I've recommitted myself to quilting, and finding this message board/community has been a wonderful inspiration to keep me at it.

As I'm becoming exposed/introduced to some of the tools and approaches y'all are using, I find myself wondering, what should I really be investing in to ease my quilting.

But I'm on an extremely limited budget these days, and wanting to ask you all: What are the top five tools (non-electric/electronic) that you feel are absolute musts to have in your "toolbox" for making quilts?

For example, rotor cutting wheels, "forgivable" ruled cutting boards, what kind of scissors? etc...

Look forward to reading your recommendations.

-- Jillaine

Cutting mat
Ruler
Quilter's pins; very thin
Seam ripper
Rotary cutter
Scissors (don't have to spend a lot now a days)

Check out this site:

http://quilting.about.com/od/beginni...best_tools.htm

straw needles for hand applique
Kai scissors
pin cushion
thimble
coffee (lol)

my machine,
rotary cutter/mat
pin
my bias maker
rulers....
And my coffee but i have that with me all the time so it doesn't count =)

My list exactly, I'd also like to add 1/4" foot for machine

Rotary cutter
Gingher lightweight scissors
Olfa cutting mat
6 x 24 cutting ruler and 12.5 x 12.5 squaring ruler
Seam ripper

Five is tough, but I can go without pins before I can go without any of my list.

cutting mat
largest rotary cutter I can find
Kai scissors; expensive, worth every penny
good lighting - preferably Ott lights
good ironing surface -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGbXou_u4c

Ha-ha, coffee! I too appreciate straw needles. I haven't heard of Kai scissors before.

I'm a tool and gadget gal so I could probably post 50 things I especially like...but for the moment, I'll just say

Clover glass head pins (extra fine, iron won't melt heads)
specialty machine feet (quarter inch, open toe, stitch in the ditch, walking foot)
freezer paper and parchment paper
Invisi-Grip for the underside of my rulers to make them non-slip
Elmers or Roxanne's glue for basting.

Of course, I couldn't do without Internet quilting Friends here and even a few tutorials on You Tube!

:thumbup:

rotary cutter
1/4" foot
cutting mat
seam ripper
pattern

and lots of coffee

My top five:

Olfa 24 x 36 cutting mat
Martinelli rotary cutter
6 x 24 ruler
Havel SnipEze
Quality fabric

I have a few more "must haves" but you limited me to 5.