paper blocks and re-arrange them to see if I can find a better layout.

Ditto for list above...plus a pin cushion and an iron and my fabric inspectors (cats).:)

Besides the simple things...I would love to have more time to quilt!

I think it's funny that only one person said they would need batting, I know you could make a quilt without the batting if you wanted but let's face it you really are going to need it at some point!

Might be easier to catch a porcupine and make a dozen quill needles instead. Just sayin'.... :D

If I could only have the absolute bare essentials I would need fabric, scissors, template (cardboard etc) and pins, oh and needle and thread. I guess it could be done, just hard to imagine.

I learned the old-fashioned way. Cardboard template, cutting each piece out by hand, marking the sewing lines with a pencil, and all hand piecing and hand quilting. I did get a water soluble marker for mating the quilting design. Of course, that was 200 years ago. (Slight exaggeration) I thought I'd gone to heaven when I got a rotary cutter. I still love hand quilting, and the slower process helped me appreciate antique quilts ever so much more.

Depends on your definition of essential... You really could make a quilt with just fabric, scissors, thread a needles if you English Paper Piece enough hexagons.

Jane Stickle made her famous quilt while she was bed bound. I guess that's why she had the time to make it.

My first quilts were made with just fabric, handsewing needles, thread, scissors, ruler and homemade templates (made from plastic milk jugs). Then I got a sewing machine for my 16th birthday. I didn't buy my first rotary cutter until several quilts later.

Just to settle in, I need music, iced drink, light. Oh, air conditioning and a fan (the iron makes the room hot). Clothing doesn't matter but pajamas are nice. Then either great inspiration (like a deadline, or 1-5 previously started projects hanging on design walls, or a challenge). 100 lbs!!!!!! More like 2 tons fabric, nicely place so I can pet them now and then. A 5 drawer cabinet full of thread, so I can get what I want when I want. 2-5 sets of tools (scissors, pins, ripper, awl) stratigically placed around the room, they keep getting lost, under something, etc.. My favorite sewing machine-Brother 1500S with tools. Cutting table with favorite 6-10 templates, rotary cutter. Iron/big board.

I like potato chips, but they make my hands greasy. So chocolate is an OK substitute.

At some point it'll need to be finished, so batting. Needle/thread/thimble, magnifying glasses. Glue.

OK, maybe I'm spoiled. Quilting is for fun. When I'm on a trip, it's stripped to a bare minimum. And fellowship is substituted for things. And someone else cooks and cleans.

Love it!😀👍😀👍 Now this is modern quilting. Those are my essentials as well.