The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

for Quilting Tools:
What You Need to Know Before Buying



The art of quilting dates way back in the 17th century and has continued to flourish despite the emergence of different and more modern styles and method of sewing. If you have encountered a few quilted pieces, like many people, you are probably impressed with the sheer intricacy and unrivaled beauty that is uniquely its own. Learning the craft may prove to be a little daunting, especially for people who are not so adept with needles and threads, but with a healthy dose of diligence and interest it can turn out to be quite a rewarding endeavor.


Quilting Tools


The most logical step in learning the quilting basics would be to familiarize oneself with the different tools and understandings its various uses and purposes. With the right materials and equipments, every single stitch can be a real joy. So what are the basic tools that you need to gather for your very first quilting project?


For Cutting:


§ Acrylic Ruler – this tool is essential for being able to make perfectly straight cuts with the rotary cutter. It would be best to choose a ruler that is thick and made of some clear plastic so you will have no trouble aligning and preparing to cut your fabric. There are a number of sizes available, however, for novices, a 6 x 24 inch ruler with ¼ increments that has 30, 45 and 60 degree angles would be the most ideal choice.


§ Rotary Cutting Mat – a mat should always be placed under the fabric when using the rotary cutter, not just for protecting your table surface but also to prevent your fabric from shifting while you are making your cut. Most of these types of mats are designed to be resilient to slash marks and grooves even with frequent use. While it is available it various shapes and sizes, the recommended mat would be the 16 x 23 with a 1 inch grids, along with some hash marks at 1/8 inch increments and 45 and 60 degrees angles.


§ Rotary Cutter – the blade of the cutter is actually capable to cutting through six layers of fabric all at once. Since the blade is razor sharp, make sure that you purchase the variety that has a safety guard feature over the blade. Most of the time, cutters are available with removable blades; you will easily replace dull ones with minimum fuss at lesser expense. Normally, the cutters are available in three standard sizes, but the 45mm would be the perfect choice for your very first blade.

§ Scissors – you will need two different pairs of scissors, one for fabric cutting and another one cutting through papers and plastics.


§ Marking Tools – you can use pencils and other marking materials specifically designed for quilts that can easily be removed right after sewing.


§ Template Plastic – buy the slightly frosted variety that usually comes in sheets with about 1/6 inch thickness.


For Piercing:


§ Iron and Ironing Board – expert and seasoned quilters would usually advise that it is important to press the seams of the fabric for easy and accurate piercing. Any regular iron would work just fine, however, it would be ideal to choose one that is a little heavier than usual. This is because the combination of heat and weight makes it a lot easier to press your quilt. As for the ironing board, you can either use your existing one or buy the Big Board, a type especially designed for quilting with a rectangular shape instead of the narrow design we usually use.


§ Sewing Thread – One would initially think that the cotton wrapped polyester thread that we normally use in sewing would be equally suitable for quilting. You’d better them away since they are entirely too abrasive for cotton quilting. A lot of quilters do not buy multi hued threads, but instead use the medium gray ones that can easily blend with any fabric color. Just be sure to buy the thread that is especially made for quilting purposes and don’t settle for the regular ones.


§ Sewing machine – Unless you’ll decide to sew your fabric by hand, you will need a sewing machine to get your quilting done in a more efficient way. While most people would assume that it would require you to buy the most expensive machine in the market with all the fancy features, you will just need the plain ones. This is because your quilting w ill only require the basic straight stitch, that means steer clear from all those machines that offers hundreds of different stitches style.

However, it will be quite beneficial if will be able to find a sewing machine that can easily sew a ¼ inch seam allowance, which is the quilting standard. It would also greatly help if you the walking foot pedal since it will give you a fairly easier time to sew all those straight stitches.


Although the influx of electric sewing machines along with other highly modern gadgets for sewing made quilting more efficient, there are some people who still prefer to use their hands to sew. This is probably dictated by tradition and pride, since most families hand down their needlework expertise from one generation after another. Aside from this, there are some quilting accents that would require sewing by hand, such as making appliqués. So better flex those nimble fingers and prepare yourself for a bout of stitching.


