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As a beginner, you are probably wondering what kind of quilting tools and supplies you need to get started with. Fortunately for you, that’s the topic of our today’s material – Quilting Tools and Supplies for Beginners!
There are plenty of things to look for, but we’ve gathered them all. In fact, we didn’t just make a checklist of items, we’ve also included the main points that you should be considering with each tool and supply. Lastly, we are going to give you some recommendations as to what quilting tools and supplies to buy for you as a beginner!
Ready to see what those quilting tools and supplies are?
Well, keep reading…
QUILTING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FOR BEGINNERS
Quilting Tools for Beginners
Sewing Machine
The first tool on our list of quilting tools for beginners is a quilting sewing machine.
Sewing machines are necessary for quicker, more precision-based quilting. A lot of quilters enjoy hand quilting, but large projects should be done with machines for time-saving.
There are many features on advanced modern sewing machines that allow you to add details that would be really difficult to create by hand. When choosing a sewing machine, take both your skill level and requirements into account. And don’t forget about the budget!
When buying a sewing machine for quilting, look for one that has:
- An extension table.
- Variable speed settings.
- A needle with an up/down button, and.
- A drop feed for motion-free quilting.
Our top pick
We find the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 computerized sewing machine the best for quilting. Among the things it has are 600 built-in stitches, project personalization, and a large removable worktable.
Similar sewing machines
If you don’t need that many stitches, then the cheaper Singer Confidence Quilter 7469Q could be a better pick for you.
Besides, Brother HC1850 computerized sewing and quilting machine with its 130 built-in stitches and comparable convenience is a great alternative for a much cheaper price.
We’ve a detailed article on Best Quilting Sewing Machine which can help you to know the needful information before you go for one, you can read it here. We’ve also another great article on Best Sewing Machines For Free Motion Quilting if you’re interested to know about free motion quilting machine, you can read it here.
Iron and Ironing Board
The next tool after sewing machine on our list of quilting tools for beginners is the iron and ironing board.
You don’t need a super-expensive iron as a beginner. However, you must have one as it helps to keep your fabric wrinkle-free, as well as help press down newly sewn-together pieces of fabric/cloth as you go.
Look for an iron that has adjustable steam and heat. This is really useful in getting wrinkles out of the fabrics and setting your seams.
As for the ironing board, it isn’t as necessary, but if you don’t have a surface that’s heat resistant, then you’ll need to get one. Depending on your project, you’ll need to choose either a large or a small ironing board.
Iron
Our top pick
Rowenta DW6080 Eco-Intelligence is a great choice of a function-packed and energy-efficient iron.
Similar irons
Possibly not as functional, Singer Expert Finish is very comparable to the Rowenta iron. And it may be slightly more convenient thanks to its LCD display!
And for those on a budget, we’d suggest T-fal FV4495 Ultraglide Easycord Steam Iron.
We’ve a detailed article on Best Iron for Quilting that can help you to decide which iron is best for your quilting work. To help you get a feel for some of our favorite quilting irons, we’ve put together a list of reviews here that suit every quilter.
Ironing board
Our top pick
In our opinion, Reliable 300LB ironing board is one of the best, thanks to its durability and convenience, if not the best ironing board for quilting out there. It even has a laundry rack!
Similar ironing boards
At a slightly cheaper price, Mabel Home Ironing Board offers an interesting feature: it has shoulder wings for convenient ironing of shirt shoulders.
Bartnelli ironing board is a simpler but highly durable and convenient board.
Lastly, we’d suggest the compact and inexpensive Brabantia Ironing Board.
We’ve a Buying Guide and Reviews on Ironing Boards for Quilting that can help to walk you through in deciding which ironing board is best for your quilting work.
Rulers
If you want straight cuts, use a ruler. Sounds obvious, sure, but some people may overlook it. But don’t attempt to cut with your kid’s plastic school ruler as you will just shave off the plastic. Use a sturdy quilter’s ruler that is much more durable. Quilting rulers also come in different shapes like triangles, hexagons, and other useful figures to increase the comfort and precision of cutting.
Sizes to go for
We suggest beginning with a long ruler that measures about 6”x24”. A longer ruler would allow you to make perfectly straight cuts on larger pieces without moving the ruler around a lot.
