I've heard several quilters have long and detailed discussions about the effectiveness and usefulness of the varied tools that they use in quilting.
While just about every tool has been covered in these discussions, there was always a select range of tools that were considered 'must have ' by quilters.
So here's a catalogue of the most typical 'essential ' tools debated by quilters.
Scissors
This goes without saying, if you don't have scissors, you don't have a quilt.
Each serious quilter should have at least 2 pairs of scissors. Not 2 of the same pair of scissors, but 2 completely differing kinds of scissors. They should have your ordinary ol ' straight hand cut scissors as well as a rotary cutter.
If you're not sure what a rotary cutter is, imagine a pizza cutter which has been specially designed to work with fabrics and materials.
Its a pair of scissors that cuts as it rolls along the top of a fabric, with no necessity to work a handle open and closed while you progress. This enables you to simply cut long lengths of fabric quickly and with great precision, which is very convenient if you're working on a pattern without straight line, for example a rose quilt design.
Thus why its an essential tool.
Cutting Mats
Cutting fast and meticulously is lovely , however it wouldn't be so nice if it travelled through to the surface below!
Thats why we have cutting mats. A custom designed surface, available in a complete selection of different dimensions and shapes, designed specifically to protect your table or work-area from any random damage from scissors, knives, pins and blades.
Some creative soul also came up with the neat idea of putting rulers and pre-measured shapes in there, which is ideal for swiftly gathering the most widely used measurements and providing guiding lines for cutting!
How did we do quilting before these?
In the next installment, we will be continuing to take a look at what other things are a 'must have ' for all significant quilters!
Till then, happy quilting!
While just about every tool has been covered in these discussions, there was always a select range of tools that were considered 'must have ' by quilters.
So here's a catalogue of the most typical 'essential ' tools debated by quilters.
Scissors
This goes without saying, if you don't have scissors, you don't have a quilt.
Each serious quilter should have at least 2 pairs of scissors. Not 2 of the same pair of scissors, but 2 completely differing kinds of scissors. They should have your ordinary ol ' straight hand cut scissors as well as a rotary cutter.
If you're not sure what a rotary cutter is, imagine a pizza cutter which has been specially designed to work with fabrics and materials.
Its a pair of scissors that cuts as it rolls along the top of a fabric, with no necessity to work a handle open and closed while you progress. This enables you to simply cut long lengths of fabric quickly and with great precision, which is very convenient if you're working on a pattern without straight line, for example a rose quilt design.
Thus why its an essential tool.
Cutting Mats
Cutting fast and meticulously is lovely , however it wouldn't be so nice if it travelled through to the surface below!
Thats why we have cutting mats. A custom designed surface, available in a complete selection of different dimensions and shapes, designed specifically to protect your table or work-area from any random damage from scissors, knives, pins and blades.
Some creative soul also came up with the neat idea of putting rulers and pre-measured shapes in there, which is ideal for swiftly gathering the most widely used measurements and providing guiding lines for cutting!
How did we do quilting before these?
In the next installment, we will be continuing to take a look at what other things are a 'must have ' for all significant quilters!
Till then, happy quilting!
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Interested in more rose quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green's how to make a patchwork quilt site now!