Quilting Supplies for Beginners - Everything You Need to Get Started Quilting

Fabric - Charm Squares which are also known as precut fabric are an excellent way to start. The 5" squares are already cut for you and come in a color-coordinating palette. To make a baby size quilt you will generally need two charm square packs for the quilt top. Whatever fabric you choose make sure to have a high quality 100% cotton quilting or medium weight fabric.

Pins - Pins are essential for holding the fabric neatly together while you sew or piece it. They come in different lengths with different types of heads. I prefer the longer sharp glass head pins. Glass head pins will not melt under the iron and they are easier to find if you drop them on the floor. I also find the sharp pins are easier to push through the layers of fabric.

WonderClips - These are optional and can be substituted for pins, but can save you a lot of time and headache when you go to bind the quilt. Wonderclips slip on and off easily and hold the binding nice and flat.

Quilting Machine Needles - This type of needle is specifically designed to pierce through several different layers of fabric without damaging them. Quilting Needles are used for both piecing and machine quilting. Check out How to Choose the Right Type of Needle for Machine Quilting for more details on what different types of needles are used for.

Marking Tool - I prefer using Frixon Erasable Pens because they disappear from the fabric with a little heat. They are great for marking diagonal lines when making Half Square Triangles and my favorite way to draw diamonds or squares when machine quilting the finished quilt top.

Post It Notes - I like to use Post It Notes to mark my different fabric pieces when making a quilt top. I rip them in half or use mini ones to write the block letter of the cut piece on it to keep organized and from getting my pieces mixed up.

Thread - I recommend high quality 50 wt cotton thread such as Aurifil in a neutral color. It is a little pricier but is a great quality. If you are just getting started and want to see if you like it first a more economic but good quality thread I recommend is Gutterman 50wt cotton thread.

Embroidery Scissors - When quilting you will often use scissors to snip threads or pick small seams. Small scissors or snips are easier to use when quilting then larger scissors. My favorite are these Riley Blake Designs Embroidery Scissors because they are so cute!

Fabric Shears - It is always handy to have a good pair of fabric scissors for cutting small bits of fabric and other uses.

Rotary Blade Cutter - This is probably one of the most important and useful tools when quilting. This funny tool looks like a pizza cutter and is the key to cutting fabric accurately. It also makes cutting fabric a lot faster. The most useful size to start with is a medium size 45mm cutter. Read this post to find out more about How to Use a Rotary Blade and Cutting Mat.

Self Healing Cutting Mat - This mat is an important part of your quilting supplies because it will protect your surface from cuts. The mat is self healing so the cuts from the blade don't show and the blade is kept sharp. If you can afford it and you have the space I reccomend a 24" x 36" mat since it will make cutting most fabric lengths easier. If you have a small space an 18" x 24" mat is a good size to start with.

Acrylic Quilting Ruler - These rulers are clear, non-slip and accurate markings on them to help accurately cut your fabric. My go to ruler size is Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" ruler, it can easily cut Fat Quarters and Half Yards and has versatile grids and markings. My second favorite size ruler is my 3" x 18"ruler and can be a little easier to use when cutting smaller size fabric pieces.

Iron - Any iron is sufficient to get started. The most important quilting features in an iron are a good steam feature and the ability to get really hot. A spray bottle with water can also be substituted for the steamer on the iron. Just spray the fabric with water and then press.

Ironing Board or Wool Pressing Mat - You will need either an ironing board or a portable wool pressing mat. I prefer to use a wool pressing mat since I can move it around but also for its ability to help make crisp seams when pressing on it.

Starch - Quilters swear by Mary Ellen's Best Press. It has a nice light feel to it. But don't be afraid to use your grocery store starch as well. Either one will give you nice and crisp fabric to sew with.