Essential Quilting Supplies
Do you want to get started in quilting, and you're not sure what kind of quilting supplies you need? Or do you know a quilter, and you'd like to put together a gift basket of quilting supplies for him or her? Either way, it's good to have the right quilting supplies on hand before you start quilting. There's nothing worse than digging in to a good craft project like a quilt and having to stop and go to the store for something you need.
Needles And Thread
You won't get very far on your quilting project without a needle and thread. Quilting needles are smaller than ordinary hand-sewing needles, in length and in dimension. They are, for most people, easier to work through many layers of fabric than an ordinary hand-sewing needle. However, everyone's fingers are a little bit different. If a quilting needle seems uncomfortable to you, it's perfectly fine to use a different size of sewing needle.
When you shop for quilting supplies, buy the very best quality quilting thread you can afford. Run, don't walk, from bins of sale thread, and never use ordinary sewing thread for quilting. Quilting thread is super strong and is waxed so it passes more easily through the layers of fabric, and it is extremely unlikely to break under normal usage. Cheap quilting thread and ordinary sewing thread will break much more easily than quilting thread. One snap, and there goes all your hard work.
Sewing Machine
Even if you do all your quilting by hand, a sewing machine is still an essential quilting supply, because plenty of machine sewing goes in to making a hand-made quilt. If you make a pieced or patchwork quilt top, you will need to sew all those pieces together by machine. Then, after the quilting is over, you will use a sewing machine to bind the edges of the quilt, to finish it.
Many quilters use a Singer Featherlight sewing machine or another light portable machine that they can easily take with them to quilting events at friends' homes, at churches, and at community centers.
Clear Quilting Ruler And Rotary Cutter
Quilters can cut pieces from bolts of fabric quickly and accurately using a clear ruler and rotary cutter. What used to take hours with a pair of scissors and a cardboard pattern is faster and easier than ever before. Every quilter is eager to start sewing and quilting, so a ruler and rotary cutter are essential quilting supplies that get the cutting over with as quickly as possible.
