This is a list of basic supplies you’ll need to get started. We hope this will help you get acquainted with a few of the quilting terms and tools. Your instructor may ask you to bring some of these items to class.

Sewing Machine: A basic straight stitch machine is all you need for most projects. A zigzag, blind hemstitch and buttonhole stitch are great for machine appliqué. Make sure it is in good working order and that the tension is adjusted correctly. Get it serviced if necessary.

Walking Foot: An attachment for the sewing machine for sewing through several layers evenly (without puckering). This is a must for machine quilting and applying bindings.

Darning Foot: This attachment is used for free motion quilting.

Iron and Ironing Board: A standard iron and ironing board is sufficient. A steam iron is helpful for some techniques. A small craft iron is a nice size for class use.

Marking Pencils:

Pins:

Needles: You will need a variety of hand sewing needles for different applications. The most popular sizes are 9, 10 or 11.

Many sewing machine problems can be solved by simply cleaning the machine and changing the needle.

Hoop: Quilting hoops are portable and less costly than a quilting frame. A popular size is the 14-inch round.

Scissors: You’ll need a pair for cutting fabric, a pair for cutting paper, and a pair for snipping threads. If you find that you like to do hand work you’ll want to get a pair of embroidery scissors with sharp points that cut all the way to the tip.

Seam Ripper: Keep one in your sewing case for "unsewing".

Template Plastic: This comes in sheets about .0040 inch thick, usually marked with a ¼-inch grid. You can also buy sheets "blank" with no markings.

Thread: For machine piecing use 100% cotton, neutral-colored thread. A light tan, beige or gray is usually a good choice. Use a dark colored neutral thread if you have a lot of dark colors. For borders and bindings try to closely match the color of the thread to the fabric.

For hand appliqué, match the thread to the color of the flower, leaf, etc. (not the background), as closely as possible. Try Thread Heaven thread conditioner to keep your threads from tangling. We think you’ll love it.

For quilting thread we love the YLI 100% cotton quilting thread. It has a glaze that keeps it from tangling, and it comes in several beautiful colors. You can use one color throughout the quilt or you can change colors as you wish.

Rotary Cutter: Find one that fits your hand comfortably. Be sure to keep a replacement blade handy. We like the two-inch blade (45mm). These are very sharp, so be sure to close the blade every time you lay it down. Some of the newer models now have a safety feature that close automatically.

Cutting Mat: A "self-healing" cutting mat, usually dark green in color with gridded markings. A popular size is 24" x 36", which is large enough to cover a large area of our cutting table. Smaller ones are great to take to classes. Even smaller ones are great for trimming at the sewing machine and for paper piecing.

Rotary Cutting Rulers: We prefer Creative Grids or Omnigrid rulers because they are thick enough for accurate rotary cutting, the markings are easy to read, and they come in a variety of popular sizes. Our favorites are: