| The Seven Wonders of the Quilting World |
By Pauline Rogers |
Published
04/18/2006
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Crafts & Hobbies
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The Seven Wonders of the Quilting World
Whether you are a beginner or an expert quilter, these tools are essential to ensure you have an enjoyable patchwork and quilting experience. - Of the many rulers available,
Creative Grid Rulers are brilliant.
The white and black lines are easy to see on any colour fabric. The best advantage
that these rulers have, are the built in grips that eliminate slipping of
fabric. These two features make
tasks much easier. Available in 6 ½ x 6 ½ square, 6 ½ x 12 ruler, 6 ½
x 24 ruler
- Clover Flower Head Pins are one of the most valuable
tools you can have in your sewing kit. They work exceptionally well for
foundation piecing, pin through your papers with ease and they lay flat
over your feed dogs as you sew. If
you have problems with your fabric moving when you are cutting, place
flower pins through the layers of fabric then place a ruler over the top
of your pins and cut your strip. The flower heads are so flat that your
ruler will fit perfectly level over the pins. They will take all the
stress out of the fabric moving.
- Clover Desk Top Needle Threader is a fantastic tool that is great
for threading any size needle. Just one click of the button threads the
needle. It is so amazing it will even thread three strands of embroidery
thread at once.
- Add a ¼ Ruler is the most useful ruler if you are making
templates and need to add a ¼ seam allowance. Make your template to the
finished measurement. When cutting out your fabric place template on
fabric, then place your Add a ¼ Ruler on top of the template. With your
rotary cutter cut along the edge of ruler. Presto, you now have your perfect
1/4 exact seam allowance.
- Kwik Clip is a fantastic tool to save your fingers. Anyone who
has pinned a quilt for machine quilting will appreciate this tool. The
Kwik Clip saves your fingers from getting sore doing up the 100s of pins.
Just simply put the Kwik Clip under the tip of the safety pin and press
upwards until the pin is closed.
- The Rotary Cutter is the best invention ever for cutting all those
pieces for patchwork. Rotary cutters come in many
sizes. The medium sized rotary cutter is the most used, as it is great for
single or multi layer. The jumbo rotary cutter is ideal for cutting
through multiple layers. The mini cutter is superb for cutting around
curves and trimming ½ square triangles back to size.
- Self-healing cutting mats are specially designed for
use with rotary cutters. The
mats come in many different sizes. The recommended size for most quilting
work is 18 x 24. The mat protects the rotary cutter from damage, prevents
harm of the surface where you are cutting and helps keep the fabric from
slipping about.
Pauline Rogers
Pauline Rogers has travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years, teaching the art of patchwork and quilting. She operates an award winning shop, Country Fabrics and Quilters, in Toowoomba, Queensland as well as a successful mail order and online service. She founded Quiltfest, an annual quilting event and Margie's Quilts of Hope, a quilting challenge which raises funds for breast cancer research.
View all articles by Pauline Rogers
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