Quilting Essentials

Whenever starting a new hobby or attempting a new craft, it’s important to have a few of the essential items for that task. However, when you enter a craft or hobby department it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the large and varied selection of items. I thought about what to write this month and my first thought was if someone asked me what supplies they needed to start quilting, what would I say? My mother started me out years ago with a few quilting essentials that I still have and use. So, I did what any sane woman would do, I called my mother, a quilter extraordinaire, and asked her opinion of what she considered the basic, quilting essentials. This is what she said:

• One medium sized rotary cutting mat

• One rotary cutter

• One good straight ruler marked with 45 and 60 degree angles

• Quilting pins with large heads

• Quilting thread for hand quilting

• Good cotton thread for machine quilting

• Good, sharp sewing machine needles

• Size 9 or 10 needles for hand quilting

The list is short but it works. When the quilting ladies got together I showed up with my medium sized mat and one good straight ruler. I have a rotary cutter that I use, but I’m scared to death of the thing. Some long quilting pins to hold my quilt sandwich together. That’s about it. It’s worked for me and it can work for you, too. As you become more confident in your quilting there is a bevy of gadgets out there just waiting for you to give a try.

Next would be to pick your quilting pattern. To start, look for a pattern with fewer and larger pieces, like a simple star, a four or nine patch. It’s easier to work with the larger pattern pieces. And when it comes to machine or hand quilting, some enjoy both techniques, depending on the project. Like any other craft, the more you work at quilting the easier it becomes. It all starts with the basic essential items and the desire to make something wonderful from fabric.
 

-Lynn H. Castille

 Lynn H. Castille is a freelance writer with a passion for quilts –but not a lot of extra time. She has been sewing for thirty years and hosts a monthly group for other quilting enthused ladies like herself. Lynn hopes to share their fun and ideas with her readers and help make quilting fun and simple for anyone with a passion for quilts.