Earlier today, I did my regular Wednesday’s at 10 Live Feed on Facebook, and this week’s topic was my 2020 version of a quilter’s shopping list. This year is like no other year, and when thinking of what to include on my must have list, I wanted to help you think about this with an eye to helping you to enjoy quilting in Winter 2021. Let’s face it, 2020 will be over soon. Winter 2021 awaits.

This post is not promoted or sponsored in any way, and I have a definite preference to shopping local wherever you can. In all aspects, but especially in the creative arts industry. Most of these items are in my sewing space and are used on a regular basis.

Following along with the list in order I created it for the Live feed, the first item that I would put at the top of your list this year is a good, supportive sewing chair. You are likely to be putting in a lot more time at your machine this year, and it’s really important to get one that you can comfortably sew on for an extended period. My chair is a used (armless) office chair that came from a company I used to work at - and it’s perfectly functional if a bit on the drab side.

If you’re really looking for an extraordinarily comfortable chair, I’ve heard people in a number of forums rave about the Bungee chair by The Container Store.

2. The second item I had was a pair of readers - or if you’re like me, several sets of readers. I buy them in multiples, usually on Amazon. I have found that wire rimmed ones last a bit longer than similar models which have a plastic frame on them. Here’s the link to the most recent set I bought.

3. Do you have enough batting to get you through your next binge sewing? I don’t have space to buy batting by the roll - oh, how I wish but even this dream space has limits!. If you have the space to buy and store a roll of batting, this is the year that I would do it. Most of my projects tend to be smaller quilts, and because of space limitations here, I buy pre-packaged batts at wholesale. Usually, as soon as I open one of the packages, I go shopping for a second. I have 3 unopened packages here, and 6 quilts queued up with their battings to be quilted. I’m probably good for a good while. My batting (although I didn’t mention it) is Bosal acadio.

4. Backing fabric - as long as you are checking on your batting stock, you might just as well check in on your backing fabric as well. There are two schools of thought for backs for quilts wider than a 40” dimension…you can either piece it or you can buy a wideback. Fabric which is a wideback is much less expensive to purchase by the inch than if you piece it. Most local quilt shops (as well as some big box stores) will offer a wideback option for you. As long as your fabric is 100% cotton, it should work. I have a bin of widebacks here in the workroom.

5. Do you have enough thread for your projects? I usually go through my projects one at a time, and as you read in Sunday’s blogpost, I try to keep my threads in a central location. I found this threadcard by Aurifil to be incredibly helpful, since trying to purchase a specific thread color over the internet can be frustrating if your monitor isn’t a high resolution. The thread card (mine is old, but it works) allows you to see the actual thread color accurately, and you can then order the number with confidence. I purchased this one by my local thread vendor, Follow That Thread back in 2010. Thread cards are products that they sell, and when I purchased this one, I never dreamed that I’d be using it as much as I have. When I’m looking for a particular color, and it’s not one I already own, using this tool can help you to select the exact color match. This is a bit of a splurge, but in the longrun it can save you plenty of time, and frustration. I am sure that many of the other major thread suppliers have similar products as well.

6. Stencils - Once I began to seriously work on my quilting skills, I began to explore the options that stencils can offer. And I learned to master the pounce. The 1” gridded stencil that I showed in the video is a very versatile tool that allows me to transfer registration marks to my quilt top easily and effectively. If I make a mistake, I can merely iron it off (white chalk) or wipe it off (colored chalk). This has become a workhorse in my sewing space, and I have brought it with me to show my machine quilting students how easy it is to use. I order my stencils from The Stencil Company, one of the businesses you usually see in the vendor malls.

7. Rotary Blades - a sharp rotary blade is a quilter’s best friend, and it’s also the safest rotary blade. I always have a good supply on hand here for my favorite size rotary cutter (the 60mm), and it’s always a sure bet for a gift. Just make sure you have a safe way to dispose of them. This is particularly important this year, when we all need to stay as healthy and accident free as possible.

8. Sewing machine needles - When I began to take a deep dive into this subject, I admit - I always took the easy way out. When in doubt, buy universal. Some quilters use the same one for years, some for months - or even days. I now (finally) have a great organization video about how to keep them organized, and how to keep track of how which one you’re currently using. In the meantime, it’s time to stock up now so that you don’t have to be slowed down just when you’re getting started. There’s more on this topic coming soon - and your local quilt shop may be able to help you out with this item too. Watch for more on this subject next week.

9. Online courses - This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take a class at the Virtual Quilt Festival - and oh, did it make me want to go to the show again in person. Quilt Festival has adapted it’s format to a virtual experience, and to this student, the experience was great. I had the chance to take a class with a national level teacher for the really affordable price of $20 for a 90 minute lecture, plus the $10 admission fee. Our springtime calendar will offer many opprtunities for more events - you can investigate Road to California in January or QuiltCon in February on their websites to see their offerings on a stay at home basis. World class quilt events with no need to pack or quarantine. Please be aware that the shows are individually owned and operated, and rates may vary. Just after I posted my online video, there was a video entry posted by Mary Fons on QuiltCon…you can read that here.

10. The Supreme Slider is one of the favorite tools for helping me with my free motion quilting or ruler work. It fits onto the bed of your machine, and it will allow you to have a smooth surface to move your fabric over as you work your quilt. It comes in 3 sizes, each one perfectly sized to fit the throat of your machine. This is available from many outlets, including your local quilt shop.

If you are inclined to visit the other bloggers who are participating, that’d be great. Just click on the link on the left hand graphic.