The best way we can answer this is to tell you what we have in ours.

Rotary mat - a good standard size is 18in x 24in. If you have the space, then go for a larger size.
Rotary cutter - we use a 45mm or a 60mm standard cutter when we make our quilts. A 28mm is useful for smaller more intricate work. If you are finding it hard to cut then its likely you need a new blade. Cutting should be a smooth, easy movement.
Rulers - a good rectangle and square ruler are good investments to your rotary cutting kit.

We use and highly recommend Creative Grids rulers. If you’re in the UK, then visit Creative Grids UK or if you’re in the US visit Creative Grids USA and find your nearest independent stockist. We do try to provide templates as an alternative in our patterns.

A good rectangle ruler is one we would recommend as a first purchase and a good staple in your rotary kit. We use a Creative Grids 6½in x 24½in ruler. A good square ruler is another good addition to your ruler kit. A 10½in or 12½in square is a good starting size. These are the basic rulers that we use all the time in our patterns.

We do also sometimes use several more specialised rulers in our patterns. In our first books, we use the Omnigrid 96 and Omnigrid 98L. We have now switched over to using the Creative Grids Multi-Size 45/90 in place of the Omnigrid 96 and 98. The diagrams in our earlier books are still accurate to use alongside the Creative Grids rulers.

* Creative Grids Multi-Size 45/90 & Flying Geese ruler
* Creative Grids Multi-Size 45/90 (if you have the 45/90 & Flying Geese ruler, then you do NOT need this one).
* Creative Grids 60° Triangle
* Creative Grids 2 Peaks in 1 ruler

We know that rulers are an investment and we always try to provide templates in our patterns as a alternative. We are working our way through our patterns adding templates where originally there were none.

You will also find that we design many patterns for a particular ruler so that you can really make good use of it!

All our patterns are currently available as downloads. We do sometimes have printed copies so if downloads really isn’t for you, then drop us an email and we’ll do our best to help. It might be in the future that we sell printed patterns but for now, it is mainly downloads.

Most computers and mobile devices can download PDFs easily. If you experience issues, then we recommend downloading adobe PDF reader (free).

Precuts are accurately cut pieces of fabric - mostly fabrics from a fabric collection or following a colour palette or theme. Some of the popular precuts are as follows:

Jelly Rolls (also known as design rolls and strips rolls) - these are rolls of usually forty 2½in wide strips cut the width of the fabric. Moda Fabrics were the first company to bring this idea to the quilting world. In Moda’s jelly rolls there are forty strips in total and pretty much all of our jelly roll patterns will assume that there are forty strips in the roll. It actually amounts to 2.56m of fabric.

Layer Cakes (also known as 10in charm packs) - these are usually forty-two 10in squares.

Charm Packs (also known as 5in Charms) - these are usually forty-two 5in squares.

In the UK a fat quarter metre is approximately 19.5in x 21in (50cm x 110cm)

In the US a fat quarter yard is approximately 18in x 21in (45.5cm x 110cm)

All our patterns when using fat quarters will be suitable for both fat quarter metres and fat quarter yards.

In the UK, we work and sell mostly in metric (metres and centimetres). In the US, it is the imperial system (yards and inches). It can sound confusing jumping between the two but once you understand why and how to change, it will all make sense!

There are many reasons, but quilt patterns are mostly designed using the imperial system because it is easier and more accurate. For example, in quilting, we use a ¼in seam allowance. If we were to put that in metric, it would be 0.635mm. Inches are easier to work with when increasing or decreasing blocks too.

In our patterns, we put our fabric requirements in metric and imperial, but our instructions will always be in imperial (inches).

Useful to know:

• 1 yard = 36 inches
• 1 metre = 39 inches
• 1 inch = 2.54 centimetres

This is an old age question and for the majority of cases, it comes down to personal preference.

HOWEVER (and this is a big however!) if you are using jelly roll strips or other precuts that have been accurately cut, DO NOT prewash as if there is any shrinkage, it will cause all your fabrics to no longer be the correct size for sewing.

Send us an email at hello@pamandnickyquilts.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help. The majority of our patterns have been strictly tested and have featured in many of our books so we hope you won’t find any mistakes. Often, if we have customers contact us about the pattern, 99% of the time it is because the wrong ruler has been used.

We strictly test our patterns and our books. Very occasionally there is a mistake. Further print runs and downloadable patterns shouldn’t contain any mistakes so this relates mainy to initial print runs on books.

Click here for our errata page.