If you are a beginner, you might be confused about the tools and supplies needed for the quilting process. You are finally ready and made up your mind regarding your first quilt, but you don’t know what to do next?
Well, fortunately, we are here for you. We will assist you regarding supplies and tools for your first quilt.
Just like any other craft process, quilting also requires a different set of tools and types of equipment. There are various tools and fabrics available in the market from which you need to choose.
This can look overwhelming to you at the initial stage, but don’t be afraid of quilting yet as we are here to help.
This article will learn about different tools, equipment, and fabrics that you need beforehand to make your first quilt. Some tools are a must, and some can be optional for your work.
Let’s have a look at all of them.
What Supplies Do I Need to Start Quilting?
Before starting our quilting journey, we need to ensure that we have got all the essential quilting tools. These tools are a must to make a quilt, and without them, we will find ourselves in trouble.
Let’s look at some of the essential tools required for quilting.
i. Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a must for any quilter. You can find many types of sewing machines in the market, but you need to choose the one that suits your work and preferences.
Although you can work without a sewing machine, this type of quilting is known as hand quilting. So it’s up to the quilter which method they choose.
ii. Rotary cutter and scissor
A rotary cutter is one of the essential tools you need to buy. It helps in cutting fabric with ease and precision. On the other hand, scissors are also a necessary tool for quilting as it helps in cutting threads or any fine fabric with ease.
iii. The right sewing machine foot
A sewing machine foot is an attachment fitted to the bottom of a sewing machine. Sewing machine feet are used to help sew specific types of fabric, stitch, or seams.
A general sewing machine foot is used for most sewing projects. Other specialized feet can be used for more delicate fabrics or different stitches. You’ll need to buy these separately.
iv. Needle(For hand and machine sewing)
A needle is an essential tool that you need for this work. Many types of needles are available in the market, but some are more popular than others. Depending on your preference, you can go for a hand sewing needle or a machine sewing needle.
A straight needle is most commonly used for hand sewing. At the same time, a ballpoint machine sewing needle is more appropriate for machine sewing.
v. Seam ripper
This is a must-have tool for beginners to undo the not perfect stitches. You can also look for them online or at your nearest store.
These tools are a must. They help you to correct your mistake by undoing your wrong stitches so that they can be fixed.
vii. Basting Pin or Spray
Basting pins are great when you need to hold a quilt together. A basting pin is a needle with a large flat head on end.
Without a basting pin or spray, you will not be able to hold your quilt layers together while working on them. You can either use basting pins or basting spray to hold your quilt layers. Both are suitable methods to keep your quilt fabrics together.
viii. Acrylic Ruler
An acrylic ruler is very helpful in the quilting process. You will need this tool for cutting your fabric in different shapes. There are plastic, metal, and acrylic rulers available in the market, which vary in size depending on your need.
The measurements of an acrylic ruler are in centimetres or inches. You can buy small sizes if you are a beginner, and it’s easy to handle. The price varies from $1 to-5.
ix. Bobbins
These are the tools that store your quilt-ready threads. They are available in different sizes.
Just like needle threads, bobbins also held threads in them. Together with needle threads, these threads create a lock stitch and complete our stitching work. There are two types of bobbin, i.e. metal bobbin and plastic bobbin.
x. Pins
Pins are an essential tool for quilting. They are used to hold the layers of fabric together. The pins come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the thickness of the fabric. The pins can be plastic or metal, depending on your preference.
The size of the pins should not exceed more than 5 inches as it will create a hole in the fabric that’s difficult to sew.
List of Essential Items for The Sewing Room
We need supplies for our sewing room too. Thanks to their use and need, these supplies can make our work relatively easy. Without these supplies, we will have a hard time during quilting as we will face many problems.
Let’s have a look at them.
i. Self-healing cutting mats
They are softer and flexible mats that are used when we are performing the cutting operation. Thanks to their ability, they can re-close the micro scratches the rotary cutter makes.
There are lots of different sizes for self-healing mats. You can opt for a big self-healing cutting mat that can provide you with a bigger workspace, or you can go for a small one.
ii. Counter or table
We need a sturdy and flat table to perform our fabric cutting operation. We need to ensure that the table height is correct according to our posture. The table should come up to our belly.
A 36 inches high table is the right height for most of us, but you should always check the table height according to your needs.
iii. Iron
We should always use iron to press our quilt and remove any unwanted wrinkles. Iron can help you remove any unwanted wrinkles and lines from your fabrics. The primary use of iron is to press your seam and make your quilt perfect.
The List of Basic Quilting Supplies You Need
We have seen the tools required for quilting. Now it’s time to read about essential quilting supplies used in the quilting process. Without these supplies, you cannot quilt.
Let’s have a look at these supplies.
i. Fabric
The fabric is the basic building block of any quilt. To create a quilt, we use different fabrics together.
Fabrics are of different types, but you should always invest in suitable quality fabrics as you don’t want to hate your quilt after a few years. Low-grade fabrics lose their charm within a few years. Always watch the thread count of fabrics according to your need.
ii. Thread
Without thread, there is no stitching that will take place. The sewing machine will become completely unusable.
You should always invest in high-quality threads as low-quality threads are prone to break early. Good quality threads are a must, or your hard work will go into vain when the quilt threads break apart.
iii. Batting
Batting is the layer between pieced quilt top and backing. Batting provides weight and cosiness to the quilt. It comes in different weights, colours, thicknesses and materials. Take your time to select the best batting for your quilt.
Optional Quilting tools
We have seen different tools and supplies that are essential for our quilting. All of them were must or extremely important for creating a quilt.
However, there are some additional supplies which you must consider buying as they make your job relatively easy and smooth.
Let’s have a look at them.
i. Roll press
Pressing is quite essential for a good quilt. Most people use the finger pressing technique to press their seams to get crisp seams. However, many times, it becomes tough to perform finger pressing.
We can use a roll press to reduce workload and get crisp seams. It makes our work relatively easier.
ii. Clips
Clips are most valuable when sewing your binding to your quilt. Clips are best when you are working with thick layers of fabrics. They can easily be set up and removed while using the sewing machine.
iii. Seam guide
Some sewing machines have inbuilt sewing guides in them. Most of the time, they are tough to spot. So many quilters use additional seam guides on to their machine to work effortlessly.
iv. An adjustable Lamp
Who doesn’t like additional light when they are working. Adjustable lamps come in handy when you need to complete work with the required extreme focus. These lamps can be set easily near your work table.
v. Ruler Gripper
As you start cutting fabric, you will notice that you need a lot of pressure to keep your trimmed straight and in a consistent line.
Ruler grippers are removable handles that can help you to avoid slipping while performing the cut. For extra grip, you can always go for transparent grip tape.
Conclusion
We have seen all the required tools and supplies necessary for performing the quilting operation. Some of the tools are very necessary, and some are optional.
It would help if you weighed all the pros and cons before purchasing different types of tools and supplies for your quilting journey. Various tools and supplies are available, so make sure you choose the best. I hope that you liked the information which is given here. Happy quilting!
