| WARNING: This article is for comic relief only and | | | | duct tape and chain mail, but they are all either too |
| should be read as such. Do not take this to the quilting | | | | bulky, too expensive, or too hard to work with. |
| store and ask the nice lady for everything on the list. | | | | 5. Cutting mat - used with the rotary cutter to protect |
| Remember the old saw, "For want of a nail, the | | | | the work surface and keep the rotary blade from |
| kingdom was lost"? It is that way in quilting. Use the | | | | getting dull. It also does an excellent job at keeping |
| wrong tool, or try to quilt without the correct tool, and | | | | blood off the work surface when the rotary cutter |
| your masterpiece could end up in the scrap bag. | | | | goes a-skitterin'. |
| In an attempt to keep fabric shredding to a minimum, | | | | 6. First aid kit with butterfly bandages. |
| here is an exhaustive list of items that every quilter | | | | Think you have everything? Not quite. Here are four |
| needs: | | | | more priceless items to have that you will not see on |
| 1. Sewing machine - make sure it is good and hefty, | | | | any other "Quilting Supplies" list: |
| and can stand up to being glared and cussed at. Even | | | | 1. Needle nose pliers to use when the sewing machine |
| if I have to get an old refurbished sewing machine, I | | | | needle decides to fall out of its clamp and jam up the |
| always look for one with a steel case. They do not | | | | works. |
| melt as easily under such intense pressure. | | | | 2. Wire cutters for obstinate needles that will not come |
| 2. Rotary cutter - or as I like to call it: Sharp Implement | | | | out with the pliers. |
| of Disaster. It looks like a pizza cutter but is five times | | | | 3. Magnifying glass to hunt for needle bits that have |
| as sharp. Very efficient at slicing through layers of | | | | fallen into the shuttle when wire cutters were used. |
| fabric and tips of fingers. Even when using the 24" x | | | | 4. Safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying |
| 3" ruler as a cutting guide and safety device, the rotary | | | | needle bits. |
| cutter can skitter across 3" of plastic quicker than bare | | | | If I had had these four little items, I would not have had |
| feet on a hot sidewalk. | | | | to replace a sewing machine (which was plastic), a |
| 3. 24" Ruler - used for cutting a straight line through | | | | window and a big chunk of front yard. That is another |
| and drawing long quilting lines on fabric. It is also | | | | reason why I buy metal sewing machines: they hold up |
| supposed to protect your fingers from the rotary | | | | better when they go through a window and a-skitterin' |
| cutter while slicing through material, but at only | | | | across the grass. |
| ¼" thick, it does not do a very good job. | | | | Now that you have all your sewing and safety |
| 4. Some sort of finger protection. I have tried leather, | | | | equipment, do not forget to add fabric and have fun! |