Tools of the Trade

I am a gadget girl, plain and simple. When I did all the cooking in the kitchen I had to have every kitchen gadget whether I used it or not. If it was a special pan for a special dish or a special bowl or an electric item...I had to have it. Once I decided on the colors I wanted in my kitchen...it was on! I wanted everything orange, or lime green LOL!

Once I started sewing, it was the same only different. These tools I did some trials and errors but mostly everything I have bought I have used faithfully. Lots of rulers for different things, but really you need them. You need a 6x24 to cut length of fabric, but you need a 6x12 and even a 3x6 for the smaller cuts. I have an 8x8 and a 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 for panels and to square up pieces more easily. Triangle and Hexagon rulers are special for special cuts. I found on you tube a ruler that easily cuts half square triangles buy first marking the fabric, then after you sew it, you cut it, using this same ruler, then using this same ruler, you square it up. I get most of my rulers right at JoAnn Fabrics and I always use my 40-50% off coupons!

Other gadgets, well...I think must haves are a walking foot. You can get a generic one to fit your machine. You also need a 1/4 inch quilting foot. There are lots of you tube videos you should get used to watching...just type in how to use blank...fill in and they will explain how to use the walking foot or 1/4 inch or just type in quilting or why is my quilt puckering lol i used that one a lot.