Quilting Tools Needed for Piecing Quilt Blocks by Hand

Piecing a quilt and traveling at the same time doesn't come easy for quilters strapped to their sewing machines! Learn about the basic materials you need to piece by hand so you can be busy any time, anywhere.

1. Piecing Needles - You'll need small needles called sharps for piecing your blocks by hand. I personally prefer size 8 needles, but first try a multi-pack to get a feel of the size that works for you. The higher the number on the package, the smaller the needle will be.

2. Scissors - One pair of sharp scissors that fit comfortably in your hand is always a must have. You might also want to invest in a scissor case if you plan to take your hand piecing out and about around town.

3. Straight Pins - There are probably more different types of pins than there are quilters in the world! For hand piecing, you'll want pins that are around 1" long and fairly thin. For applique blocks you will want to purchase applique needles (these are very small, 1/2" long, sharp needles).

4. Pincushion - Now that you have pins, you'll need a place to keep them. I prefer the magnetic grabbit pincushions because they save you time from having to stick each pin individually back into the cushion. Even in my travel bag, magnetic pincushions are still more convenient than a traditional tomato.

5. Thimble - This is an optional notion that I have yet to start using regularly. Most quilters will use thimbles when hand quilting to push their needle through several layers of fabric.

You probably won't need a thimble for hand piecing, but if your fingers are particularly sensitive you might want to try a few on for size. There are new leather thimbles that fit small fingers much better than the traditional metal thimbles.

6. Tote Bag - If you're going to be hand piecing, you'll need to keep your project organized and together in one place. Medium sized tote bags are terrific for containing your whole hand piecing project so it's ready for you any time you pick it up.

This information and Video was taken from "Stitch it Up a Notch: How to Piece Perfect Quilts"

Learn how to cut and piece your quilts perfectly with this full color digital guidebook and over 2 hours of video demonstrations!

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