Learn To Sew
 
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Date: 10/24/11 7:57 PM I have been quilting for a few months now. I joined a group of women at church and they are teaching me. I only do the sewing for now. The strips are already cut and ready to go. The squares too.
I want to know for my own usage at home what tools should I buy? I do garment sewing, so I have rotary cutters and mats. I have a 6x24 ruler that is still in the plastic. I also have a 4x24 ruler. Not much else.
Can you give me suggestions on what tools I should buy? Any suggestions on beginners patterns would be nice.
Learn ------
Quilting is relaxing to me. I love to play with fabrics, patterns and colors.
Bernina 630 machine only
Pfaff 2036
Babylock Molly
Bernina 1200DA serger
Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L |
PattiAnnJ
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In reply to Learn To Sew
Date: 10/24/11 8:23 PM My "must haves" are a quarter inch foot & walking foot for my sewing machine and a good iron. |
Warbler
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VT USA
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In reply to Learn To Sew
Date: 10/24/11 8:58 PM When I started quilting nearly 20 years ago I started with basic supplies like you. I would not worry about having the latest fabulous tool. As your repetoire of skills develop and you work on more diverse projects then supplies will grow. I only get what I need for a project but somehow my stash of fabric and supplies as multipied like LynnRowe Featherweights,   ------
Janome MC6600 Bernina 240 Juki MO735 Singer 201-2 Singer 221-1 Singer 15-91 |
Learn To Sew
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WA USA
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In reply to PattiAnnJ
Date: 10/24/11 9:11 PM I did not think to say I had a quarter inch foot for the BL Molly and the Pfaff as well. The Pfaff has IDT. No walking foot for the Babylock. I use the BL when I talk s a class and for my quilting group.
I have a Rowenta iron, but I prefer my lighter Norelco. Granted the Norelco does not have burst of steam, but it also does not weigh as much. A trade off, you might say.
I know I will collect tools as I go along. I just wanted to be sure I have the basics for getting started.
The pattern book I need to order is called PS I Love You Baby Collection. Our group is doing the lollipops & lemon drops pattern on page 32. I will order a book from Amazon or another seller tomorrow.
Why do I need a walking foot for quilting, anyway? So far all I know how to do is sew the squares together with the strips. I have not done anything else. ------
Quilting is relaxing to me. I love to play with fabrics, patterns and colors.
Bernina 630 machine only
Pfaff 2036
Babylock Molly
Bernina 1200DA serger
Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L |
Miss Fairchild
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In reply to Learn To Sew
Date: 10/24/11 10:03 PM An 18x24 mat, several square rulers, a 1/4" foot for your Singer machine, as well as a walking foot. The walking foot is when you are quilting the backing, batting and top together. A free motion foot. A fabric marking pen. And as to beginner's patterns, Click here
This site will give you patterns like you wouldn't believe. In the box that says Where do you want to go today?, (the selections in this box are also great tools to have), scroll down to Quilt Blocks Galore and click on that. Any block with one pin is a beginner block. They are listed in alpha order or by size.
The How To Pages and Projects, as well as the Lessons are valuable tools I refer to often.
Then there's Bonnie Hunter, www.quiltville.com, if you want inspiration. Her Scrap Users System is how I organize my fabrics, and the pictures from her Binding Hints are so clear and descriptive. I've made about six or seven quilts using her patterns: Bricks and Stepping Stones, Crayon Box, Diamond in a Square Strings, Hidden Spools, Star Struck, Sister's Choice and Strip Twist. There's a lot out there! ------
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Mufffet
Intermediate
VT USA
Member since 8/14/05
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Date: 10/24/11 10:15 PM One thing I learned just recently (just before my class in June actually) was that when you go buy "Quilting thread" you want to get MACHINE quilting thread which isn't coated. Your machine won't like the hand quilting thread because much of it is coated and that stuff can get caught and rubbed off in your machine - at least that is the advice of one of my books and a few ladies in the class. I have a few brands of quilting thread and I like the C&C machine quilting thread better than the other brands I have. I hear you can just use regular Metrosene or Gutermann as well, but not stuff that's coated.
