Is anyone familuar with tools for quilting/sewing??

Question

I would like to know was are some must haves for a quilter and for general sewing.

Also what tool could be bought that helps make fabric squares for quilting?. The person who will use this has a very shakey hand and has a hard time making straight outlines and cutting straight lines. Is there something that does the cutting/outlines, what is it called?

Answer 1

These are all great answers, so I won't duplicate the info about rotary cutters, mats, rulers, and other supplies for quilting and sewing.

However, there are a couple of items that can help the person with the unsteady hands. One is a rotary cutting system called Alto's Quilt Cut 2 (http://www.quiltcut.com/ ). It isn't cheap, but it is very sturdy and can make cutting much easier. The ruler is attached to the platform so it doesn't slide around. You use a regular rotary cutter, but some people can actually use the system one handed. This would be a great system for someone who has trouble holding the ruler steady.

Since she may have trouble holding the rotary cutter steady, another option is a ruler with cutter attached. Fiskars makes a product called a Craft & Quilting Cutter (http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Craft-Quil... ) that is a 24" acrylic ruler with the cutter attached. If she can hold the ruler in place, the rotary cutter will not waver. This option is much more affordable than the Quilt Cut 2.

The most expensive option, but also the most accurate and easiest to use, is a die cutting machine. Fabric is harder to cut than paper so she can't just use a craft machine. Accucut has several different machines and a huge variety of dies especially for fabric and quilting. (http://www.accucutquilt.com/ ) This requires no steadiness - you load the die, place the fabric on top of it, then pull a handle to roll the press over it. Open it and you'll have perfectly cut shapes. You can get strips, squares, triangles, circles, and every appliqué shape you can imagine. They even have dies for making rag quilts, with the fringe already cut.

Answer 2

The best way to cut good neat squares for quilting is with a rotary cutter, a mat to cut on, and a decent set of quilting rulers.  I manage fine with a large cutting mat, a 24.5 by 6.5 quilting ruler, a 4.5 by 12.5 ruler, and a selection of rotary cutters.

If the person has trouble with their hands, using an ergonomic rotary cutter could help a lot.  The shape helps to guide the correct hand position, putting less stress on it, which could be very important.

I use Creative Grids rulers, like these: http://www.creativegrids.com/acatalog/Cr...

I have several cutting mats.  A self-healing one is the best sort: http://www.creativegrids.com/acatalog/St...

I have several rotary cutters, like these:

http://www.creativegrids.com/acatalog/in...

http://www.fiskars.com/pImages/GB/137957...

http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/95...

Here are a couple of good places to find out about rotary cutting techniques:

http://www.quiltuniversity.com/rotary_cu...

http://www.ideas-for-quilting.com/rotary...

For a general list of useful sewing tools, take a look at this list from my web site: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/K...

Answer 3

  

     I have come across some mail order fabric stores that have various sizes of fabric already cut.  There are many shapes as well,ie: bears, squares,sunbonnet sue, cats, dogs, etc.

      This would help with the cutting and be alot safer.

Answer 4

They now have a tool that you can lay your fabric on and use your hand to push the cutter  down the desired length of the fabric. You have to  have a good cutting mat (self healing is best) Omnigrid makes really good ones. Nancy's notions or Joann's sells most all you'll need to quilt.

1.Good self healing cutting mat with grid lines for helping to align the fabric.

2.rotary cutter

3.clear acrylic ruler 6 x 24 & 6 x12 also.

4.A Good Pair of scissors.(limit to fabric use only)

5.Walking foot for even fabric feed.

6.1/4 inch quilting foot for accurate seams.

7.Good Quality sewing/quilting thread. Not the cheap stuff.Coats & Clarks Is ok,It does create alot of lint,but still a good thread.

8.Cotton batting If you're making a quilt.

9.Glass head pins.They dont have to be removed when Ironing.

10.Quilter's curved saftey pins,to baste your quilt with if you're going to machine grid quilt your quilt project.

Here's the web site to Nancy's Notion's

http://www.nancysnotions.com

http://www.joanns.com

Here's the web site for the all-in-one cutter

http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/sup...

Answer 5

A rotary cutter with a specially-designed ruler is a good solution.  It's like a very sharp pizza cutter, and you line it up against a rigid ruler and push.  It's a lot easier, and a lot more accurate than using a scissors.  It does require a special cutting mat, so there is some investment involved, but if you're planning to make quilts, it's really the way to go.

You can buy them at any quilt store, and my local Jo-Ann's also carries them.

Jean S.