The New Quilter's Shopping List

Ask an Expert
Question text

I am very new to patchwork, and wanted to ask about the most helpful tools I should buy to start my very first patchwork quilt (apart from a sewing machine!). Which fills I should buy? What are the most efficient rulers I should have? I see a lot of quilters using a rotary cutter too; should I get one of those? Thank you!

Submitted via Facebook
Answer text
Sounds like you need help with your quilt shopping list! Here are a few basics I would recommend for a new quilter:
  • A good-quality cutting mat—I recommend a 36 x 24-inch self-healing mat
  • A rotary cutter—you’ll get a lot of use out of this
  • 8½ x 24-inch ruler
  • 6½ x 6½ -inch ruler
  • 12½ x 12½-inch ruler
  • A good book will help you immensely too—anything by Carol Doak is a good bet
Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting! Kelly Related Article: Beginner’s Guide to Quilting: Essential Tools & Supplies Do you have a quilting question you’d like answered by an expert? Email your question to editor@nationalquilterscircle.com or reach out to us on Facebook. Please note: questions may be edited for clarity and relevance.

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

Make a comment:
500 characters remaining

15 Responses to “The New Quilter's Shopping List”

  1. Trish

    I would prefer to not (underlined) have pop-ups when I come to this site. I realize why, but to just have a clean site would be so refreshing. Thanks

  2. Angela Laws

    I also use a long , about 2" , flat tweezer , to keep my folded wedges flatand to guide them under my sewing foot , on my sewing machine . I've found them in the MAKEUP areas AUTOMOTIVE areas and TOOLS areas , of srores , if you can't find them in the SEWING or CRAFT areas

  3. Jeanne

    How and what do you do with the walking foot. I inherited a Janome machine from a very accomplished quilter and it has a walking foot and no instructions.

  4. Karen Cramer

    A good pair of scissors and a seam ripper.

  5. Phyllis Gatto

    Thank you!!!

  6. Athena Hallock

    I am going to add extra rotary blades. Everyone recommended to switch out the blades after a quilt project when I started over 2 years ago. Also, wait to do the California King size quilt. (which I haven't done & no need to do). The smaller projects are nice to start with. ie. Table runners, baby quilts, lap blankets, or twin size quilts even. Especially if you are not sending your quilt out to someone else to be quilted, but doing the quilting on your home machine. Which if you are, I recommend a Dual Feed foot (some machines like the Pfaff comes with a similar built in lever to act like a dual feed foot). If you plan to hand quilt, give yourself plenty of time to finish.

  7. Connie

    I would add a Flexion pen (totally removed with heat) and a 22 1/2 inch square ruler.

  8. Alberta L Lawson

    Very helpful! Been a quilter while but still heard things I needed. Thank you.

  9. Micki King

    I agree with all of the above. I teach a beginners quilting class and start all newbies with a small (baby or lap size) simple pattern. Something with only squares, no triangles. They never get frustrated and finish the project quickly and are ready to move on. I make them choose a pattern with triangles for their second project. I’ve had ladies go on to finish 3-4 bed size quilts their 1st year

  10. Patricia

    I am a member