It is coated so that in hand quilting it will pass smoothly through the layers without you having to use as much effort I believe.  Other than that - you will also need safety pins for pinning the layers together. Safety pins so you don't stick yourself. the only actual "quilting gizmos" I bought since I am a rank beginner are the gloves (under 3 dollars at JAs) and the handy Kwik Klip - a very useful gadget. Total outlay for those - about 9 dollars or less because I always use a coupon ot two at Joann's.
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Franksdottir
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Member since 4/25/08
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In reply to Learn To Sew
Date: 10/24/11 10:40 PM Quote: Learn To Sew
I have been quilting for a few months now. I joined a group of women at church and they are teaching me. I only do the sewing for now. The strips are already cut and ready to go. The squares too.
I want to know for my own usage at home what tools should I buy? I do garment sewing, so I have rotary cutters and mats. I have a 6x24 ruler that is still in the plastic. I also have a 4x24 ruler. Not much else.
Can you give me suggestions on what tools I should buy? Any suggestions on beginners patterns would be nice.
Learn
My favorite ruler is the Omnigrid 4x8 - it is good for many sizes without being too big. I also like snips for cutting small threads, you may have one for sewing, but I would hate to be without mine.
Lately I have also been using a 6 1/2" square and a 9 1/2" square which I got cheap - they are useful but not essential.
Easy patterns: four-patch, nine-patch, monkey wrench, greek cross, anvil. I think you will find that as you make blocks some will seem more pleasurable for you than others. I think this is totally individual - the ones you enjoy making might not be my choice. So it is hard to tell you which ones to try.
I actually broke down and bought a set of special rulers (50% off at Jo-ann's, so it was not very far to break down) and I have been making 54-40 or Fight - it is a bit more complicated but I always wanted to make it and I am having tons of fun.
OH, and the most important thing for quilting - a purring cat, sometimes two.
-- Edited on 10/24/11 10:43 PM -- ------
Barb |
Warbler
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VT USA
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In reply to Learn To Sew
Date: 10/24/11 11:12 PM Quote:
Why do I need a walking foot for quilting, anyway? So far all I know how to do is sew the squares together with the strips. I have not done anything else.
You may want to learn to quilt that first quilt top soon. I made the mistake of not learning to quilt right off and developed a hugh phobia to it early. I have now surmounted that barrier but it is best to learn from the start some basic straightline machine quilting and stitch in the ditch. You will definately need the walking foot for that.... Some folk like to piece with a walking foot because it helps to assure your peices stay put. Personally I like to pin and I love Iris Superfine Silk Pins These may seem pricey but I still have the same tin I started with so many years ago. ------
Janome MC6600 Bernina 240 Juki MO735 Singer 201-2 Singer 221-1 Singer 15-91 |
tgm and Kittys
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WI USA
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Date: 10/24/11 11:52 PM I am thinking of getting a stitch n the ditch foot. Does anyone use that allot? I have been using an open toe foot mostly as I can see better when putting squares together or applique.... Stitch N the Ditch foot a good idea or no?
I have also gotten to really like using snips to trim threads instead of full size scissors... just my preference but I do like them. ; ) ------
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happiness5
Member since 4/19/11
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In reply to tgm and Kittys
Date: 10/25/11 4:57 AM I have the SID foot and I do not use it! I found an open toe foot works better for me so I can see just what I'm doing, but some people do really like the SID foot so I suppose it's personal preference.
I like the Eleanor Burns books for beginner quilting. I think her measurements and directions are easy to follow. The log cabin (she has a book for that) was an easy first quilt because it's just 2 1/2 strips chain piecing.
One helpful tip that I learned the hard way is to match your binding closely to your backing and border print the first few times you do it to help disguise mistakes.
It sounds like you've got a good basic set of tools. I'm a gadget junkie and just can't stop myself. I think the thing I use that's most critical beyond the basics is my tacking gun for basting the sandwich (top, batting, backing). I would scream if I had to use a bunch of safety pins! |
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