America has a deep quilting tradition, from Amish and Gee's Bend quilts to today's modern quilt guilds. Sewing opens the door to quilts, bags, costumes, home decor and alterations.
In the US, fabric is sold by the yard, and quilters work in inches with a standard 1/4 inch seam allowance. Precut fabric bundles make it easy to get a whole coordinated collection without cutting yardage.
Supplies worth knowing about
Sewing machines
For a first machine, look for straight and zigzag stitches, a buttonhole function, adjustable stitch length and an easy bobbin. Available presser feet and local service matter too.
Fat quarters & precuts
A US fat quarter is 18 x 22 inches. Precut bundles of 2.5 inch strips, 5 inch squares and 10 inch squares speed up quilt piecing.
Rotary cutters & mats
A 45 mm rotary cutter handles most quilting. Pair it with a self-healing mat, and always close the blade guard.
Quilting rulers
A 6 x 24 inch ruler is the classic first ruler for cutting strips; a square ruler helps trim blocks.
Thread
All-purpose polyester for garments; many quilters prefer 50 wt cotton for piecing cotton quilts.
Fabric shears
Keep a pair for fabric only. Paper dulls them fast, so hide them from the family.
Pro tip: Change your machine needle every project or so. A dull needle is behind a surprising number of skipped stitches and thread jams.
Know before you buy
Should I prewash quilting cotton?
It's a personal choice. Prewashing removes sizing and handles shrinkage and dye bleed up front; many quilters skip it for a crinkly vintage look. Be consistent within one quilt.
What is a walking foot?
A presser foot that feeds the top layer at the same rate as the feed dogs underneath, which helps when quilting through several layers. Check if one is available for your machine.
How much fabric do I need?
Patterns list yardage for common fabric widths (usually 42 to 44 inches for quilting cotton). Buy a little extra for mistakes.