We’d also recommend purchasing a smaller ruler (6”x12”) because you don’t always need to do long cuts. Besides, get a square ruler (about 12” in size) to cut perfectly square pieces.
To be able to cut very accurately, make sure that the ruler has measurements down to 1/8”. Besides, make sure that it is durable and high-quality.
Our top pick
With its non-slip rings and several sizes included, we like ARTEZA quilting ruler set the most.
Similar quilting rulers
Creative Grids quilting ruler is just one tool, but it is rather versatile thanks to its shape.
Another option from Creative Grids is their slotted quilting ruler template, allowing very easy precutting in various sizes.
And the last alternative is a simple 6” x 24” acrylic quilting ruler by Fiskars.
We’ve a helpful article for you on Best Rulers for Quilting where we’ve put together reviews of some of our favorite rulers to help you decide which one is right for you. Don’t miss it to read it here if you’ve time!
Self-Healing Cutting Mats
You’d want to cut fabric on something other than your precious table. A self-healing cutting mat is the thing that you need.
Self-healing mats absorb cuts, allowing you to cut over and again without the previous cuts affecting the new cuts. These mats often include grid lines or rulers, which helps you combine your mat with a ruler if you don’t plan to buy a separate ruler.
Sizes to go for
While self-healing mats come in various sizes, a 24” x 36” mat is the perfect size to start with. This is a size that is perfect for many quilting jobs.
Our top pick
We’d recommend the Olfa Self-Healing Cutting Mat. It has a good size of 24 x 36 inches, and it is rated very highly!
Similar self-healing mats
For those who are on a budget or need a smaller mat, Cherry Professional 9” x 12” Cutting Mat may be a great pick.
Another great alternative is Rezy Self-Healing Round Rotary Mat that is designed to deliver a smooth 360-degree spin.
We’ve put together a review of some of the best and most reliable quilting mats available for purchase. Here’s it – Best Quilting Cutting Mat Reviewed [with FAQ], in case you’d like to check it out. I’m sure you’ll find it very useful like our other articles.
Seam ripper
A seam ripper is a must-have unless you always sew perfectly and never make any mistakes (which isn’t the case for beginners). You’ll want to have a couple of these in your arsenal. Pick several sizes to be able to manage a variety of seams.
Our top pick
Clover Seam Ripper is a great choice of a cheap, large, and convenient seam ripper.
Similar seam rippers
If you want to get several seam rippers at once, then the SUBANG 12-pack may interest you more.
CampTek also offers a great kit, but it includes 2 big, 2 small seam rippers, as well as a sewing trimming scissors.
Scissor
When it involves quilting, a solid pair of scissors may be a necessity at each step of the method. New quilters often jump into a quilting project with excitement and find out that their existing kitchen scissors or other paper cutting scissors have merely won’t cut their fabric and batting the means they have them to.
Our top pick
Sewing Scissors by Evergreen Art Supply,
it comes together with a Free Thread Snips. It is Heavy Duty Scissors, Stronger Than Stainless Steel Scissors. You can use it as professional all-purpose shears; fabric scissors, office scissors, sharp tailor dressmaker scissors as well as craft paper scissors.
Similar Scissors
– Havel’s Sew Creative 8-Inch Sewing/Quilting Scissors-Pink Comfort Grips by Havel’s
– Westcott Rag Snips Crafting and Quilting Scissors (16108) by Westcott
We’ve put together a list of some of the solid, reliable quilting scissors that any level of quilters rely on.
Rotary cutter
Much more convenient than scissors, rotary cutters can allow you to easily make perfectly straight and accurate cuts. Coming in various shapes and sizes, they make quilting exceptionally easy. Just make sure to learn how to use them since they are a cutting hazard!
Sizes to go for
You should start with a 45mm blade. Rotary cutters come in sizes from 18mm to 60mm, so as you become better at quilting, you could increase your arsenal.
28mm and 18mm rotary cutters are primarily used for curved piecing, and the 60mm is specifically designed to cut through multiple layers of fabric, batting, and tough materials. Similar to 60mm blade, the 45mm can cut through 2-3 layers of fabric at a time and is typically much more user-friendly for beginners. 
Our top pick
The best rotary cutter kit for quilting is, in our opinion, ARTEZA Rotary Cutter Quilting Kit. It consists of a 6.5×24 ruler, 18×24 mat (8×12 & 24×36 also available), a 45mm cutter, and 3 45mm blades. Everything that you’d need!
