Basic Supplies

I have found that the toy styrofoam tubes cut down to size are great for storing fabric that is 5 or more yards in length.  I wash & iron the fabric, fold it in half, pin the end down, then loosely roll the fabric & pin again.  I also cut the remaining styrofoam into sizes just large enough to store excess bias binding that I've created.

When cutting blocks that have lots of pieces, I mark off what is cut with a high-lighter. This way you can see where you are if you have to stop and come back. The next time you use that pattern, use a different color high-lighter.

Makes it easy to keep track of what is cut.

I use clean unused pizza boxes to store my quilted blocks in when sewing them. They lay flat and wrinkle free and I also put the peices of fabric that been cut for the blocks in the box along with the instuctions and work sheet with tips and measurements that I might need to record. I also mark the front of the box so I know what is in there without opening it. I use both large and medium boxes, it all depends on what size blocks I am working on. My pizza place in town has no problem selling me these boxes.

I found that my most important tool as a beginner is my quilt pattern book.  I went to an office supply store and purchased a quad. ruled composition book.  I use this composition book when I make all of my quilts.  Each page is filled with hundreds of squares and I plot out each and every quilt I make.  I even put all the information about the quilt on the page with the full design of the quilt plotted.  I use colored pencils to represent each fabric I will be using, this way I will be able to better imagine the finished product.  I write how the size and name of the finished quilt on each page.  I also write how many block, triangles, circles, etc. I need to make of each stating how many I need for each block, each row, and for the whole quilt.  I also write how many blocks across and down the pattern is.  Every quilt I have ever made is in this book.  If I should ever want to make another quilt that is like one I have previously made, I only need to go to my quilt pattern book and all of my information is at my fingertips.  I no longer need to spend hours of hair-pulling time figuring out the information to make the quilt.  This has been a great time saver for me as I have designed about nine different quilts and have spent hours and hours designing them.

Don't throw away those small left over peices of soap from the shower.  They make a great marking tool on fabrics.  The markings are easy to see and to remove, plus you are using up something that other wise gets thrown out.

My pincushions were always disappearing or falling off the table. So I placed a velcro strip on the table and it holds my pincushions right where I can reach at all times

My tip doesn't fit into any of your categories. Sorry about that.

It's about caring for a quilt. We have to wash and dry them sometimes. If a quilt comes out of the dryer wrinkled, NEVER iron it. Instead, spray the quilt top with clean water from a plant mister. You don't want to wet the batting. Return the quilt to the dryer on fluff setting.

Happy Quilting!

Patty

I have always had problems laying out and designing my quilt on a wall with felt, I am not very tall. 

I have purchased two photographer's light stands, my husband created a small bar to connect the two and I use clips to hang the felt from (My husband created multiple holes on the cross bar).  I can adjust the height, width to fit the quilt I am working on!  It is great.  Also, I purchased the stands used off of ebay and saved a lot of money!! 

Sherri

Do not throw away your empty Kleenex boxes!  Keep one by your sewing machine or cutting table to put those tiny pieces of thread or fabric into.  Once full, toss it away.   You've recycled a Kleenex box for a second use as a table top trash can! 

When making your quilts keep a record of everything . Like where you purchased fabric, what type of quilting you did on it, what colors you used. Most important thing to do is to take a finished picture of your quilt make sure it is hanging or laying flat so you can get a good picture. Than because I loose everything I write  down I put it into my computer under quilt projects and inside that folder each quilt has its own folder and I never  lose it again.