NEW BEGINNINGS FOR 2023

Posted by Pearl Pike on 1/9/2023 to QUILTING FOR BEGINNERS
NEW BEGINNINGS FOR 2023
BEGINNER TIPS FOR NAVIGATING THE QUILTING WORLD

It's the time of year i get  new customers visiting the shop, asking what they need to start quilting.
As you know trying to navigate the quilting world of gadgets and such can be a very daunting experience.

So to make it easier i have compiled a list of your absolute must haves.
these items will help you have a successful quilting experience.

# 1; SELF HEALING CUTTING MAT.
Mats can be bought in several sizes.
the ideal size is a mat 36'' x 24''. This mat will accomodate the wide of your fabric, you will not have to move your fabric during cutting,or fold it to fit.
next size down is a mat  24'' x 18'', which is most popular with newbies, its less expensive and a decent size.

#2; RULER;
You will need a ruler, and there are lots out there,  most quilter's use the 6-1/2'' x 24-1/2'' , it is the wide of you fabric, for ease of cutting. you can do just about any cut you need to do with it. I use the creative grids rulers, the marking are easy to read, and there are rough dots on the back to help prevent slipping.

#3 ROTARY CUTTER; 
There are many different options available, try to choose one that is comfortable to you.The blade on the cutter is very sharp, make sure to  keep the guard on when not in use, and keep the fingers out of the way. Most importantly make sure blade is sharp, if you have a borrowed or old cutter might be a good idea to purchase a new blade.

#4; PINS
You will need some curved safety pins, and straight pins. Long thin flat head straight pins are best, for beginners pinning is important.

#5; MARKING TOOL;
You will need a pencil for marking on your fabric, one such as a chalk pencil that you can brush off, you can also get water soluable markers that wash off.

#6; IRON;
Pressing is an important part of quilting.Irons can run  i price from $20.00 to # $ 300.00. I would choose a middle of the road option. A decent iron can be purchased at the big box stores for around $60.00, it should be suitable. 

#7 SEWING MACHINE;
The sky is the limit when it comes to sewing machines, the price range is huge. If this is your first time sewing, you may want to borrow a machine, use a older machine that is available to you, or if you choose to purchase there are cheaper models you may want to look at.Remember you may not like this new hobby, so you may not want to spend a lot of money starting out.
Few things to keep in mind, the machine should be in good working order, be able to sew a straight,& zigzag stitch, and having the manuel would certainly be an asset.

THESE ARE YOU BASIC ESSENTIALS FOR QUILTING. IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE, SO IF YOU CAN BORROW, OR BUY SECOND HAND ALL THE BETTER. MAKE SURE THAT IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD
OF QUILTING