Quilting Supplies Archives

8 Best Irons for Quilting in 2027

If you love quilting and want a quality result, you need quality tools. You want a quilt that is beautiful, practical and useful for generations. A quilt can be an heirloom, and it deserves the right equipment in your sewing room.

An iron is one of the tools you will use the most, so it is worth some research before you buy. We’ll cover the key things to look for, and then we’ll show you eight irons that quilters like.

The Modern Quality Quilting Iron

This is the age of stealth-looking irons. Some folks call them “George Jetson” irons because they have that space-age, do-anything look. Not every one of them lives up to it.

You did all the hard work. You sewed your blocks, basted your top and quilted your creation. Then you pull it out of the dryer, warm and wrinkled, and the feeling of accomplishment sets in. Now it’s time for the finishing touches, so you reach for your iron.

The right iron features will make your quilts look like show-quality pieces. The wrong ones will leave you with a scorched block and a bad mood.

7 Best Quilting Ironing Boards

by Keri Weichert

If you’re a quilter, you’re going to need a good quilting ironing board. And no, that skinny, wobbly board you’ve had for twenty years won’t do the trick.

You’ll need something that works for a large swath of fabric and a heavy finished quilt, something that doesn’t tip over or make you trip over yards of material as you’re trying to iron.

Fortunately, there are ironing boards made just for your quilting projects, so don’t skimp on this important piece of equipment.

If you want a quality, beautiful finished product (and we know you do), invest in an ironing board that makes the job easier and safer.

Why do you need a quilting iron and ironing board for your quilting projects? Because you’ll need to:

Press seam allowances to get the most from your blocks of fabric.
Press quilt blocks so they fit together exactly as they should when you assemble the quilt.
Press all of the assembled blocks before you add batting and complete the quilt (for a smooth finished product).
Press a completed quilt after washing or extended use.

You might wonder what makes for a quality quilting ironing board. Here’s what you need to look for:

cat laying on ironing board best ironing board covers

8 Of The Best Ironing Board Covers For Quilters

by Keri Weichert

You don’t want to scorch your quilt blocks when you iron them. Ironing covers and pads might not seem important, but their characteristics matter quite a bit for quilters.

You want a surface that lets you shift fabric easily and keep it smooth and flat. The best ironing board cover and pad will work with your iron to deliver a quick press that doesn’t leave a grated impression from the metal board underneath. A good cover also prevents scorches and water stains on your lovingly crafted quilt.

What Should You Look For In An Ironing Board Cover?

A cover fabric treatment that resists scorching and disperses moisture will limit problems and improve results. Some manufacturers apply a silicone coating that works well when you press quilt blocks. A good scorch-resistant treatment speeds up pressing and reduces the work needed to get perfectly flat seams.

The best cover fabric treatments:

Resist scorching.
Can be washed.
Reflect heat to improve iron performance.
Prevent fabric from bunching.

The padding plays an essential role in quilting success. It provides a porous layer where steam can disperse instead of being soaked up by your quilt. A thick pad also reduces strain on your hand and wrist while you iron, so make thick padding a priority when you buy.

8 Best Sewing Chair Choices For 2027

by Miriam Ronne

Setting up a dedicated sewing station is a big step, and choosing all the furniture can feel a little intimidating. One of the biggest decisions is the chair. Think about it: you’ll be sitting in it for hours at a time, especially if you are a quilter.

You need a great chair to support your back, hips and legs, and a chair can make all the difference in how comfortable you are when you sew. This article will help you find the best chair for you and answer the question, “What is the best sewing chair?”

What Chairs Are Good For Sewing?

If you search online for “sewing chairs,” you’ll find a few results labeled specifically for sewing, but most are office or desk chairs. The right type depends heavily on your table.

If you have a regular-height desk or table, I recommend an office chair. These chairs are made to fit under a desk, and they make an excellent ergonomic sewing chair because most office jobs call for long hours of sitting, just like sewing.

Standing desks have become popular, and if you are considering one for your sewing space, keep in mind that you will still need to sit for some tasks. In that case, I recommend a barstool or drafting chair, because office chairs aren’t tall enough for a standing desk. I have a standing craft table myself, and I use a barstool when I need to sew sitting down.

10 Best Quilting Tables [Updated 2024]

by Miriam Ronne

There comes a time in every new quilters’ life where they need to make the transition from the kitchen table to a quilting table.

Aside from the fact that the kitchen table will never do a good job containing all our sewing supplies, it does not provide comfortable support for our bodies.

Long periods of sewing at the kitchen table inevitably lead to sore neck and shoulder muscles.

The best solution for successful quilting with storage solutions and ergonomic comfort would be a sewing or quilting table or sewing cabinet.

6 of the Best Rotary Cutters For Quilting

by Keri Weichert

As a new quilter, you will find a large assortment of tools that must be purchased to complete your first quilt project.

One of the tools most often used, besides the sewing machine, is the rotary cutter.

Originally invented for the garment industry, this handy tool became a staple at every quilters cutting table during the 1980s.

Before the rotary cutter, quilters spent hours cutting out pieces by hand with sharp scissors. Each piece of fabric, as well as each completed block, required precision in trimming.

With the rotary cutter, that accuracy became instant and fast.

Quilters could move quickly through their projects, which added excitement. They could accomplish more in less time.

No longer did it require weeks of tedious cutting to finish a quilt.

The quilting industry changed instantly overnight.