Thread Sketching Toolkit

Fiskar’s Razor-edge Softgrip Scissors.

A quality pair of shears will make cutting fabric a breeze, and last a lifetime. Buy online.

Fiskars Titanium Micro-tip Scissors.

These scissors will transform your life forever. I couldn’t live without them! Perfect for fussy-cutting and appliqué work. Buy online.

Sewing machine! (obviously!)

Everyone has their preference in sewing machines, but don’t be fooled into thinking you need a top-of-the range machine. Most domestic machines will suit your needs perfectly.

The machine I use (Brother Innovis VQ2400 Dream Creator quilting sewing machine) is a little larger, with its 11″ throat. However, for years I used a regular domestic Janome machine which suited my needs perfectly.

Open-toe hopping free motion foot.

Free motion sewing machine feet are available for all major brands of machine. Several types are available – the one I use most is the open-toe free motion foot. The foot displayed is suitable for Brother, Singer, and Janome domestic machines. Buy online.

Olfa Double-sided Self-healing Cutting Mat.

This large cutting mat is perfect for everyday use. Smaller sizes are available for when you are out and about. Buy online.

Olfa Basic Rotary Cutter.

I’ve used this same basic rotary cutter for more than 10 years and it’s never given me a moment’s trouble. I love its simplicity! Buy online.

Of course, occasional blade changes are necessary, so you can pick up a pack of spare blades, as well.

For people with hand mobility issues, there are more ergonomic styles available.

Olfa Essential Quilting Ruler.

There are dozens of different quilting rulers on the market! But this 6″ x 24″ ruler is my ruler of choice. Buy online.

Schmetz Machine Embroidery Needles.

High quality embroidery needles that won’t let you down. I keep a range of sizes in my supplies: 75/11, 80/12, and 90/14 to suit every type of work I do. Schmetz also make ‘specialty’ needles, e.g. for metallic thread. Buy online.

Flat-head Quilting Pins.

I use these pins every day! So useful, with their long shank and easy to grasp flower head.

The flat head allows you to stitch very close to them, without having to remove them as you stitch. Buy online.

Ball-head Quilting Pins.

These are also very useful! They also have a long shank, and are easy to insert and remove from your work. Buy online.

Curved Quilting Safety Pins.

Although I don’t spend a lot of time making large quilts, on the occasions that I do, these curved safety pins are so useful for securing the layers together. So much quicker and easier than basting! Buy online.

Pellon Extra-firm Stabilizer.

As someone who does a lot of heavy thread painting, heavy stabiliser is a ‘must’ to avoid puckering and pull-up. Buy online.

Medium-weight Tear-away Stabilizer.

I use tear-away stabiliser when I want to keep my work flexible and soft, or when working in a hoop. Buy online.

Embroidery Hoops.

For those times when I simply must use a hoop, I have a collection of different sizes available to choose from. Hoops with the screw fitting will secure your fabric more firmly than the spring tension hoops. Buy online.

Bondaweb Vilene Vliesofix Paper-backed Fusible Web.

Good quality paper-backed fusible web with excellent ‘stickability’! Buy online.

Pellon Wonder Under Paper-backed Fusible Web.

A great choice! Leaves your appliqué soft and flexible. Buy online.

Misty Fuse Sheer Fusible Web.

For those times when you don’t want or need to use paper-backed fusible web, Mistyfuse is a wonderful choice. It’s as light as a cobweb and will not gum up your machine, or show through fine fabrics. Available in white, black and ultraviolet. Buy online.

Warm & Natural Batting.

On the occasions when I embark on an art quilting project (or even a bed quilt), I love to use low-loft batting. Warm & Natural is 100% cotton, easy to stitch, and does not pull out of shape. Perfect for art quilting. Buy online.

Pilot FriXion Erasable Marking Pens.

Although not actually designed for use on fabric, quilters and textile artists the world over love these marking pens. When you want to erase the lines, simply glide over them with your iron and they’re gone! Buy online.

Clover White Chaco Chalk Liner.

For those occasions where the FriXion pens are not suitable, I like to use chalk. It won’t damage your fabric and is easy to dust off. Buy online.

Sharpie Black Permanent Markers (Fine point).

I use these pens when making designs and patterns for my appliqué work. Do not use on fabric, though, unless you want a permanent black mark! Buy online.

Tracing Paper.

Use the tracing paper when creating designs for appliqué or for tracing photos. You can opt for the more expensive vellum brands, but I find a standard pad of inexpensive tracing paper works just fine. Buy online.

Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It.

I have been using this temporary basting glue for more years than I care to remember. It is specifically designed for appliqué and does not alter the finish of your work. Keep the cap on when not in use and it last well, without drying out. Buy online.

Sewline Fabric Glue.

This is another very useful fabric glue, especially for appliqué and fabric collage work. It operates like a household glue stick, and refills are available, so you don’t need to keep buying the pen! Buy online.

Stamp Tweezers.

I first bought a pair of these ‘Philately’ or stamp tweezers many years ago, for the purposes of stamp collecting! It was when working on fabric collage that I discovered their usefulness for picking up tiny pieces of fabric and moving them around. The curved tips on these tweezers make them perfect for use with fabric. I would be lost without them! Buy online.

Cuticle Sticks.

This may seem like an odd item to include in a thread sketching toolkit, but they are super-useful for securing turned-edge or invisible appliqué, when combined with glue! I like the wooden cuticle sticks, as when they eventually get a bit dirty with glue on the tip, they are so inexpensive you can just toss them away. And, being made from wood, they won’t damage the environment. Buy online.

Fabrico Fabric Markers by Tsukineko.

I know that Derwent Inktense Pencils and Blocks are the talk of the fabric art world these days (and I do love them), but my absolute favourite are Fabrico Fabric Markers.

These markers are so easy to use, convenient, non-messy, permanent when heat-set, and have brilliant colours. A wide range of colours is available and they can be purchased individually or in sets.

Keep the cap firmly in place when not in use and they will last a long time. I have had some for upward of 8 years! Buy online.

Derwent Inktense Pencils.

These water-soluble coloured pencils are great for using on fabric and are reasonably permanent when used in conjunction with a fabric fixative (textile medium) and then heat-set.

They are very useful for small colouring tasks on fabric and for adding highlights to thread paintings. Nevertheless, I don’t think they are as ‘permanent’ as Fabrico Markers or other true fabric paints. Buy online.