For Hand Quilting:


§ Frame or Hoop – the main advantage of using a quilting frame or a hoop would be the fact that you will be able to make smaller and more even stitches if you will stretch your fabric taut. A frame will act as the main support of the fabric, ensures even tension and frees both hands for a more comfortable stitching experience. However, the main drawback of using a frame is the need to complete the quilt before you can actually remove the fabric from the frame. Once it is securely set up, it cannot be disassembled until your done with your quilting.


Quilting hoops are more portable in comparison to frames and are actually less expensive. Quilting hoops vary from that of the hoops used in embroidery mainly because the former one can easily handle the added thickness of quilts.


§ Needles – in the lingo of quilters, a quilting needed is often referred to as ‘between’, which is a little shorter with a small eye than that of the regular needles. For beginners the best choice would be the needle size number 8. Usual sizes would include 8, 9, and 10.


§ Thimble – since you will be practically pushing your needle to thick layers of fabric, a thimble would be a practical and cheap tool to relieve pressure from your finger. Any regular thimble that you usually use for sewing will be able to get the job done.


For Appliqués:


§ Fusible Webbing – Instead of painstakingly using the traditional pinning method, you can easily secure a number of cutout shapes to the appliqué block background by using some iron-on adhesives. Among the most popular brands of webbing is Steam-A-Seam that allows quilters to change their minds if they do nit like the quilt fabric by simply peeling it off and stick it to a new fabric of choice. This mean you will not waste a single webbing at the same time save you from doing the grueling needle work required for making appliqués.


For Machine Quilting:


§ Darning Foot – this particular tool is also known as hopper foot, which should be included in your sewing machine accessory kit. It you don’t have it, you can easily purchase one for your model brand. This is mainly used for free-motion sewing.

§ Pins- you will need pins o hold together the layers of fabric. This is currently a new variety, the glow in the dark ones that makes it easier for you to locate it if you accidentally drop it under the table.


Tale of the Cloth


You might have heard about getting the 100% cotton as the best fabric to use for quilting. Well, you cannot simply discount is as mere old wives’ tale since it is really the highly recommended fabric among the quilting circles. This is mainly because cotton fabrics greatly minimize seam distortions, can be pressed crisply and are not as tough to quilt on.


A lot of seasoned quilters would suggest only using of the prewashed fabric to be able to test its shrinkage and bleeding. To do this, it is advisable to wash your fabric during warm water so that you will allow the fabric to shrink or bleed. If it bleeds, try to rinse it until the water runs clear. Be careful not to use a fabric that hasn’t stopped bleeding.


Choosing Your Batting


If you haven’t really done any quilting before, you will probably be at a loss as what type of batting to use for your first quilt. For beginners, a thin cotton batting would be the most ideal choice. This particular variety has the tendency to he fabric, which means it requires little basting. Aside from this, it is also relatively easier to stitch through it,


Other types of batting include polyester and wool. The former is sometime preferred because it is lightweight and readily available in any textile and craft shops. It also has the ability to spring back to its original height even when compresses, which add a characteristic puffiness that quilts are known for. However, the main drawback is the fact that it tends to beard after numerous washings. Wool batting is particularly ideal for cool climates because of it ability to retain moisture and has a good loft retention.



Finding the Right Quilt Shop


Now that you have an in-depth knowledge on the different quilting tools and materials, you are probably all to eager to gather all the supplies that you need for your very first quilting project. This time, the beauty of technology comes to your aid. You can easily check out a wide range of quilting tools at a mere click of the button. Instead of spending much time going from one quilt shop to another, you can simply shop online at your own convenience.


Among the highly reputable online shops for quilting is www.patchworks.com that offers an extensive array of quilting books, kits, fabrics, classes, and just about anything you can relate you this particular needlework craft. Another shop that is slowly earning quite a reputation of its won is www.keepsakequilting.com. You can simply shop and get a closer look at the fabrics as well as avail of some valuable tips and tricks that you would surely want to take advantage of.


As you might have gathered, a lot of people are still enamored with this particular ancient craft. It timeless beauty definitely transcends a number of fashion trends, which is only a clear indication that quilting is definitely here to stay. So polish up your needlework technique and launch a newfound huffy of quilting.