Best Quilting Notions and Tools

Welcome to Scissortail Quilting’s go-to resource page for the best quilting notions and tools on the market. Whether you’re new to quilting or an experienced quilter, having the right tools can make all the difference. That’s why I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the BEST QUILTING NOTIONS AND TOOLS to help you create beautiful and accurate quilts.

The list includes essential tools that every quilter needs, such as sewing machines, rotary cutting tools, and sewing notions. I’ve also included specialty rulers, appliqué tools, and English paper piecing tools to help you take your quilting to the next level.

The good news is, you don’t need to buy everything at once. The lists are organized by section to make it easier for you to find what you need. Start with the basic tools from Section 1: Your Basic Sewing Kit and Section 2: Your Basic Rotary Cutting Tools and Notions. From there, you can add on the other tools as you need them. At the very bottom you will find a section of items that I think every quilter needs to stay organized.

I’ve also included links to Amazon for easy purchasing and provided reviews for some of the products. Please note that each of the Amazon links on our site are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. Rest assured, I only link to products that I personally use and can confidently endorse.

Thank you for visiting Scissortail Quilting, and happy quilting as you use the very BEST QUILTING NOTIONS and TOOLS available on the market!

Each of the Amazon links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click the links and choose to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you but does help me earn enough to support the cost of this website. Please know that I only link to items which I personally use and feel that I can confidently endorse. Your support by clicking on these links is greatly appreciated.

Section 1: Your Basic Sewing Kit

If you are just starting your quilting journey you will need what I call the Basic Sewing Kit. The first order of business is a sewing machine in good working order that you know how to use, along with some general sewing notions. If you don’t have a machine, I have recommended a basic model that I use. You may have a lot of the other items already on hand, but when it comes time to replace them, here are the ones I have found to be reliable.

Entry Level Sewing Machine

Brother PQ1500SL High-speed straight stitch sewing machine

100% Cotton Thread


Aurifil 100% Cotton 50 wt. Thread

Seam Ripper



Clover Flat-edged
Seam Ripper

Scissors


Kai 10″ Professional Shears

1/4″ Sewing Foot

Snap-on 1/4″ foot
(For low shank machines
check your machine’s compatibility)

Stich-in-the-ditch Foot

Snap-on SITD Foot
(For low-shank machines
check your machine’s compatibility)

Flower Head Pins

Clover Flower Head Pins Assorted colors

Glass Head Pins

Fine (.6mm) pins by Clover for quilting

Curved Safety Pins

Dritz 300ct Size 1 Basting Pins

Measuring Tape


Fons & Porter 120″ retractable measuring tape

Iron for pressing

Rowenta Access with stainless steel soleplate

Marking Chalk


Clover Chaco Liner (white, but available in other colors)

Additional Notions that are nice to have

Seam Guide Sewing Edge

Vinyl Sewing Edge by Marci Baker

Magnetic Pin Holder

Zirkle Magnetic Pin Cushion

Magnetic Pin Wand

Madam Sew Pin Wand

Hera Marker


Clover Hera Marker

Seam Roller


SAVINA Wooden Seam Roller

Clapper


Riley Blake Clapper

Quilt Batting
for Domestic Quilting


Hobb’s Queen Size Fusible Batting

Quilt Batting
for Longarm Quilting

Hobb’s Premium 80/20 Batting

Section 2: Your Basic Rotary Cutting Tools and Notions

The following tools and notions make up what I consider the “basic” kit you need to be productive with rotary cutting. If you’re a new or beginning quilter, these are your first investments. I heartily endorse the Creative Grids rulers because I can see through them clearly, they do not slip, and most of them have additional lines to help with lining up fabric. This helps you make accurate cuts, and that is where a beautiful quilt begins. Another plus is that almost all of these rulers have instructional videos on YouTube where you can learn better ways to use the ruler, and these videos can be easily accessed from a mobile device by scanning the QR code that is printed directly on the ruler.

