The biggest surprise when I picked up quilting again after 20+ years is how much I use my hand me down (DH wanted the latest and greatest) iPad. :shock: I use it (in the order I started using it):
-yahoo group to learn more about my new sewing machine
-shopping
-Craftsy
-shopping
-quiltingboard (Yeah!!!:))
-QNNTV
-shopping
-The Quilt Show
-shopping :D

Great question. I'm enjoying this thread.

O'Lipfa rulers, Quilter's Rule rulers, gloves with dots for FMQ, long tweezers, soap chips for marking, old GE iron, extra fine pins, wall paper brush to brush off cutting mat, and, of course, the rotary cutters and mats.

I love my battery operated mustache trimmer! It takes all my seams out when I make a major mistake! Much better than a seam ripper

My favorite tools for the moment!

I have the Shape Cut Pro slotted ruler and I love it. I am a very clumsy person and I am a little nervous using the rotary cutter by itself. You just put your rotary cutter through the slots and I love the way it squares your fabric, so quick and easy. I am very new to quilting, as a matter of fact I am still working on my first quilt, lol

So what do you guys use parchment and freezer paper for? Is it an alternative to the quilting tissue you trace a design on? I haven't tried quilting tissue/paper yet... just getting ready to do my first practice FMQ.

Quilt In A Day triangle square up ruler. ONE CUT to square up.
Free quilting patterns.
Jennie Doan videos and Quilting Quickly magazines.

No. 1 favorite is my Accuquilt Go.
Batting scissors
Large Steady Betty
Olfa Large Fold Away (love this thing!)
Clapper for perfectly flat seams
Pinmoors
Hera marker (many uses)

A little tool first used by auto mechanics to retrieve small things dropped in the engine area of cars they are working on. . It is a magnet on a telescoping wand. I have noticed them at Joanns in the quilt notion section also. It enables me to pick up pins and needles off of the floor without my having to even bend down. I pin baste with open safety pins so I end up with many of them on the floor when I am machine quilting. Leaving them open is a lot easier on my hands and allows them to fall free if I forget to remove them.