Wait, What Do I Need for Quilting? A Guide to Beginner Quilting Supplies

Are you thinking about trying quilting for the first time but need clarification about where to start? I totally understand how overwhelming it can seem when you look into what you might need, but rest assured, I am going to show you the beginner quilting supplies that you need to make your first quilt. 

I started quilting about six years ago and have been consistently creating quilts since, so I have plenty of experience with various sewing and quilting supplies. In this post, we will discuss the essentials for beginner quilting.

How Much Do Basic Quilt Supplies Cost?

This is an excellent question since investing in a new hobby can quickly get expensive. Assuming you already have a sewing machine, the remaining quilting essentials we’ll discuss later in this post, should cost around $150.

Of course, I always recommend looking for sales or buying used quilting supplies if you’re on a tight budget. All of these items go on sale often at your local craft stores,  and you could easily cut that initial cost in half if you wait for sales or purchase items in a set. 

One thing to remember is that quilting fabric is not cheap, and since you need fabric for every quilt you make, it’s essential to keep an eye open for sales and discounts when possible. I go over my tips and tricks for finding the best deals on fabric in this post here. It was written about finding holiday fabric deals, but you apply any suggestions to any type of themed fabric. 

Later in this post, when we discuss the individual items, I’ll give an average price for each thing so you can have a rough idea of how much each item will cost. 

Hand Quilting Supplies

So, say you don’t want to quilt with a sewing machine, but you want to learn the centuries-old craft of hand-quilting. You’re in luck because you only need a few inexpensive items to start with hand-quilting. Here’s what you will need.

• Hand-quilting needles: I suggest using a size eight needle that has a large eye for threading, but you can experiment and figure out what you like best. 
• Thimble: Pushing the needle through several layers of fabric repeatedly will give you a sore thumb. I definitely recommend picking up a thimble to protect your fingers. You can choose from plastic, metal, silicone, and even leather thimbles. 
• Thread: There are several different types of threads that you can use for hand-quilting. The thread you choose will depend on the look you are going for and how thick your quilt sandwich is. Most hand-quilters stick with medium-weight threads.
• Quilting hoop: Quilting hoops come in various shapes and sizes. I recommend starting with a smaller circular hoop to see if you enjoy hand-quilting. Then later, you can invest more money into a larger lap hoop or free-standing quilting hoop. 
• Marking tool: When you are quilting, you want to mark your quilt to know where to place your stitches. We’ll discuss marking tools more in-depth later in this post.

Can I Quilt on a Regular Sewing Machine?

This is probably one of the largest misconceptions regarding quilting, especially for beginners. You do NOT have to have a huge fancy longarm machine to create beautiful quilting designs on your quilts. 

You can use a regular domestic sewing machine to do all sorts of quilting designs, from straight-line quilting to free-motion quilting. Yes, longarm quilting machines are fantastic, and they can be complex and breathtaking designs, but spending thousands upon thousands of dollars is out of the question for many of us. 

For a beginner quilter, I recommend using a walking foot (it helps move the quilt evenly through the machine) and creating straight-line quilting on their first few quilts. It’s a lot of fun, looks great, and it gets you used to the feel of moving a quilt through a sewing machine.

Quilting Supplies List for Beginners

Now comes the fun part: actually talking about all the fun beginner quilting supplies that you need to make your first quilt. If I was to start all over, these are the supplies I would invest in first to make beautiful quilts. 

1. Rotary Cutter and Mat

A rotary cutter and mat are a must for quilting since they cut (pun intended) down on time and effort to cut your quilt pieces perfectly. Rotary cutters come in a few sizes, but a 45mm blade is the most common. I recommend the brands Fiskar or Olfa. They are both well-known brands and have lasted for years. When not on sale, a rotary cutter will cost around $20.

Cutting mats allow you to use your rotary cutter on any surface without cutting into it. The standard size for a cutting mat is 18” x 24”. Sold on its own, it will cost about $30, but you can find a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler set on Amazon like this one for $32. That’s a great deal!

2. Quilting Ruler

Quilting rulers come in all shapes and sizes and can cost quite a bit per ruler, depending on which ones you buy. If you are just starting, I recommend having a 6” x 24” ruler and, possibly, a 9 ½” square ruler. Those will help you cut a wide variety of square sizes, as well as cut up yardage easily. 

Omnigrid is an excellent brand of rulers like this 9 ½” ruler which costs around $18 on its own. However, you can find a value pack for $25 that has several other square sizes. The 6” x 24” will cost around $20 if you purchase a la carte. 

3. Small Scissors

I recommend having a pair of small scissors for trimming threads or cutting hard-to-cut pieces of fabric. You don’t have to purchase expensive scissors, and you should be able to find a pair for around $10.

4. Seam Ripper

The seam ripper is probably the most misunderstood sewing tool. Many people hate the seam ripper, but I see it as a tool that allows you to try again! Again, you don’t need a fancy, pricey seam ripper to get the job done. I’ve had mine for a few years and paid around $5 for it. 

5. Marking Tool(s)

There are several types of marking tools on the market. You can use water-soluble ink pens, chalk pencils, chalk and pounce pad, hera markers, tracing wheels, or even painter’s tape. 

I would recommend any of these choices; however, if you are going to use something with ink, I highly recommend you do a test marking on a scrap piece of fabric first to make sure the ink really will come out either with heat or water. Most marking utensils cost below $10. 

6. Thread

I like to use cotton thread for all of my quilts. It is sturdy and a natural fiber, so I know it will stand the test of time. Many quilters also use polyester thread for their quilts. Try out a few different threads to find your preferred one. Depending on the type of thread you choose and the brand, you will spend between $3 to $15 per spool. 

7. Pins

I have written an entire post on sewing pins which you can check out if you would like a full breakdown of the various types. For quilting, I would recommend having two pins: safety pins for basting and straight pins for piecing together quilt blocks. The cost of pins varies, but you should expect to pay around $8 per pack. 

8. Iron and Ironing Board

Most of you probably already have an iron and ironing board, and if you do, that’s great! Don’t go out and purchase a fancy iron just yet. A regular home iron works fine for pressing seams and ironing out wrinkles. If you have a tough wrinkle, try using a pressing spray like Best Press. 

If you don’t have an iron and ironing board, I recommend buying an entry-level regular iron. You should be able to get an iron and ironing board from Walmart or Amazon for under $50. Once you know that quilting will be a committed hobby, then you can splurge on a fancy iron. 

And there you have it! Those are the best quilting supplies I can recommend to beginner quilters. Feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions you may have about starting your quilting adventures. I’m more than happy to help in any way that I can!

Happy Stitches!