Quilting has changed a bit since the grannies of yesteryear were chopping out the usable bits of cloth from old dresses, curtains and aprons, and piecing them together with just a needle and thread. Nowadays, the modern quilter has an amazing array of tools to make the job faster, easier and more eye-appealing.

Most quilters today do a lot, if not all, of the work on a sewing machine. When buying a machine to quilt on, experts say look for a machine with a long neck, so there is space between the needle and the motor to move the quilt around. Also, there are special feet sewing attachments that allow for free-form quilting, which is a nice plus. A self-threader will pay you back many times for the extra cost.

Next to the machine, hang a peg board for all of your tools. Get a quilting wall, which is nothing more than a large piece of flannel or thin quilt batting to arrange your pieces. There are specialty threads which make quilting easier and prettier. Good scissors are a must also. Use one for paper and one for fabric.

Many quilters use a rotary cutter, a gizmo that looks like a pizza cutter but with a blade Jack the Ripper would envy. It really makes cutting several pieces at once a breeze. Its companions are rotary mats and rulers.

For the inevitable mistake, have a good seam ripper on hand. Also handy are specially made open thimbles. A good supply of round headed pins is a plus, but a good iron and board are a must. Use smooth chopsticks to arrange batting, and use a needle puller to save your fingers. There are special gloves with grippy fingers to keep your quilt from sliding while you sew.