Similar rotary cutters
Fiskars Rotary Sewing Cutting Set is a slightly simpler set. If you don’t need any size options, then this one may be better for you.
Although these all cannot be enlisted in our best rotary quilting cutters list. We’ve put together a list of our favorite quilting cutters so you can choose the perfect tool for you! You can check it here and find which one is the Best Rotary Cutters for Quilting that meets your requirements.
And if you will be mostly working with smaller fabric pieces, then you’d like Sizzix Big Shot Machine. This thing allows you to cut the fabric very easily, albeit with less precision.
Wall
A quilting wall is a simple instrument that allows you to place all the quilting blocks together to see how they look and how well they fit each other. It basically is a flannel fixed on a square frame.
You could either use large pieces of white flannel or go for ready-made quilting design walls. If you want the latter, then we have a couple of options for you.
Our top pick
The 60 x 72-inch design wall by Fons & Porter is a great choice thanks to its large size.
Similar quilting walls
If such a big quilting wall is an overkill for you, then maybe the 54 x 54-inch Cheryl Ann’s Quilting Wall will be a better option.
Frame
A quilting frame is also an unavoidable item of our quilting tools and supplies for Beginners list which allows you to secure the fabric for the quilting. There are plenty of quilting frames available out there, but to choose the right one, you just need to answer these questions:
- Will you be quilting by hand or on a machine?
- What size do you need?
- What shapes will you be working with?
Once you know the answers to these questions, picking the best quilting frame should be easy.
Our top pick
We like AMERICAN DREAM PRODUCTS Adjustable Oak Lap Frame the most for its adjustability and versatility.
Similar quilting frames
Dritz Quilters Floor Frame is a very supportive but less versatile alternative.
If you’d rather prefer a loop frame, then Elbesee Embroidery Seat Frame could be an excellent pick.
And if you are on a budget, then the Q-Snap Frame should be the best option. It isn’t very supportive, but it is very easy to move around.
Beginner Quilting Supplies
Fabric and Batting
First and foremost, you will want to know about the types of fabric you will need for each project, so it is important to research before starting. You should also have some scrap fabric to try out new techniques and test out new ideas with. Scrap fabric is also awesome for scrap busting.
Batting is something you need to pad your quilts, so you will always want to have that around. It comes in sheets, rolls, and sometimes attached to the fabric already, saving you a step.
Sizes to go for
Batting is available in different thicknesses, but the recommended size is 1/4″ or 1″ thick. Batting should also be mildew- or/and heat-resistant. Batting can be made from wool, cotton, and many other materials.
Fabric
Our top pick
We feel that a simpler pack of fabrics would be better for beginners, so we suggest Cotton Polyester Broadcloth Fabric by FWD, which comes in over 40 colors and different length options.
Similar items
And if you’d like something flashy and inexpensive, then Among the Flowers Quilting Fabric Charm Pack by Concord Fabrics/MDG with 80 pieces of fabric may interest you. A 160-piece version of this pack is also available.
Would like to know about Best Quilting Fabric? We’ve put together a review of some of our favorite quilting fabrics here to work with, so you can get started
Batting
Our top pick
We’d suggest the 48 inches wide and 10 yards long Bonded Dacron Polyester Batting by Mybecca. This one comes with plenty of batting, albeit not very wide.
Similar items
If you’d like something wider, then the 108 x 96-inch Queen Size Cotton Batting for Quilts by Angel Crafts may interest you more. This one is also made from natural cotton!
Or, alternatively, you could go for the Quilters Dream Natural Cotton Deluxe Batting: it is a bit smaller, but it is also made from natural cotton.
Though none of these has made it as our best Best Batting for Quilting. Want to know – what is quilting batting and why should you Care? Well, here are the answers with a list of some of our favorites to help you narrow down your options.
Thread
You’ll also need to pick what thread to use for quilting so that you know which kinds to keep in your quilt-sewing room. You can buy single spools or bulk packages with lots of colors.
Cotton is the most common thread type but there are other features to consider, such as blends, strengths, and decorative capability. There are also some threads specifically made for machine and hand quilting, so consider this as well.
Our top pick
We’d recommend Simthread’s pack that includes 63 different colors. Rather than get colors separately, why not buy them all at once?
