10 Things You Need to Start Quilting
It’s easy to become overwhelmed as a new quilter. You want to start quilting, but you don’t know where to start. You’re wondering - Do I own the right supplies? What do I need to buy? How much will each new notion cost? Do I REALLY need them all?
Good news! You don’t need every notion under the sun to start quilting. But there are a few musts.
Here is a list of the 10 things that are absolutely necessary to make your very first quilt top.
- Sewing Machine: Truth be told, just about any sewing machine will do. Whether you’re dusting off an old family heirloom or spending a couple hundred bucks on a beginner machine, if you can sew an even straight line with it, you’re good to go! Investing in a high-end sewing machine at the start of your quilting journey can be tricky. You don’t yet know what you like or which bells and whistles you personally find valuable. So keep it simple to start, you can always upgrade later!
- Fabric: Picking out pretty fabric is one of the most enjoyable parts of quilting! Practice with scraps you already own and when you’re ready, shop for 100% cotton fabric in solids and prints you love. Many fabric shops sell bundles of fabric that “go together”, which is an easy place to start if fabric shopping for your first quilt feels overwhelming.
- Thread: If you’re just getting started, practice with any cotton, polyester or cotton-polyester blend thread you already own (avoid mixing and matching thread types if you can). Cotton is soft and strong, polyester has more stretch and sheds less lint, and cotton polyester (cotton-covered polyester thread) is somewhere in the middle. Many quilters prefer 100% cotton thread, but use what you like best!
- Pins: Pins are crucial for holding your fabric pieces together as you sew. Look for straight pins - ones with glass heads or simple dressmaker pins will do!
- Seam Ripper: We all make mistakes and ripping apart two pieces of fabric that have been sewn together incorrectly is par for the course. Most sewing machines come with a seam ripper - so dig through that pile of accessory parts!
- Rotary Cutter: If you think you’re going to cut your fabric with scissors, think again! A simple rotary cutter goes a long way - it helps you cut fabric quickly and accurately.
- Ruler: There are A LOT of rulers in the world, but for quilting, you’ll want a grid ruler. If you’re starting with just one, make it a 6.5” x 24” one, which is super versatile for cutting big pieces of yardage as well as smaller units. Consider investing in a ruler grip to help hold your ruler in place (and protect your fingers) as you cut! Amber's note: I would've lost multiple finger chunks by now without my ruler grip - just get one and thank me later.
- Cutting Mat: You can’t use a rotary cutter without a cutting mat. Invest in a BIG one (24” x 36”) if possible - it can double as a ruler when cutting large pieces of fabric.
- Scissors: You’ll eventually want to upgrade to fabric scissors and/or small embroidery snips, but to start, basic craft scissors to trim threads is really all you need.
- Iron + Ironing Board: Chances are, the one in your laundry room is perfect. You can invest in a more portable iron and/or a tabletop wool pressing mat later on if you feel like you need it!
Amari Thomsen is a San Francisco-based quilter and the face behind Next Gen Quilting on Instagram where she shares sustainable quilting tips and creative ideas to reduce, reuse and recycle. With zero waste in mind, a love for all things scrappy and a beginner-friendly, can-do attitude, she inspires quilters to give old, well-loved textiles a second life. Follow her at @NextGenQuilting for budget-friendly, sustainable sewing projects big and small.
