The Must-Have Tools for New Quilters
Are you the kind of person that needs all the tools imaginable before you feel like you can jump into a hobby? When you do jump in, do you buy everything you could ever need? Does the fact that you don’t have a list of exactly what you need to get started STOP you from starting? If this is you, and it is stopping you from starting to quilt, I’ve got you!
Today we are going to dive into the tools that every beginner quilter needs to get started on their journey. I will share links with you along the way so you can add the items to your cart as we go. By the end of the post, you will have all the tools you need to make your first quilt!
This blog contains affiliate links to Fat Quarter Shop and Amazon. If you purchase from one of these links, I will receive a small payment. This does not change the cost of the products for you.
Start With The Lingo
The tools we will talk about today will take you from fabric preparation to binding. That means there are tools to help you press, cut, piece, quilt, and bind your quilt. If any of these words look foreign to you, don’t worry! You will pick the lingo up in no time. You can click here to download my Ultimate Guide to Quilting Terms to get a headstart!
Fabric Preparation
The first step in your project will be to starch and iron your fabric! I’m assuming most people have an ironing board, but if not, head to your local store and pick one up. These are easier to buy in person since they are so big!
You may not like ironing clothes, but your opinion on ironing might change when you start quilting. You just have to give it a chance! If you already have an iron, don’t worry about getting a new one! You should use the one you have until you know if you really like quilting. If you don’t have an iron, I recommend a basic one like this Singer or the Black and Decker from Amazon. These both have a pointy nose which will really make pressing seams a breeze.
Cutting Your Fabric
Cutting fabric is a very important part of quilting. This is one place where I would get higher quality supplies. It will make the process easier and more enjoyable.
You 100% need a rotary blade. Cutting fabric with scissors is inaccurate, time consuming, and painful on your hands. A rotary cutter will make your life SO MUCH easier. I really like my Olfa Splash because it was relatively affordable and it is super cute. There are a few different colors to choose from too! I have tried 45 mm and 60 mm blades and prefer the 45s, so that is what I recommend.
If you spend money on a rotary cutter (which you should), you will need a self healing cutting mat. These mats will protect your cutting surface and keep your rotary blade sharper for longer. I would go with the Olfa mat from Fat Quarter Shop or the Fiskars mat from Amazon.
Get it from Fat Quarter Shop here
Get it from Amazon here
With the two rulers above, you can make pretty much any quilt you want. These two rulers could be the only ones you EVER buy. This is probably unlikely, because buying rulers is addicting….but, you never know. Having a 12.5” x 12.5” ruler and a 6.5” x 24.5” ruler in your toolbox ensures that you can cut all shapes and sizes of fabrics. I am a very loyal Creative Grids customer. The markings are so easy to see AND they never slip. They are not the cheapest option, but I have NEVER regretted spending extra money on these, which I can’t say for the rulers I have from other brands. Also, I don’t recommend purchasing these from Amazon because there have been frauds spotted out there!
Piecing Your Top
Now we are to the meat of what we think of when we think of quilting….piecing the top! Some of the notions mentioned in this section will also be used for quilting, but I won’t repeat them in the last section.
Of course every sewing machine needs a needle in order to sew anything! My favorite needles are the Schmetz Universal Needles size 80/12. These needles can be used for piecing, quilting, and garment sewing with most materials. I got a box of 100 from Amazon.
A 1/4” seam foot will result in much more accurate and precise piecing. I recommend getting a foot that has a little guide on the side, like the one in the image. It keeps your fabric in the perfect position to get a 1/4” seam. Make sure you check that the foot you buy is compatible with your machine!
Get one from Walmart here
The rest of the notions are unrelated to your sewing machine, but just as necessary! You will definitely need some pins to keep your fabric in place while you are sewing. My favorite pins so far are these Clover Quilting Pins (Fine). They are long which makes them easy to take out as you sew, the heads are glass, so they are heat resistant if you end up ironing them, and they are super sharp so they go through several layers of fabric easily.
Small thread snips are another very nice to have tool, but maybe not 100% essential. You can cut threads using your sewing machine thread cutter, but you will be stuck with a bunch of long thread strings everywhere. I would strongly recommend getting a pair of small snips. Alternatively, you can use scissors that you already have at home, they might be a bit big for the job though.
Get a pair from Fat Quarter Shop here
I think the most obvious thing you need is a sewing machine. If you already have one, just start with that one! If you don’t, I recommend the Brother SQ9285. It is available at Walmart and it is really cheap! It also comes with a 1/4” foot and walking foot, so you have all of the feet you need for quilting!
Get it from Walmart here
You will need some thread next! I really like Aurifil thread, but it can sometimes be hard to find. I also like Gutterman which seems to be more accessible and less expensive. You don’t REALLY need 100% cotton thread, but it is really nice to sew with. I would recommend starting with that and then as you get more comfortable with sewing, try some other types of thread to find what you like most (like polyester). I would also go with a neutral color (like white) so you can use it for piecing and quilting.
If you have a 1/4” foot without a seam guide, you can get this magnetic seam guide that attaches to the throat plate of your machine.
Get a magnetic seam guide from Fat Quarter Shop here
This next tool is not exactly essential, but it will make your sewing life SO MUCH easier. It is a magnetic pin caddy. Instead of using a typical pin cushion (or the plastic box the pins comes in) this helps you store your pins. It is much easier to access your pins from this magnetic caddy than from a pin cushion or the small box they come in. You are also less likely to loose them or drop them if you have something magnetic to grab them!
Get one from Fat Quarter Shop here
This right here, is essential. A seam ripper! Your machine will probably come with a tiny one, but I 100% recommend getting a one that is more ergonomic. This is the one I use (a lot). You will definitely make some mistakes while sewing (we all do). The good thing is, they are easy to fix! You just need a handy little seam ripper.
Quilting and Binding
I’m going to combine the tools needed for quilting and binding, because I only have one additional notion for binding. After this section, you will have everything you need!
In addition to the notions below, you will need some masking tape. That is something most people have on hand, so I didn’t list it separately.
Just like the 1/4” foot is super helpful for piecing, a walking foot is super helpful for quilting. Walking feet help feed the top and bottom fabric evenly through the sewing machine. This is very important when you have three (or more) layers, like you do when you are quilting and binding. The machine I recommend in this post comes with a walking foot. Technically, you can quilt without one, but I would not recommend it.
Get one from Walmart here
A hera marker is a super useful tool for marking lines on your quilt. If you are planning on only ever stitching in the ditch (along the seams), then you won’t need one of these. I am 99.9% positive you will need one of these sooner rather than later. If you really don’t want to purchase this right now, you can also use a butter knife to mark your lines.
Get a hera marker from Fat Quarter Shop here
The final tool I recommend you have is really nice to have, but not required. Clover Wonder Clips are really useful when you are applying binding to the back side of your quilt. They can also be used like regular pins! I would highly recommend getting a few to see how you feel about them
You now have all the tools you need to get going on your quilting journey! I put together a pdf that includes a guide to all these tools and a shopping list with the links in case you aren’t ready to buy now.
I can’t wait to see what you make!
