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!
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- 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
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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
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.
I would check the manufacturers website. Most of the time you can download a manual and print out what you need. Also, check out youtube videos being specific in you search request. Hope this helps you.
The walking foot is a great tool for sewing anything. It is great when quilting and espewhen using batting as well as fabric together. It holds the fabric, batting, and backing fabric all together and the feed dogs let the fabric move and keeps it moving a 1 piece.
A good pair of scissors and a seam ripper.
Thank you!!!
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.
Use the more expensive rulers that are for quilting
I would add a Flexion pen (totally removed with heat) and a 22 1/2 inch square ruler.
Very helpful! Been a quilter while but still heard things I needed. Thank you.
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
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Where would I go to find these beginner’s books? Would they have them at a quilting store? I see there is one in Winters, Ca which is about 25 miles from me.
Hi Betty,
Thank you for contacting us. Under the Shop tab on our web site we have books for sale. Also Amazon is a great resource for books.
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We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
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I have no comment at this time, I’ve been quilting for a while now, just this, I thought, for now would just sign up. Sometimes I have a real problem, and no one to turn to.
I suggest Eleanor burns books and her pbs show as well. She is a quilting master. Her techniques are useable for any quilt.
Yes, I have been watching her. I love her shows!
I taught myself to quilt using the book: First-Time Quiltmaking (Learning to quilt in six easy lessons) by Becky Johnston and Linda Hungerford. ISBN10: 1-890621-97-8. Starts out with the absolute basics and has 4 simple projects to start you out with. Takes you from what tools you need, how to choose and prepare your fabric, sewing accurate seams, assembling the quilt top and sandwich, and finally finishing the quilt.
I love this book and even though I have now been quilting for a few years, I still refer to it occasionally.
Also, a 1/4″ foot, it is really helpful and a Chako chalk marker. I would like to add a suggestion to find a really good LQS and take classes that emphasize technique, not a specific pattern. If you learn techniques, you can apply them to any project you want to make. There are loads of free tutorials on You Tube. If you learn good techniques you will be able to determine which tutorials are good and those that are not. Even those with the best known names can give you incorrect advise. Knowing good technique from bad can save you a lot of time and a LOT of money. I always tell new sewers and quilters, limit the purchase of highend items (like a lot of sewing machine feet) and spend that money on classes.
I agree 100% with those recommendations. Been sewing/quilting for years and those are my go to items even today. Would be lost without anyone of them. Elaine