You don’t need fancy or expensive tools to make a quilt. You don’t even really need a sewing machine, as you can do all your sewing by hand. However, there are many wonderful quilting tools available that will make your hobby fun and quick, while resulting in a final quilting project that is much more precise and secure.

The one item that every quilter will insist on having is a good rotary cutter. Quilting involves a lot of cutting and each piece must be an exact size with perfectly straight lines and corners. A rotary cutter makes this job much easier. Rotary cutters come in different blade sizes and different shaped handles. The larger the blade size, the easier it will cut through fabric or multiply layers of fabric. The smaller the blade size, the more precise your cut will be. Smaller blades are best for cutting around corners or cutting curves. Rotary blades are extremely sharp and most come with a safety latch which will cover the blade when you are not pressing down on it. Rotary handles should be comfortable for your hand and have a good grip that won’t slip in your hand.

If you do some research before you head out to buy a good rotary cutter, you will have a better idea of what kind of cutter you want for your specific project. You can buy rotary cutters online or in any craft store. If you head to a quilting store, you can talk to the experts there and get their advice on which size and type of rotary cutter is best for you. Start with a basic cutter and you may find that you will want to add additional cutters as your experience level grows and you begin to tackle more difficult projects.