Anybody do patchwork quilting - what tools do you use?

[wangle99]

My MIL has recently taken up patchwork quilting, she has a birthday coming up soon and thought might be a perfect opportunity to buy her something to use!

What tools do you use? I can have a peek to see if she has it already.

Thank you!

Hmm, not sure there are all that many tools you could buy for this activity. Not that I've made that many patchwork quilts in my time, but it is really needle and thread/sewing machine job is it not?

So...how about a lovely little sewing kit (although she alreadly has one probably?). Or how about a little pair of antique sewing scissors, they are a lovely gift. Or a thimble?

Or...a selection of liberty fabric squares (think you can buy them in 30cm square pieces) to incorporate into her work.

Or...a book on the subject.

Any of that any good??!

Yes a special wheel that looks like a pizza cutter, and a special rubbery mat that goes with it, are very useful, and you can get them at patchwork/sewing shops or John Lewis.

A sewing basket or box is also good because you need somewhere to keep all the bits you've cut up, ready to use. I have a woolly knitting bag for this that DP bought me from a knitting shop, it's perfect and I loved being given it.

Another idea would be a selection of quilting fabrics in complementary colours, eg creams and pinks - but selecting them might be part of what she enjoys so I'd check out the other things first.

Yes,rotary cutter,self healing mat,big ruler all essential. She probably has all she needs already tbh if she quilts.

You could get her a book of patterns but again very personal thing.

Thank you, I don't think she has one of those pizza wheel cutters - I will discreetly enquire!

I always wanted to make myself a patchwork quilt but having seen how intricate it is I've gone off that idea

Wangle,it isn't hard.
Time consuming yes (but a great way to utilise the odd 20 mins-when mine are on the go I have them out permanently on the kitchen table) but not commplicated.

I feel another quilt coming on...

Am assuming that she has the basic supplies such as pins etc. A rotary cutter is a must; a cutting mat - I think it's worth spending on this as they are not all equal and get a big one; rulers/squares - there are a variety of these or you could get her a June Tailor Shape Cut Plus - I wouldn't go back to using a ruler after using this gizmo. Or you could get her little bits and pieces such as fabric markers, you get water erasible and air erasible ones, curved quilting safety pins to hold the layer together etc.

There are lots of patterns about and you could, eg, get her some patterns for Christmassy things. You can also buy them in kits so all the fabrics and sometimes the batting and backing are included.

These are a couple of my favourite on-line resources - Daisy Chain Designs has some great patterns and kits.

www.daisychaindesigns.com/ If you look under Kits>Weekend Quilt, there's kit for a lap quilt in funky fabrics and is v suitable for a beginner.

www.quiltroom.co.uk/

Or, what about taking her the the quilt show at the NEC, think it's 18th and 19th of August?

if she has a rotary cutter but not a proper quilting ruler that would be a good one - they're expensive but very very handy, a square one's prolly most useful, 6 1/2" or 9 1/2" or 12 1/2".

personally if someone got me a gift voucher (or equivalent, not sure they do vouchers) for equilter.com i'd love them forever. even with international shipping (and possible customs) they're great value and the choice is fantastic.

like the liberty suggestion too.

Or a subscription to one of the quilting magazines? You usually get a free gift as well when you sign up.
Not sure which one is best yet as I'm relatively new to patchwork myself. But I would LOVE that as a gift.

Thanks everyone. Just been informed its 5 months to Christmas so perhaps have enough ideas here for birthday AND Christmas!!!

Thanks ladies.