What do I actually need to start Quilting?

[FromHopeWithLove]

Do I actually need a walking foot? My sewing machine sucks so I'm contemplating getting a new one.. Maybe as a birthday gift?

Also, does anyone use a Go Baby Fabric cutter from Accuquilt?


I have all my fabric...

[funthreads]

To do the patchwork all you really need is pins, scissors to cut the pattern/fabric and a sewing machine and an iron for pressing seams.

You can always upgrade to a rotary cutter and mat. That would allow you to do faster more accurate cutting if you have lots of squares to make.

I only use my walking foot for the machine quilting not the piecing. It prevents the batting from being pushed and the fabrics from shifting. Most walking feet are generic and will fit on various machines. I use mine on 3 different brand machines with no problem.

[kiera-oona]

Do I actually need a walking foot? My sewing machine sucks so I'm contemplating getting a new one.. Maybe as a birthday gift?

Also, does anyone use a Go Baby Fabric cutter from Accuquilt?


I have all my fabric...

I don't like a hopping or walking foot.  I 'broke' mine to prevent it from hopping.  I also got my rotery cutter from a kit from Walmart (i think) which is the Fiskars brand.  I havent had any problems with it and Ive been using it for about 2 years.

When it gets right down to making a quilt, you really dont even need a sewing machine.  You can always do some hand sewing quilts like a hexagon or 9 patch depending on what you are doing.  For some quilts, all you need is fabric, scissors, some paper, and thread.

[vintagegirl90]

I don't have a walking foot and i've finished several quilts on my machine. when it comes to quilting throughout the pieces I just don't lower the presser foot and pull the quilt through as i go. It takes patience and a bit of practice since the presser foot guides the fabric through better, but it works just fine.
Welcome to the wonderful addictive world of quilting! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

[mrsflibble]

I had a rotary cutter, but am such a klutz that I cut myself one too many times on it, got one really stupidly deep cut, freaked out, gave it up and now stick to the hard way of marking out with tailor's chalk and cutting with scissosrs.

I own a walking foot but have no cue how to use the thing.

[anaximander]

Using a walking foot is easy. What you want to do is hook the extra "arm" over the side piece on the needle bar (where the screw is to tighten the needle into place) and then attach the foot as you would any other. It just serves the purpose of moving the top layer along at an even rate to the bottom one.

For those who are antsy about using a rotary cutter, or are particularly klutzy with them (I'm not with those, but ask me how many times I've managed to burn my hands in the kitchen), there are a number of different "cut gloves" that are sold by different companies. Or, failing that, head to a restaurant supply store and ask them for a cutting glove. It's made of fibreglass, and will keep you from cutting yourself unless you actually try to, really, really hard.

As far as the GoBaby is concerned, check out quilting blogs, or even google "accuquilt review". They've been giving them away free to bloggers in order to review them. My opinion is that they're probably excellent for applique or EPP, but I'd have so much trouble making strips or squares straight on the grain, that it's probably not for me.