Welcome to Quilt Clinic
These posts are from the archive of my Substack - this was originally sent to subscribers on 3rd January, 2023
Hello,
Welcome to my paid subscriber newsletter, Quilt Clinic. In this space I will be sharing tips and answering questions about quilting. This is the first month I’m running this and it’s free to all, but from February onwards it will be for paid subscribers only.
I’m going to start the first few months with my most asked questions, please get in touch if you have a new one to include!
This month I’m sharing my quilting kit. Most of you will already have this together, but it’s a nice starting point. Next month I will be focusing on a quilting technique.
My basic quilt kit:
I see a lot of people new to quilting feeling like they have to buy all the new tools and notions to get started. In my workshops I tell everyone that you really don’t need half of that stuff, it’s my opinion but I’ve been making quilts for years now and really don’t have much kit.
I’m still learning, this is what has worked for me over the years and these are the tools I use most days. Sometimes I’ll add in a tool that would really help with what I’m working on, but the most useful things I have ever needed has been advice and then what’s listed below.
Pencils
Fabric scissors
Pins
Measuring tape
Machine threads
Quilting needles (I’ve started using milliners needles as I find them longer so better for hand quilting)
Unpicker/Seam ripper
Quilting thread (pictured is some sashiko and linen thread. You could use cotton perle, machine quilting cotton; anything that is strong enough)
Sewing machine & iron (not pictured!)
Bonus Extras:
Rotary cutter
Butter knife
Thimble (I prefer a leather one but my dog has taken to finding them and eating them :) )
Ruler (This is my favourite tool and is great for patchwork cutting and making lines for quilting)
Cutting mat (not pictured)
I know a lot of you will already have most, if not all of the basic kit, so here are the other tools I added in once I knew I was going to stick with it. Rotary cutters are my nemesis. I really do love/hate mine. For work like my stockings where efficiency and speed is needed, its been great, but I mostly love sitting quietly and cutting patchwork pieces out slowly with scissors. So that is why it’s on the ‘bonus’ list and not the must haves. For you, that might be different and you think scissors are a waste of time! I also would be listing some little snips in here, as I loved mine but have misplaced them in a studio move and haven’t yet replaced them. I’m hoping a miracle delivers them to my desk before that happens, but it’s been nearly a year.
I hope this was helpful? Let me know! Are there any tools you can’t live without that I haven’t mentioned?
Over the coming months I will share a bit more about my own practice and how I plan and create a quilt. Please get in touch if you have a specific question or problem and I will help cover it. I will be back again at the end of February for another Quilt Clinic!
Lucy x
