Your Top Five MUST-HAVE Tools (Non-electric/electronic)
03-01-2011, 09:03 PM
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 695
A good chair is also important, although it's not a "notion" as such and isn't necessary for the cutting. However, it's invaluable when you're sewing all those pieces you've cut using the rotary cutter, mat, and rulers. This is true whether you hand piece and/or quilt or do so with the machine.
03-01-2011, 10:41 PM
#66
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Portland, OR.
Posts: 53
Originally Posted by vickimc
iron, I use a Wal-mart one. get the expensive one later
03-01-2011, 11:31 PM
#67
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Grays River, WA.
Posts: 216
Others have listed materials needed which you will build on but a few listed studio. The most prolific and productive quilters I know churn out between 20 and 30 quilts a year (unreal quality) using a couple of two by three foot tables.
A small space does not dictate what you can accomplish.
Most of us have crammed our sewing areas into small spaces so don't worry if you don't have a large area.
Didn't read everything but do sign up for Joann coupons and you will be able to buy notions at 40% off every month. Will take a few months after you sign up and don't forget to take sale sheets with you and get it scanned so you get your next months coupons.
A small space does not dictate what you can accomplish.
Most of us have crammed our sewing areas into small spaces so don't worry if you don't have a large area.
Didn't read everything but do sign up for Joann coupons and you will be able to buy notions at 40% off every month. Will take a few months after you sign up and don't forget to take sale sheets with you and get it scanned so you get your next months coupons.
03-02-2011, 11:38 AM
#68
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Portland, OR.
Posts: 53
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...G_7763_600.jpg[/IMG]
Clockwise from top right: Quilting gloves - excellent for guiding large pieces of fabric through the machine and or quilting. I cut the tips of the glove off the index and thumb so I can easily pick off threads without them sticking to the glove. Curved basting pins. Flat headed straight pins. Magnetic pin holder - great for when you accidentally spill pins! Pointy fabric guide - I'm pretty sure that's the technical name... don't know what they're actually called but it's a great tool for quilting curved seams. Jack the Ripper - my seam ripper. Snips and scissors and a good rotary cutter. I have several rotary cutters in different sizes and one that I keep that's just for cutting paper templates and such so I don't make the one I use for fabric dull. (I rotate the blades... when the fabric blade gets too dull it moves to the paper cutter where it works just fine for a while). Omnigrip rulers - they don't slide! And a marking pen.
Most all you might recognize but one that I LOVE that's rather uncommon is the little dohicky in the center of the picture. It's a wrapping paper cutter. One Christmas when my sewing room turned into gift wrap central and everything was everywhere and it was a general disaster but I was still trying to sew... I couldn't find my snips. However the paper cutter was readily available and wouldn't you know it? It was THE BEST thing for cutting apart chained pieces. No snipping motion required at all. There's a sharp little blade under that top protective area and it's just a swiping motion that separates them... perfect for cutting thread with. It also keeps me from accidentally cutting my stitched pieces because it really won't cut fabric... so I can hurry along with no worries for those or fingers. ;-) I usually pick up a few of them right after Christmas because they're cheapest then... a buck or two. They last 6 months to a year depending on how much use they see. Do no try to buy them right before Christmas - I've seen them priced for $8 or more then!
Clockwise from top right: Quilting gloves - excellent for guiding large pieces of fabric through the machine and or quilting. I cut the tips of the glove off the index and thumb so I can easily pick off threads without them sticking to the glove. Curved basting pins. Flat headed straight pins. Magnetic pin holder - great for when you accidentally spill pins! Pointy fabric guide - I'm pretty sure that's the technical name... don't know what they're actually called but it's a great tool for quilting curved seams. Jack the Ripper - my seam ripper. Snips and scissors and a good rotary cutter. I have several rotary cutters in different sizes and one that I keep that's just for cutting paper templates and such so I don't make the one I use for fabric dull. (I rotate the blades... when the fabric blade gets too dull it moves to the paper cutter where it works just fine for a while). Omnigrip rulers - they don't slide! And a marking pen.
Most all you might recognize but one that I LOVE that's rather uncommon is the little dohicky in the center of the picture. It's a wrapping paper cutter. One Christmas when my sewing room turned into gift wrap central and everything was everywhere and it was a general disaster but I was still trying to sew... I couldn't find my snips. However the paper cutter was readily available and wouldn't you know it? It was THE BEST thing for cutting apart chained pieces. No snipping motion required at all. There's a sharp little blade under that top protective area and it's just a swiping motion that separates them... perfect for cutting thread with. It also keeps me from accidentally cutting my stitched pieces because it really won't cut fabric... so I can hurry along with no worries for those or fingers. ;-) I usually pick up a few of them right after Christmas because they're cheapest then... a buck or two. They last 6 months to a year depending on how much use they see. Do no try to buy them right before Christmas - I've seen them priced for $8 or more then!
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