Similar quilting threads
- Embroidex 40-color pack
- 12-piece 1422-yard pack by Aurifil
- Dark-color 1422-yard 4-pack by Aurifil
- Connecting Threads Set of 5 (salt & pepper colors)
- Foamily 6000-yard white 4-pack
- 1422-yard 3-pack (white+dove+light beige) by Aurifil
- 1422-yard white 1-pack by Aurifil
You can start with any one of the list above. However, in the article Best Thread for Quilting – we’ve put together some of our favorite quilting threads that you can use for different kinds of quilting. These threads are tried, tested, and true – and will help to ensure your final product looks beautiful for years to come.
Thread Rack
You might need a thread rack for keeping your threads organized as well as for better visual. Please don’t misunderstand the picture above, that rack is not included with the thread pack :). You need to buy it separately.
Our top pick
We’d suggest for US Art Supply Premium Beechwood 60-Spool Sewing & Embroidery Thread Rack. It’s really very useful and very reasonable in price. Here it is how it looks.
Similar thread racks
You can go for the similar one HAITRAL 60-Spool Sewing Thread Rack Wooden Embroidery Thread Organizer, or Hard Birchwood 60 Spool Thread Rack Organizer for Sewing Quilting Embroidery Spools and Mini Cones.
Looking for a bigger one, then you can consider Hardwood 120 Spool Thread Rack with Wall Hanging Hardware for Sewing Quilting Embroidery threads Mini Cones. US Art Supply also has a 120 Spool Sewing & Embroidery Thread Rack.
You can start with any one of the list above. However, in the article Best Sewing Thread Racks for Quilting – we’ve put together some of our top favorite quilting thread racks that will help you to organize your threads from getting unspooled and tangled!
Pins
Pins will be your BFF as you start your journey into quilting. They keep things from moving around and make sure that your points actually meet!
Quilting pins are long and have colorful plastic or glass spheres on their non-pointed ends. You can use any kind of straight pin but using those with colorful ends will help you find them quickly. In fact, the color of the fabric and the pins should be different so you don’t lose them.
Our top pick
We really like Dritz Quilter’s Pins 500-pack! It is cheap yet comes with plenty of pins!
Similar pin packs
- JoyFamily 200-pack
- TECH-P 200-pack (comes in 2 boxes)
- Dritz Quilter’s Pins 175-pack
- Dritz Quilter’s Pins 100-pack
We’d also advise you to get a pack of pin safety covers. We’d suggest going for this 200-pack by Paula Jean.
Want to know – What are quilting pins used for? What are the different types of quilting pins? What is the ideal material for the quilting pins? What are the most reputable manufacturers of quilting pins? Well, in the article Best Quilting Pins for Piecing we’ll get all your questions answered! Take a look if you’re interested.
Clips
Clips help you keep the binding in place during the sewing. Picking clips is very simple, but you should pick durable ones so they serve you for a long time.
Our top pick
The 130-pack of clips by Gbateri is great for large projects. Clips of various sizes are included!
Similar clips
If you don’t need such an abundance of clips, then you could choose the 100-pack by MumCraft (2.5×0.8×1.3cm clips). Or maybe you’d prefer Kuqqi’s pack of 100 2.7x1x1.5cm clips.
Safety pins
Like regular pins, safety pins are used to fix fabrics in place. However, thanks to their design, they hold the fabric more securely and will allow you to avoid sticking yourself. They aren’t as quick to place and remove as regular pins, so they are better for areas that need to be fixed for a long time.
Our top pick
We’d recommend you to go for the 720-pack by Pllieay. It includes 6 sizes and 4 colors, so it is a very versatile pack.
Similar safety pin packs
- Pllieay 140-pack (7 sizes, 4 colors). This one is a great alternative to our top pick if you want a smaller pack
- LEFV silver 1000-pack, The shape of these pins makes them easier to grip
- LEFV red 300-pack
- LEFV bronze 500-pack
Wrapping it up!
Now that you have the list of essentials quilting tools and supplies for Beginners, you’re just one step away from starting your journey. And that step is buying the quilting tools you require.
Since there are many kinds of quilting instruments in various price categories out there, you’ll need to know your budget limits. Once you know them, you just have to go and get the tools and supplies that we pointed out! If you liked them, of course.
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