When it comes to quilting, I’ve got just a few “necessaries”. Obviously we have to have fabric, but what about those other things?

I’ve discovered - for myself, it is a very things.

Most of you realize that I actually live in Poland. However, I have visited Florida a bit off and on since my dad passed away in 2015. I’ve been wanting to do some sewing when I’ve been here for longer than 2 days. My mom has an old sewing machine (Singer Touch ‘n Sew) but hasn’t actually used it for quite some time. My sis has had a machine as well - a small Brother. I found myself frustrated by my mom’s machines (she has a couple of Featherweights as well) as I found them somewhat difficult to use after being spoiled with my machines in Poland. My sis’s Brother worked fine - but it is little and very lightweight. And slow. Yes. It is one of those $100 machines from Walmart. It works. But I wanted something a little heavier. A screwdriver from the Dollar Tree still works, but a mechanic at the local Ford dealership probably wants something a little heavier duty for his work. I am kind of the same way. If I were a mechanic, stuck on a vacation, I might pick up a Dollar Tree Screwdriver to help fix a problem, but for constant work, I’d prefer a different quality tool.

So I found myself a Babylock on Craig’s List two years ago. It’s the twin to my Janome 1600 QCP - straight stitch only with about a 9-10” throat. The owner used to own a quilt shop, actually. I didn’t tell her who was buying her machine. :) She was really into embroidery and had done some amazing work on a new Babylock embroidery machine that would probably fix breakfast as well as embroider.

Then, I needed a big cutting mat. I’m not picky on those and I picked up a Fiskars one - a 24”x35” one. I’d prefer a 36” but it’s close enough.

Then, just recently, I found myself unhappy with the scissors that I have had to work with (older Fiskars which do need sharpening) - so I bought a 10” pair of Kai shears - like I have in Poland. They arrived today and I am a happy camper!

I also invested in a simple 45 mm Olfa Rotary cutter - the stick kind. My sis likes the more ergomatic kind, that you hold with a handle - but I find myself quite inefficient with it - and preferring the kind I had in Poland. I bought myself one.

Oh, and I asked my sis to get a 6.5”x24” Creative Grids ruler. Now I feel like I’ve got what I need to actually do the sewing I want to.

So, now I know, these are my basic “necessities”. It’s not really a whole lot of things - (I did get a magnetic pin cushion as well - and a couple of packs of pins.)

So here’s my real Basic List. I’ve added a couple of trimming down rulers as I’ve needed them for the patterns I’m doing (a 2.5” square, a 3.5” square and an 8.5” square).

If you have these things, you can piece together quilts. Promise. In my opinion, all the other gadgets, rulers and other things are beyond the basics. Often we do find ourselves needing or wanting more things to help us - and they will help - but if you have a new quilter friend - these are the things that I find necessary for my quilting/beginning piecing.

• Sewing machine - heavy duty

• 24” x 35-36” cutting mat - I bought a Fiskars as it was the cheapest kind I could find

• 45 mm rotary cutter - I really prefer the Olfa stick kind to any other kind I’ve tried so far including my Kai or Fiskars

• big 10” Kai shears

• 6.5”x24” Creative Grids ruler

• pins and a magnetic pin cushion

• a 120” soft tape measure

• I did pick up a seam ripper as well but have misplaced it - so need to get another - but for now I’m using a small pair of Fiskars embroidery scissors I’m borrowing from mom to get to those stitches that have to be picked out.

Also handy for me this time is the Electric Quilt program and a computer which is nearby so I can see what my measurements are for what I’m making.

I do have an iron and ironing board - mom had those already in the house

Have a great day wherever you are reading this! Stay safe!

Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!

Here’s one of the beauties we have!