zozee

Welcome aboard. I can’t add anything to what’s been said except please buy a safety glove for cutting. Those rotary blades are extremely sharp and several people here have lost parts of their index finger when they were cutting fabric. I like my No Cut brand . I would also get a pair of quilting gloves to help your hands grip the layers when you quilt. I like the Machingers.

PS I have a White brand vintage machine that was my grandma’s . It’s turquoise and gorgeous.

JJBlaine

I remembered a list of essential tools I made for my niece, who is learning to quilt:

• a rotary cutter and extra blades-find one that feels good in your hand, and don't hesitate to change the blade. A nice, sharp blade is not only safer, but cuts more accurately and is easier on your hand
  
• a cutting mat (24x36 is my preferred size)- invest in a good one, will last you for years
  
• a couple of rulers
  
  • 6x12- This is the ruler I use the most
    
  • 6x24- Is very useful because you can cut from selvage to selvage with just one fold
    
  • 12-1/2x12-1/2 and 6-1/2x6-61/2- I use these a lot to square up my blocks, but can wait if they are not in your budget right away
• an iron-even a cheap one, so long as it gets very hot. The $10 one I bought at WM years ago was better than anything I have been able to buy since. Pressing is almost as important as cutting when quilting
  
• Starch- It will be your best friend when quilting, especially when sewing fabric on the diagonal (bias)
  
• A 1/4" presser foot- but, if you don't have one, you can always just mark a 1/4" with some blue painters tape. I did that for years.
  
• Extra sharp, extra fine pins with glass heads- The glass ones will not melt if you use iron one. Extra fine will help immensely with accuracy, and is less likely to damage your machine if you accidentally sew over it.
  
• A seam ripper- No matter how long or how good you get at quilting (or sewing), you will be using this. More than I care to admit.

Friday1961

Great advice from everyone.

I had sewn forever. I bought a used Singer 99K when I first went to work -- which I still have and which still sews great, though I now have other machines, as well -- and made all my own clothes, a lot of baby clothes, household items, etc -- even made my husband a suit! I'd always been interested in quiltmaking, but didn't have time to devote to learning about it while working, raising a family -- the usual demands of life.

When I finally did have time, I found a lot of help online (I'm a self taught/self learner). Rotary cutter, mat and ruler cutting were foreign to me so I read and watched video about that, and how to fold and trim fabric in preparation for that kind of cutting. I also had a cousin who quilted, and although long distance, she was a great resource. My first quilt was a 9 patch throw size. No pattern, just pictures, and then decisions about the size of the patches, and how many blocks. In the beginning I loved the cutting, the precision of it, I think. (Now I hate cutting! lol).

The 9 patch is simple, and it taught me the importance of matching seams -- can't stress too much how important matching seams is if you want your quilt to look good....and your blocks square.....and even then you have to square up.

Learn your machine first, then start slow, do something simple that won't overwhelm and that you can finish, look at, and be proud of. Before you know it, you'll be making quilts you hadn't dreamed of. And you'll never stop learning.....at least I haven't. This board is a terrific resource! Lots of wonderful help and encouragement and ideas and problem solving and sympathy and admiration to be found here.

Congratulations on your new hobby and good luck!

19cats

Here's a manual for a White 1717. Hope this is the same as yours:https://www.singer.com/sites/default...ite-1717-x.pdf

tuckyquilter

YOU are one lucky gal. I have a 1938 White that belongs to my little grand daughter. She inherited it from her fathers side of the house. I'm the only one who sews, and it currently resides in my home. Litl Bit turned 6 this year but I started teaching her at 3.5 yrs.