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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Just as a good chef keeps his/her pantry filled with a variety of basic items that allows him/her to whip up a delectable dish at a moment's notice, so too should your "quilt pantry" be at the ready for whenever the creative urge hits. There's nothing worse than cruising along on a creative ride only to discover you're out of an essential item. To avoid this type of frustrating roadblock, we suggest you keep your "pantry" stocked with these basic items:

• Assorted shades of gray thread for piecing; gray blends with most fabrics. Tan, black, and white are also good basics to have on hand.
• A variety of threads to meet your needs for machine quilting. Your "essential" collection might include a mix of mercerized cottons, rayons, solids, variegateds, metallics, and invisible varieties.
• Batting in the fibers (100% cotton, cotton/poly blend, poly, wool, silk) that you use most often, purchased in yardage or in large pre-packaged sizes that can be trimmed to the desired measurements. (Tip: You can use the remnants to build larger pieces by butting the pieces side by side and joining them with a large zigzag stitch.)
• Machine and hand sewing needles in a variety of sizes for various needs (e.g., piecing, applique, quilting, embroidery).
• Pre-wound bobbins; you'll minimize interruption when your current bobbin runs out.   
• An assortment of pins (silk, glass-head, flower-head) to tackle any basic piecing, applique, or quilting needs.
• Scissors and rotary cutters. Make sure that the scissors are sharp and the blade of the rotary cutter is not nicked or dull.
• A large and a small rotary mat to cover the majority of your cutting needs. (Tip: Don't throw out an old or warped cutting mat! See how one TQS member recycled her mat here.)
• A variety of rulers and drafting tools. Basic rotary rulers might include 2 1/2" x 18", 6" x 12", 6" x 24", and a 12 1/2" or 15" square. Don't forget to include an accurate drafting ruler if you like to draft your own quilt blocks or designs as Alex does. (Episode 604)
• Drawing tools such as colored pencils, crayons, and pastel chalks. These are great for auditioning a design, and the ones designed for use on fabric are wonderful for adding a colorful little touch to a quilt (Episode 702).
• Useful designing aids such as hinged mirrors (Episode 506), value finders, and a reducing glass.

These are just a few  "pantry" items that you might want to keep handy. Depending on the type of quilting you like to do, you may find other items to keep stocked on a regular basis. Be sure to keep a shopping list for items that are running low or need replacing so you're ready for that next trip to the quilt store. 

 If you have a great tip to share we want to hear about it here.