Back to School Supplies for Quilting

It’ time for back to school. While I don’t have children in school any longer. I do like to shop the back to school sales. They allow me to stock up and save on many useful quilting items. Here’s what I like to stock up on.

Glue

First up, glue sticks. These are useful in applique. I use them in two ways. One to simply adhere my pieces in place, eliminating the need for pins that can get in the way. Two to get a crisp edge. I do this by tracing my template on freezer paper. Cutting it out and adhering the freezer paper to the wrong side of my fabric. Then cutting out the shape with an extra 1/4″ all the way around. Next use the glue stick to add glue to the edge of the freezer paper and carefully fold the extra fabric over. Do this in sections. Giving you a crisp finished edge to then apply to your project.

This method also works for English paper piecing.

I also stock up on Elmer’s glue. I use this to baste the binding on my quilt by machine.

Paper and Pencils

Composition books are another item I stock up at back to school. Not only do I use them for journals, that I often give as gifts. At office supply stores you can get them with grid paper and use them to sketch out blocks and quilts.

Which brings me to the next item I like to stock up on, colored pencils. These enable me to color in my newly sketched designs. This is an easy way to play with color and value placement with in a give block.

Mechanical pencils are good for marking and can be purchased cheaply at this time of year. They are also good for making notes. While you are at it pick up a few post it notes. In case you don’t want to write on your pattern. I also will use post it notes to organize quilt pieces. I pin them. They don’t always stay where I want them otherwise.

Other supplies

Back to school is the perfect time to stock up on paper scissors. Use these to cut out templates. Get a pair for your family. This will keep them from using your fabric scissors. A definite no no.

Finally I like to have a compass on hand. The are great for making perfect circles of all sizes. That I can then use as templates in my quilting either for applique or yo yos.