Like all other crafts, quilting needs at minimum certain tools that aid in making cutting and sewing much easier and more precise.

What quilting tools are you actually looking for and which ones can be put off until you’re more proficient? Visit an online fabric shop, or look through quilting stores online and quickly discover a wealth of quilting equipment, so many that novice quilters don’t know where to begin.

Rotary Cutter

You’ll have a head start on the pack if you master how to cut with a rotary cutter immediately. This skill allows you to quickly piece your quilts or cut out the patches that you require quickly and precisely.

One of the primary tools you’ll require is a rotary cutter and there are plenty of options to pick from. They’re available in large variety of designs, so make sure to check out the local quilt shop to try out several rotary cutters to discover which one you like best in your hands.

Rotary Cutting Mat and Rotary Rulers

Rotary mats safeguard the surface that you cut on. The fabric they’re made from keeps the cutter’s blade sharp. Rotary rulers that are transparent are used to grasp the fabric, allowing you to cut more precisely.

Rotary Ruler Choices

• A 6″ 24″ Rotary ruler is essential
• A square ruler allows you to cut out shapes and to check the precision of quilt blocks
• Include the 12-” or 12 1/2″ square ruler, if you can and add it to your collection while sewing

Sewing Machine

If you’re not planning to sew by hand it, you’ll require a sewing machine. It doesn’t need to be a costly machine that can sew a lot of strange stitches. Most of the things you’ll sew will be simple straight stitches. Make sure you choose a machine that can help you stitch a quarter” seam allowance.

Cotton Quilting Fabrics

Keep the satins, velvets and other extravagant fabrics for later when you’re comfortable using quilting fabric. It’s impossible to go wrong with fabrics made by companies that cater to quilters – we’re extremely sensitive and they do all they can to delight us.

Ironing Board and Iron

The iron and the ironing board you have can be used. If you don’t have an iron, look for one that’s heavy due to the mix of heat and weight which presses the quilting components.

Fabric Scissors and Paper Scissors

There will be a need for scissors to complete certain tasks that require quilting. It doesn’t need to be expensive ones however one pair must be used for sewing and the other one for cutting plastic, paper and any other materials for crafting that you could use at time.

Cotton Thread

Get rid of the cotton and polyester-wrapped threads used for clothing as they’re too rough to be used in cotton quilts. It’s not necessary to purchase many different thread colors–medium gray and tan are usually paired with the majority of fabrics.

Quilt Design Wall

Design wall is a costly name for a basic tool, a place to put your quilt blocks as well as other elements together so that you can relax and take a look at them in a group or individually.

A couple of huge pieces of white fluon will work well, and so do thin quilting batting blocks. Other pieces stick easily to both.

Seam Ripper

Everybody has to cut out seams every once in a time. It’s incredible the number of seam-rippers that can be found. Does this mean that we’re creating a lot of embarrassing boo-boos? Not really, it’s just another of the options that manufacturers are aware of what we want.

Pins and Needles

you’ll need long straight pins that can hold parts to each other. Pick pins that are very thin with big heads.

Tips: Buy a package of glow-in-the-dark pins because they’re easy to spot when you place them on the ground. It is also possible to get between to use for hand quilting as well as regular sewing needles to use with your machine.