Originally Posted by irishrose
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.
This is my top 5 also only I would substitute small, sharp embroidery scissors for the Gingher lightweight ones. I use the small, sharp ones for trimming threads, cutting out applique pieces, clipping dog-ears on triangles and trimming patches to 1/4 inch while paper piecing.