BQTC #4 Quilting Tools
31/08/08 14:32
Welcome back quilters!
As usual, I have been busy quilting and nearly forgot to put this lesson up this week. I got side tracked putting together the perfect Beginner Block of The Month Club
Anyway, on with this week’s lesson.
So far in our series, we have discussed choosing quilting patterns, selecting fabric for our projects, and what threads are suitable for quilting.
This time around I would like to introduce you to the tools that you will need to get quilting. If you haven't already begun shopping for these items then let me prepare you for the reality which you will soon face. Quilting is not a cheap hobby. There is an investment to be made; acquiring tools which make quilting easy, fast, and fun.
However, if you are the type of person who cares for and looks after their belongings, then these tools, will truly last you many many years. Perhaps you are asking "Why do I need all these expensive rulers, cutters, etc?'. To be totally honest.... you can get by without. It's true.
You could simply purchase some good quality scissors, and some template plastic. You could spend hours and hours, tracing the templates onto fabric swatches, and then spend hours longer cutting all those little bits of fabric out. Let me tell you though, that professional quilters, have spent loads of time designing and producing products which are meant to save the average quilters time - and mind.
I have personally encountered many quilters who believed in the early days, that they would rather quilt like their Grandma, using templates, and good old scissors. Want to know what everyone of them admitted? Those early projects still sit, stuffed in some closet, forgotten and neglected, because, they did not want to invest the time that was actually needed to complete them! Now that is a shame, and a big waste of money!
So here, I will show you just the basics, the bare essentials that you will need, and at the end, I will provide you with sources to find these products, in case they are not readily available in your area.
First, meet The Rotary Cutter.
Always close the protective cover when not in use, even if you are intending to use it again right away. You never know what could happen! My first rotary cutter was Unique brand, and came in a beginner quilter package with a ruler and cutting mat. It worked very well for my beginner projects, but I wore it out quite quickly - along with the rest of the tools.
Luckily it was a gift from my Mommy, so my first investment in tools went straight towards top of the line brands. The best brand for rotary cutters is OLFA. I have also found Fiskars (a brand designed for scrapbookers) to be very good.
What to look for in a cutter
There are 3 sizes of rotary cutter available. The smallest is 30 mm, then 45 mm, and lastly 60 mm. The most common and the size I would recommend is the 45 mm. I'm sure you will discover a need for the other sizes for some future project, but the 45 mm will get you off to a great start. There are several different types of handles available as well.
Some have pretty designs, some are pink in support of beast cancer, there are special blade covers, and even ergonomic handles.
Personally, I purchased a plain straight handled basic rotary cutter by OLFA. My Mom has an ergonomic one that she swears is the best thing EVER. It was quite pricey, but she can even cut fabric while sitting which could be good when cutting like a queen size quilt.
Next, The Rotary Cutting Mat.
One should never cut on a angle, or you will end up with damage to the mat. The cutting mats must always be stored flat since they warp very easily, and you never, ever want to expose to hot or cold. This means do not buy it on your lunch hour and keep it in your trunk on a hot sunny day.
These mats will curl and warp and crack if not treated nicely, and then.... you have to buy another one!
So what do I put on my shopping list?
The minimum size of cutting mat that you should purchase is 18 by 24 inches. This will give you enough room to complete any project, and the mat is still very portable. Personally I bought a huge 24 by 36 inches, but it was on sale and came with a FREE cutter. Yup you know me and the free stuff, sucked in everytime.
Eventually you will find cool mats that flip over to be a surface for pressing, or wee tiny mats, ideal for doing paper piecing. Add to your collection as needed but stick with the basics just to get started. Good brands that I would recommend for cutting mats are Olfa, Omnigrid, or Fiskars.
The Rotary Cutting Ruler.
First is a 6 by 24 inch ruler for doing all your piece cutting. There is also a new ruler available that measures 8 by 24 inches which you could buy instead. It can be nice when cutting an extra wide border but if you can only find the 6 inch, it will do just fine. The second ruler that is good to have is a square ruler, and I recommend a 12.5 by 12.5. This will allow you to square any size of block up to 12 inches.
As you progress in ability and try different types of patterns you may wish to buy rulers that make cutting easier. There are rulers for cutting triangles, for cutting multiple pieces at once, and even rulers for cutting circles - best idea ever, by the way! For now you can get by with these 2 rulers which I've described above.
Where can you find these quilting supplies?
Now I realize, not everyone has the luxury of 8 quilt shops in their local area. One good place that has a lot of quilting supplies is EBay.com. They often feature sales and discounts on shipping which can be a great incentive. Shopping by mail is fabulous for Canadians, as we can actually save a bit of money on tools and fabric.
This brings us to the end of lesson #4. Next week I will talk about Sewing Machines, which just happens to be my favorite subject, so I can hardly wait.
If you are itching to get started, I have just put together a Beginner Block of the Month Club for all my Visitors. There is a limited quantity, so if you are interested have a look here and sign up today... Block of The Month Club
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