Quilt Along Week 1 Supplies You Need to Make a Quilt

UPDATE: Comments now closed. Winners of the Olfa sets will be posted Thursday, May 21, 2009. Some time before lunch.

Check back again next week for Week 2 of the quilt along and more great giveaways.




People ask me all the time about quilting. What do you need? How do you learn? Is it hard?

I'm going to spell out exactly what you need right here.

You can learn from a friend, book, a class at your local quilt store, or you can wing it. How about you learn right here over the next 6 weeks? Ok? Good.

And, no, it is not hard once you know what you are doing.

So let's go.



Last summer I gave away this quilt and for months afterward people emailed me asking about the pattern and if I would share it with them. There was no pattern. Just me putting fabric that I liked together. Winging it. Hoping for the best.

That is exactly the "pattern" we are going to make here.

You will need 12 different 1/2 yard cuts of quilting cotton fabric for the quilt top. One yard of quilting cotton for the binding. We'll talk about the batting and backing at a later date. Make sense?

In other words you need a 1/2 yard of each of 12 different prints for the quilt top and 1 yard of one print for the binding.

I'm using the summer color way of Paula Prass' Flights of Fancy.



You need a pair of sewing scissors. Ones dedicated only to cutting fabric.



You need straight pins and pin cushions.

A little about the straight pins . . . buy ones specifically for quilting. They are longer than your standard straight pins. They are usually sold in packs of 100 so get a couple of packs. Better to have too many than not enough.

And you need more than one pin cushion. I have 3 so that I can keep one by my sewing machine, one on my cutting table and one at my ironing board. That way you don't have to carry it with you everywhere you go.









You need thread. Duh. But I have found that quality of thread really makes a difference. I love, love, love Mettler thread. I love it so much I want to marry it.

When buying thread be sure to get several spools. I do most of my quilt assembly sewing with white, natural or gray thread. You won't see these stitches so just pick something that works well for you. While you are buying thread, it is a good time to remember what color your binding fabric is and to purchase thread that will match that. Or rather, blend with that. If your binding is going to be red then get red thread.

Isn't that aqua thread heavenly? And that red! Have I mentioned my love for Mettler thread?






You also need a rotary cutter, a rotary cutting mat and a straight edge in which to use them both. I use Olfa rotary cutters, mats and straight edges. They are pricey but worth every penny. Guaranteed.

While you are at it be sure to buy extra blades for your rotary cutter.




Finally, you will need an iron, a sewing machine (Not an absolute necessity. I mean you could do it by hand easily enough.), and ironing board. You do not want a picture of my ironing board. Trust me. It would make you want to hide under your coffee table and suck your thumb. I really need to make a new cover. And I shall. Someday.

So, I thought I would give away some Olfa goods!




I will give 9 sets of Olfa goodness to 9 different winners. Each set includes:

1 Olfa 12"x12" rotating self-healing rotary mat
1 Olfa 45 mm quick change rotary cutter
1 Olfa 6"x12" frosted non-slip ruler



You'll like the easy blade change capability of this cutter.








Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win one of the Olfa sets. Let me know that you are participating in the quilt along and that you have run over to Flickr and joined the Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Along 2009 group.

I'll leave the comments open until 7pm EDST on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 and randomly pick the winners soon there after. Due to the shipping cost, this particular contest is open to US residents only. But don't fret . . . there will be others that will be open internationally. And they will be good. Scouts honor.

Ok. So. Now, you know what supplies you need and you have a week to get them together. May the force be with you.

-dana

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