Handy Quilting Tools
Quilting tools are designed to make your quilting life easier. The days of just the scissors and thread are long gone. Today there are rotary cutters that cut several layers at a time and guides to help you measure while cutting. There are quilting mats that are self healing and you will not cut through them when cutting your fabric. These are also great to save your cutting table from getting cut and scarred. The mats are also great quilting tools because they are designed to help keep your rotary cutter blade sharp.
Quilting today is not much like the quilting our ancestors did. They would use scraps left over from making their clothing and often would even use parts of their old clothing once it was no longer wearable. Quilting in the past was done solely as a necessity to keep warm in the winter, but today quilting is done for design and decoration.
Quilting Tools To Consider
A design wall is quilting tool that allows you to place pieces of your quilt together so that you can take a preview look at the design. You don't have to buy an expensive design wall to achieve the results you want. You can cover a board with some flannel or even quilt batting. If you don't have the board, simply attach the batting or flannel to a wall. The quilt pieces will usually stick to it long enough for you to get an idea about the design.
A seam ripper is a must for every quilter. Unfortunately seam ripping is a part of successful quilting and a seam ripper will help you safely take out the incorrect seam quickly. They are usually very sharp and will cut the thread very easily but they also have a safety device on them to prevent personal injury to you.
An iron and ironing board is a necessary quilting tool for anybody who wants to succeed. Pressing seams is an important part of quilting and getting the seams to match up. There are ironing boards for quilters but any ironing board will do the trick. Practically everybody already owns one anyway. An iron that produces steam is usually the best way to press and it will also help to prevent burning of the fabric.
A cutting grid is another great quilting tool which is used with a rotary cutter. The grid is marked off usually by inches which will allow you to cut one, two, or more inch strips. The grid is marked like a ruler so you can even use it to cut perfect squares.
You don't have to spend a lot of money on quilting tools but have them ready at hand can make life a lot easier. You quilting will go much easier and the pieces will fit together better if you have the right tools to work with.