Cutting Mat

Fiskars 24″ x 26″ cutting mat

Rotary Cutter

OLFA 45mm rotary cutter

Replacement Blades

SOMOLUX 45mm rotary cutter replacement blades

Rotating Mat

Fiskars 14″ rotating mat

Mini Mat

OLFA 6″ x 8″ mini mat

1″ Ruler

Creative Grids 1″ x 6″ ruler

Multipurpose Ruler

Creative Grids 6.5″ x 12.5″ Ruler

Strip Ruler

Creative Grids 6.5″ x 24.5″ strip ruler

Precision Ruler

Creative Grids Itty Bitty Eights 6″ x 6″ Ruler

Section 3: Specialty Rulers for Quilters

There are a ton of specialty rulers on the market, and it’s hard to know which ones are worthy of your investment. I consider the rulers listed below to be my “special” workhorses, as they have greatly improved my accuracy and given me exceptional results.

Square Up Rulers

Set of 6 Square Up rulers by Creative Grids

Bloc-loc Rulers

Set of 6 HST Trim-Up Rulers

HST Ruler

Creative Grids Half Square Triangle Ruler

QST Ruler

Creative Grids Quarter Square Triangle Ruler

Add-a-quarter Ruler

Set of two add-a-quarter rulers (6″ & 12″)

Equilateral Triangle

Creative Grids 60-Degree triangle (8.5″)

Corner Beam Ruler

Deb Tucker’s Corner Beam Ruler

V Block Ruler

Deb Tucker’s V-Block Ruler

Kite Ruler

Deb Tucker’s Rapid Fire LeMoyne Star Ruler

Log Cabin Ruler

Creative Grids 8″ Log Cabin Trim Tool

Pineapple Ruler

Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool for 6, 8, or 10″ blocks

Quick Curve Ruler

Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful

Flying Geese Trim Tool

Deb Tucker’s Wing Clipper for trimming Flying Geese Units

Section 4: Tools and Notions for Appliqué

Applique has its own set of needs. I love the fact that applique can be so portable, and so I keep an applique kit containing my applique tools and notions that are always ready to travel. The items below are my “go to” products when working with applique.

Fusible Interfacing

FlexiFuse applique fusible web

Iron Cleaner

Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner (remove glue residues)

Fine Tip Scissors

Karen Kay Buckley Micro Serrated applique scissors

Circle templates

Karen Kay Buckley Circle Applique Templates

Glue Baste

Roxanne Temporary Glue Baste with fine tip

Needle Threader

BOHIN Automatic Needle Threader

Silk Thread
(for needle turn)

Basic set by Superior Threads

Hand Sewing Needles

BOHIN Size 10 Straw Needles

Section 5: Tools and Notions for English Paper Piecing (EPP)

Paper Forms

DRITTZ Hexagon papers

Glue Pen

SEWLINE glue pen

Fussy-cut Mirror

Sue Daley Fussy Cut Mirror

Quick Thread Cutter

Thread Cutterz Ring 

Needle Holder

Clover Needle Dome

Finger Protection

Poke-a-dots Sticky Thimbles

EPP Thread

Wonderfil Bobbinator EPP Thread

Section 6: Tools and Notions for Traveling to Quilt
(retreats, sewing groups, etc)

Don’t miss out on the joy of quilt retreats and sewing group days! Be prepared for spontaneous sewing adventures with your friends by keeping a specially curated bag ready to go at a moment’s notice. With the right tools and notions listed below, you can make your sewing excursions a breeze, allowing you to say “yes” whenever someone suggests, “Let’s Sew!” Invest in these essential items and experience the convenience and excitement of being always prepared for quilting fun. Don’t wait another moment to enhance your quilting experience – get your travel bags organized with your tools and notions today and unlock unlimited sewing possibilities with your friends!

Machine Trolley

Tutto Machine on Wheels

Portable Table

Adjustable folding table

Collapsible Tool Caddy

Meori Storage box with insert

Travel Iron

SMAGREHO Travel Iron

Large tote bag

Collapsible Utility Tote

Small organizer bags

Small notions bag

Spirit Wear

Funny Quilting T-shirt

Water Bottle

Stanley 36 oz Water bottle

Section 7: Best tools and notions to organize your sewing room

Artbin Storage Boxes

Artbin Storage Cubes

Tool Tree

Tool Caddy 

Document Box

Magazine Holder

Cubby Bins

Fabric Storage Baskets

TUL Planning Notebook

Mushroom Hole Punch

Quilt Project Planner Pages

Image of a day planner showing a cover page with works Quilt Project Planner