since you started quilting? Things have advanced so much since I started 15 or so years ago..And look at all the beautiful amazing quilts our Grandmothers made with scissors and a wooden frame. =)

I'm a gadget girl and I LOVE everything. That doesn't mean I use it..I have alot of stuff gathering dust. But I had to ask..because surely I'm not the only one that loves the "next best thing"..

My most used is my QuiltCut...whats yours?

not very original, but my seam ripper--LOL.

The rotory cutting tool. Best thing since slice bread. and Yes, I do bake and slice my own bread.

Best thing I've learned is to be patient -- mastery will come! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Since I started=fusible web & rotary cutter & mat.

Hands down, it's gotta be the rotary cutter! There's just no better way to get consistent results.

My Pfaff Creative 4.0. It is an awesome machine and I get so much more done with it than I did my last machine. I can't imagine sewing without it now.

The best item I have since I started quilting is a sewing machine- Viking Quilt Designer.

Same here. I use the rotary cutter to cut out garments as well as quilts.

There are plenty of gadget/cutters/rulers that I could mention.
Lord knows, I have more than my fair share!
However, the one purchase that has totally revolutionized my quilting is a book.

Crazy Shortcut Quilts by Marguerita McManus & Sarah Raffuse

I've not done a crazy quilt but their QAYG method has made quilting a real joy for me.
I just could not stuff anything larger than a 60"x60" lap quilt (on a good day) into the throat of my sewing machine without wanting to pull my hair out.

best thing I've learned is accuracy assurance at every step. It may seem (and often is) tedious but you are assured of a square quilt at the end. so, measure twice, cut once

RIGHT sides together!

Learning to sew 1/4 in. Takes a lot of practice.Rotary cutter, rulers,and the mat.

Press/iron fabric before cutting !!!

1. The iron is my friend. I used to bypass that step. Now, I spend a lot of time planning my order of operation to see if I can improve the "nesting" portion of the blocks and rows. Nesting makes assembly soooo much faster and easier.

2. When making a small mistake, the world does not come to an end AND once the quilt is quilted, most times it is hard to even find the error. So don't sweat the small stuff.

3. Sometimes "finished" is way better than "perfect."

4. Challenging colors or challenging patterns are great opportunity for growth.

5. "Machine Quilting made easy" by Maureen Noble is a great book of exercises.

When I realized I could use the rotary cutter to cut patterns instead of pinning and cutting with scissors! Suddenly the only thing I really really dislike about sewing disappeared! Also love my Ellisimo!

I haven't been here long, but i would say my best thing i have learned is to please myself. You don't always have to follow the " rules."

I wish that I had learned much sooner that when squaring up blocks, the 45 degree line on your square must line up on the diagonal of the block you are squaring up. I don't know how I missed that piece of information and then couldn't understand why my half square triangle blocks were not balanced. Once I learned to square up blocks properly, it make stitching a top much easier.

The one most important thing I have learned is keeping it simple. I have never really found any gadgets that really make quilting easier. New gadgets just create a different scenario of issues to work through.

I am not a purist in any sence of the term. I do use "modern" tools but it can all be done with needle and shears. Isn't that marvelous!

I have no favorite gadget or tool. I would have to add that the best thing I do own is a color wheel, which I rarely use but is there when I want it.
peace

:D

Rotary cutter and ruler and self healing mat!!!

The best thing I did early in the year was take a class from Sally Collins. I consider her the queen of Precision Piecing. I'll never make a quilt like she does. Took me all afternoon to make a 3" block but i learned so much and got so much mind refreshment that it was worth the 2 days and driving some distance to take the class. I highly recommend it.

CD called Trianglations 2.0 and just got 3.0...

I second this... It's not so much about the destination as it is about the trip...

Oh, and take a class or several!!

And listen to your friends (the real experts) here on the QB... I've learned soooo much

measure twice, cut once.

My favorite is the GO cutter and dies. I would be lost without it.

I learned so much from Deidre McElroy. I learned so much about tools, threads, and cloth from her...not too mention that I learned how to quilt tiny stiches from her. She broke it all down and made it easy to understand how to do it. Love her classes, her books, her tools and her thinmles. Especially her thimbles. That Perfect Stitch is her book.. Her mother started the business of "Roxanne's". NOt sure if that name of the company has changed or not.

Yes, Sally Collins is good too. I just had a mini class from her but i did make one of her designs..8X10 size.

The best thing I have bought is my Husqvarna Viking Designer SE. Nothing beats sewing on a quality machine. It allows you to improve your skills without the frustration of fighting your machine.

Right On!!!!

The Strip Tube ruler and method, I love making HSQ with this tool.

In addition to Rotary cutter - the Harbor Freight Blades....love...love...love them!

I was so amazed the first time I used a rotary cutter. I tried quilting in the sixties with scissors and cardboard templates. I don't know how people made quilts back before the rotary cutters were invented! And I love my pfaffs!

I have the original Viking Designer that uses the "D" cards. What a great machine! At classes it seems to chug along while all the gals on the "B" machines (rhymes with "her-tina")seem to be fighting with theirs.

I learned to quilt in 1992 with cardboard and templates with scissors. I guess that makes ME an idiot!

Though I have a different machine, an old Bernina 830 which I love, I must say you are right. I had a walmart kiddie machine when I was about 10, and I used it a lot until I broke it. Let me just say, I've used 3 different Berninas, the new really expensive one that my aunt got (the thing is huge! and heavy!) and her new Bernina 830, then of course the old Bernina 830 she gave my mom for Christmas when she got her new one. Now I need to start saving some money so I can get one of my own.

But if I had to pick a gadget, I would have to say my thread cutters. Cuz regular scissors in my house are not sharp at all!

As far as gadget, I'd have to say my Gorham rotary cutter. Well worth the extra money.

Lesson: Measure twice, cut once!!

Hahaha!

I started quilting back in the 1970's...before rotary cutters were invented...and I remember when I got one and was so afraid of it that it sat in a drawer for over a year before I got the nerve to use it..but it really has revolutionized quilting...the other best thing would be the June Tailor Shapecut...cutting out a quilt is so much faster using this!

Amen! When I stopped worrying about breaking all the "rules" and sewing for ME...I found so much joy & happiness in MY creations. I give 90% of what I do away. All I ask is that my quilts be loved and used. One day I may make a show piece but until then...Use them Up!

Starch. It has made a huge difference on my accuracy.

My Elna Supra (now 35 years old) which had cams -- it and the Viking were the best machines the year I bought the Elna. I got 4 weeks of free lessons with the Elna and teh Viking offered none. It can still sew anything that fits under the presser foot. I made a lot of memories on that machine.