These are a few of my favorite things 🎶
It doesn't take a ton of supplies to start your quilting journey, but it does take a few. It feels like I have tried them all, so I am listing my favorites for you here so you don't have to waste time and money on supplies that don't work out!
Basic Necessities
A sewing machine. Yes, you can sew by hand, but I use a machine for speed and accuracy. I use a Juki Nx7 now, but I quilted for many years on my Singer Heavy Duty and highly recommend it for new quilters! And now they have a pink one!
A rotary cutter. Most people use a 45mm rotary cutter. I prefer the 60mm because it cuts through more layers of fabric, but I use both sizes depending on the situation. I recommend this 45mm for beginners.
Rotary cutting blades. You need blades for your cutter. Some people swear by Olfa Endurance Blades, which are very nice and also very expensive. I prefer titanium blades from Amazon. They are sharp and last a reasonably long time. And they are much cheaper! 45mm or 60mm. I have been using these for years with no issues!
Cutting Mat. You'll need a cutting mat to go with your rotary cutter. These come in all sizes, but I recommend getting the biggest one you can, as it makes things easier. I prefer this one because it has a white side and a black side, which comes in handy depending on what color fabric you are cutting. It also comes in a smaller size if you don't have the space!
Rulers. You're going to need some rulers to get started. Some people are ruler fanatics with every size (it's me, I'm some people), and others make do with just a few essentials. I use this one the most, but I also like a nice square one such as this.
Some folks absolutely love the Stripology ruler for cutting fast strips and squares, but this is a splurge you can get later.
Iron. There are so many irons out there to choose from; it can get overwhelming. I have tried all the fancy irons marketed to quilters, and let me tell you a secret! My favorite iron is this Black and Decker for under $20.
Pins . You're going to need some pins to hold your fabric together as you sew. My absolute favorites are these. I love glass head pins because you can press over top of them. Once you get going, you may also want some Wonder Clips.
Seam Ripper. There is no avoiding it; sometimes we all need to remove some wayward stitches. I prefer this seam ripper because it is sharp and comfortable to hold. It also comes in pink!
Scissors. You're going to need a dedicated pair of scissors for cutting fabric. These are my favorites. You will also need some small snips to cut threads. These are the best I have ever used; they also come in a bigger size! I love them and have pairs of them all over the place.
Thread. There are hundreds of options for quilting thread, and everyone has an opinion on the best. My favorites are Aurifil Xanadu (and yes, I sing the Xanadu song when I use it!) and Aurifil Moonshine on a cone. If you want to get a cone, you may also need a thread stand like this.
Machine Needles. There are 2 major needle brands, Organ and Schmetz. I am personally a Schmetz girl, but you can't go wrong with either. I use these for everyday quilt piecing. For straight-line quilting, I switch to these.
Batting. I like for my quilts to be all natural, so I prefer this bamboo batting. It has a soft drape and cuddly feel. If I want my quilt to be a little fluffier, I pull out the Hobbs 80/20.
That Purple Thang. This little tool is a must-have for every quilter. Trust me, you need one!
Fabric! I saved the best for last! Every quilter loves fabric. Precuts like Fat Quarter bundles, layer cakes, jelly rolls, or yardage. We want it all! Luckily, there is a shop that has it all. I have been shopping at Fat Quarter Shop for over 10 years, and they are my first stop when fabric shopping. If FQS is sold out of what I want, I head over to Etsy next.
A rotary cutter. Most people use a 45mm rotary cutter. I prefer the 60mm because it cuts through more layers of fabric, but I use both sizes depending on the situation. I recommend this 45mm for beginners.
Rotary cutting blades. You need blades for your cutter. Some people swear by Olfa Endurance Blades, which are very nice and also very expensive. I prefer titanium blades from Amazon. They are sharp and last a reasonably long time. And they are much cheaper! 45mm or 60mm. I have been using these for years with no issues!
Cutting Mat. You'll need a cutting mat to go with your rotary cutter. These come in all sizes, but I recommend getting the biggest one you can, as it makes things easier. I prefer this one because it has a white side and a black side, which comes in handy depending on what color fabric you are cutting. It also comes in a smaller size if you don't have the space!
Rulers. You're going to need some rulers to get started. Some people are ruler fanatics with every size (it's me, I'm some people), and others make do with just a few essentials. I use this one the most, but I also like a nice square one such as this.
Some folks absolutely love the Stripology ruler for cutting fast strips and squares, but this is a splurge you can get later.
Iron. There are so many irons out there to choose from; it can get overwhelming. I have tried all the fancy irons marketed to quilters, and let me tell you a secret! My favorite iron is this Black and Decker for under $20.
Pins . You're going to need some pins to hold your fabric together as you sew. My absolute favorites are these. I love glass head pins because you can press over top of them. Once you get going, you may also want some Wonder Clips.
Seam Ripper. There is no avoiding it; sometimes we all need to remove some wayward stitches. I prefer this seam ripper because it is sharp and comfortable to hold. It also comes in pink!
Scissors. You're going to need a dedicated pair of scissors for cutting fabric. These are my favorites. You will also need some small snips to cut threads. These are the best I have ever used; they also come in a bigger size! I love them and have pairs of them all over the place.
Thread. There are hundreds of options for quilting thread, and everyone has an opinion on the best. My favorites are Aurifil Xanadu (and yes, I sing the Xanadu song when I use it!) and Aurifil Moonshine on a cone. If you want to get a cone, you may also need a thread stand like this.
Machine Needles. There are 2 major needle brands, Organ and Schmetz. I am personally a Schmetz girl, but you can't go wrong with either. I use these for everyday quilt piecing. For straight-line quilting, I switch to these.
Batting. I like for my quilts to be all natural, so I prefer this bamboo batting. It has a soft drape and cuddly feel. If I want my quilt to be a little fluffier, I pull out the Hobbs 80/20.
That Purple Thang. This little tool is a must-have for every quilter. Trust me, you need one!
Fabric! I saved the best for last! Every quilter loves fabric. Precuts like Fat Quarter bundles, layer cakes, jelly rolls, or yardage. We want it all! Luckily, there is a shop that has it all. I have been shopping at Fat Quarter Shop for over 10 years, and they are my first stop when fabric shopping. If FQS is sold out of what I want, I head over to Etsy next.