Quilting accessories
When getting ready to purchase items for quilting, you will need the following:
Books or Patterns
Books and Patterns are also easy to find and use. There are tons of patterns you can download free from the internet and there are magazines with new patterns someone has thought up and decided to share with others.
Fabrics
Fabrics are essencial for a quilt. There are many different fabrics out there. Many different colors, patterns and weights. Most quilters recommend that you use 100% cotton but there are many others that work just as well.
When preparing to quilt it is recommended to prewash your fabric. If you do not prewash your fabric, you run the risk of the colors bleeding and the fabric shrinking and causing wrinkles if washed after the quilt is finished.
Cutting Accessories
Rotary cutters are a wonderful invention that makes cutting fabric fast and fun. And also is a lot faster than using scissors
Cutting boards are of great use also. It protects any surface from the rotary cutter from cutting up tables or what not.
Rulers are wonderful to use when cutting out shapes. In combination with cutting mat and rotary cutter it makes cutting out fabric pieces fast and fun.
Sewing Accessories
Needles are needed for both hand and machine sewing. There are special needles needed for hand sewing. I like to use a “between” needle. Shorter and strong to be able to use in a running stitch.
Pins can be very useful when using a sewing machine or to pin applique pieces on to a piece of fabric. Safety pins are also useful for binding the quilt together for quilting.
Thread can be found pretty easily but you have to watch what kind you get. Some are stronger than others. You are best to get quilting thread. It is stronger and lasts longer.
Thimbles are also a great item to save your poor fingers from pin pricks. There are a few different styles of thimbles. The regular metal thimble that we all know and one that just fits on your finger like a ring around the soft part of your finger to protect from the needle.
Batting
Batting is used as the middle layer of the quilt and comes in many different types and thickness.
The following is a guide for which batting size is best for the size of your quilt:
| Mattress | Batting Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Crib | 27 X 52 | 45 X 60 |
| Twin | 39 X 75 | n/a (70 X 90) |
| Full | 54 X 75 | 81 X 96 |
| Queen | 60 X 80 | 90 X 108 |
| King | 76 X 80 | 120 X 120 |
Stencils
Stencils can be used for the quilting design and sometimes for the shape of the fabric for a design.