Stuff, Stuff and More Stuff

We're coming to an end of the "must-have stuff" list.  Thank Heaven!!!
If you haven't realized it before now, quilting requires a lot of "stuff."  Some stuff is a "must have" and some stuff is a "it would be nice to have" and some stuff is "I MUST HAVE" because it just looks like fun!

And, people are out there thinking up more cool quilt stuff all the time.
That's what makes quilt shows so much fun...all the vendor's booths!

Road To California Quilter's Showcase
January, 2015 Ontario California

I came home from the Road to California Quilters Showcase with a nifty gadget, which I will show you later in this post...

Ok, enough of that rabbit trail.

Quarter Inch foot: Unlike constructing clothing items, quilt seams are 1/4 inch (sometimes a "scant" 1/4 inch.)  Using a quarter-inch foot is very helpful.

Here is a You Tube video on using the Quarter-Inch Foot (everything you ever wanted to know, eh?)


Quarter inch seams are SOOOO Important!  If you are even a smig over or under, your block will not measure accurately. So, check the accuracy of your quarter-in foot.  (Follow this link)

Seam Ripper:  Only God is perfect, you will still need one of these.

The very first quilt block I made was part of a BOM (Block of the Month) I participated in at a GREAT store in Portland, OR,  Cool Cottons. 

They gave us the fabric we'd need and the instructions for that month's block.  I went back to the store 8 times for help!!!  (Absolutely true)  I ripped it out so many times the fabric began to fray...I had to buy more fabric!  (I did eventually catch on.)
So, you will still need a seam ripper...We lovingly refer him as "Jack" (as in Jack the ripper.)

BOM Blocks from Cool Cottons

Here is my one and only gadget I bought at
The Road to California last weekend.
I'll let you know how well it works.

The next big thing is RULERS

We use rulers to cut the fabric that will make up the blocks.  There are hundreds of sizes of rulers.  Ok, I may be exaggerating just a bit.  But there are a lot of sizes of rulers and lots of specialty rulers.

You do need a couple rulers to start.  I have about 12 or 15 rulers.  But I didn't accumulate them all at once.  I started out with a nice, long, wide ruler and a square ruler.

A "good sized" ruler will be 6" wide and 25" long. (Look Here)

A ruler this long can be hard to control.

♫♪♫♪ Slip Slidin Away ♫♪♫♪ 

So I use a handy device called a "Gypsy Gripper" to help hold the ruler in place (and keep my pinkies out of the way.)

Gypsy Gripper

A Gypsy Gripper "suctions" to the ruler.  When using your rotary cutter, using slight pressure on the Gypsy Gripper will hold that ruler just where you want it. Very nifty.

Pick one up at Jo-Ann's-- use your coupon.
(Are you seeing a pattern here?  Jo-Ann's and her coupons are good for quilting "stuff.")





Bobbins and A Bobbin Holder:  Not much to say about these.  You want to have enough bobbins that when you run out of bobbin thread you don't have to stop and wind a bobbin.  I have about 20.  They are not expensive.  If you do need to buy more, take one with you to make sure you get the right kind for your machine.

Sewing Machine Needles:  I use two kinds: Schmetz or Klasse (Just depends on what store I am in when I decide I need them.)  The main thing to remember is the size; 80/12 Sharps and don't buy the cheapest brand.

A lot of quilters I know use "Universal" needles.  They are OK...they are not as sharp as "Sharps."  Sharps will glide through your fabric better (I was told by a published quilter, Lauren Smith.)



Marking Pens:  You need two kinds; one for marking light fabrics and one for marking dark fabrics.  Here are the two I like:


For marking light fabrics nothing beats FriXion Pens.
 I have black, blue and red.  The touch of a warm iron will magically "erase" the markings.  I can't say enough good  about these pens.

For marking dark fabrics I use a Bohin mechanical pencil, white.  I just like  the feel of it in my hand. (And, the Bohin man in his booth at the Road to California gave me a free pen because I mentioned in passing the one I had was broken... how nice was that!)

Straight Pins and a Pin Cushion:  You probably already have these.  Long-ish pins are great.  I pin my pieces together before sewing.  It is so frustrating to get everything situated under the presser foot and right at the last minute the pieces shift...arrrrrggggg!!!!
 

Ginghers

  Thread Snips:  I should have posted this with the Scissors.

  While not a "must have" these really make quilting life sweet!

  These are my favorite.  They are spendy, but you are worth it!!!  I have two pair; one pair at my sewing machine and one pair at my ironing station.


 

And, finally, you need some place to store all this junk...ah... I mean "important stuff."
You know that old tackle box from Uncle Mel?  There ya go.... (as long as it doesn't smell like fish bait...just sayin.)

Any storage box will do

That's it!  Whew!  It is not everything you will acquire in your quilting life, but these are the items I really like and tend to use the most (keeping in mind I am still a "baby" quilter by most standards..)

See ya next time...