The right tools can make a project so much quicker and more comfortable; Quilting is no different.

Beginners often need guidance on what to purchase, what to leave behind, and on what to splurge. If you have used fabric for other purposes, you may already have some of these items on hand.

Once you have decided to make a quilt, your scissors, shears or rotary cutter will be one of your most-used pieces of equipment. Rotary cutter blades are very sharp, and the Sew Easy 45mm Rotary Cutter has as soft grip and an Auto blade Guard to keep fingers safe. The Olfa Ergonomic Rotary cutters are made in Japan and are designed to accommodate standard and decorative blades. It also features a dual-action safety mechanism. It is comfortable for both right and left-handed users.

For scissors, we recommend the Triumph Spring Form Soft Grip scissors as the ergonomic handle, and flat bottom makes cutting out squares straightforward. Shears will help on more delicate projects such as a cathedral quilt we recommend the Mundial 203mm Heavy Duty Tailors Shears which slide easily through the fabric.

A cutting mat will provide an excellent surface to use with your rotary cutter. A medium or a large-sized self-healing holding mat with both metric and imperial markings will protect your cutting surfaces and keep your rotary blade sharp. Cutting mats do need to be stored flat, and A folding cutting mat is something to consider if space is of a premium.

In addition to a mat and rotary blade, owning a ruler will provide a straight edge to cut against for consistent results. Our most popular ruler is Sew Easy Metric 60 x 16 cms Quilters Patchwork Ruler. It is perfect for cutting strips, squares, rectangles and triangles. Ideal for strip piecing, borders, bindings and sashings. It has 45 and 60-degree lines for cutting and drawing angles. They are designed for right and left-hand use. It’s a great addition to every quilters kit.

Sometimes when working with fabric, you need more than your hands to hold the lays of material together. Pins have been around forever, and if you purchase pins with glass heads, then you can iron over them. Wonder clips are durable and are a great alternative to pins, especially if working around children or in a thickly carpeted area. 

Marking tools such as Tailors Chalk is a must-have, it brushes off the fabric easily and comes in four colours to contrast against the fabric you are using. We also have a Vanishing Fabric Marker. This fine tip marker produces a very thin, fine mark which vanishes automatically or can be rinsed out in cold water. Always test a swatch of your fabric before you draw on it for the first time, especially if it’s going to be a while before you finish or wash the item.

A seam ripping tool, as mistakes happen sometimes. Going back and having another go doesn’t have to be time-consuming with a comfortable tool. We like this large Japanese made quality seam ripper.

Quilting has been around far longer than sewing machines so although you do not need a sewing machine, they sure do make Quilting easier. For those with a machine, you will need, thread, bobbins and needles. If you’re not sure what threads to purchase select a few neutral colours such as black, white, dark cream, and silver. We recommend purchasing a quality thread like Gutermann 100% Cotton Quilting thread to ensure your work lasts a lifetime.

A list of essential tools wouldn’t be complete without somewhere to store your tools. This storage box comes in both blue and pink and has a built-in bobbin holder. One of our warehouse staff has her eye on the blue one.   

We have put together Liberty of London Patchwork Packs of coordinating styles to aid you in creating your quilt with Liberty. Each pack contains 24 squares 33 cm in size and instructions to create a unique chevron single bed quilt. ⁠ There are more photos and information on our Create a quilt with Liberty of London blog post, check it out HERE.