I'll try to answer some of your questions:

~as this is your first quilt, I would pick a simple design for your quilting, a sun, alphabet letters, a child's hand print, grid lines; do not do quilting in the ditch, but you could do 1/8 or 1/4 inch to the side of the seam, this type of quilting will make the pieced blocks pop if you did pieced blocks

~buy glazed cotton quilting thread which will stand up to being pulled between the layers; you do not use this in your sewing machine, it is only for hand quilting and will say so

~some quilters use the purple markers that will dissolve when sprayed with water; I prefer to use a very fine pencil line for marking that will be covered up by the quilting thread.

Other members here will have their preferences, so I hope they will post them.

Teresa

If you are doing just straight lines, you can use the 1/4" quilter's tape (like masking tape but doesn't leave residue).

The 1/4" wide masking tape is great, but don't leave it on for more than a couple of weeks. It DID leave a residue on one of my quilt rulers--I had left it on for waaay too long.

There are many nice markers and chalk pencils. Most wash out with just water. (Warning: heat tends to set them permanently. Don't iron, and use lukewarm water when you wash it out. Oh, and don't leave your project in a hot car!) For markers, I have seen pale blue, and pale purple, which show up on most light colors. There are different thicknesses; I prefer the fine line. For marking dark colors, there is a white gel pen, which I have tried, and soapstone, which I have not tried. Joann's has a nice chalk set with many colors of chalk that should give you lots of choices for visibility. Look for it in the quilt notions section.

For hand quilting, I have gotten away with using ordinary polyester thread. I have also used silk. I thought the sheen would be nice, but it was antique gold on unbleached muslin, and it's not very noticeable. I guess you could use a light color silk on a dark fabric for full effect. But by far, my favorite thread for hand quilting is the glazed cotton quilting thread! Love the stuff. The thread is wiry, and that makes it easier somehow.

Get yourself a few different thimbles and experiment. Most are inexpensive. Most are metal or hard plastic or that rubbery stuff. The leather one with the metal "coin" is my favorite, and worth the extra money, in my opinion anyway. I also like the leather dots that stick to the fingertip, but only when extra detail is required--the leather dot does not support the finger joint, so your hand will fatigue faster. The reason I'm suggesting this is because you MIGHT want to quilt a slightly different way every day, so your hands don't wear out. Different thimbles facilitate that strategy.

Some people learn to push with their thumb, or the side of a different finger than the index finger. Some people learn to quilt in any direction. I only quilt toward myself, at least so far.

If you're quilting at night, you need good light. Curly fluorescent bulbs work well, if you don't already have one of those fancy crafting lamps with the special bulb.

For marking straight lines, I like to use a Clover Hera Marker (NOT the kind with the pointy end) and a see-through plastic ruler. Painter's blue tape helps me make sure my lines are on target. You can mark before or after basting the quilt sandwich (I much prefer before). These lines are only creases, will stay a really long time, and will disappear with plain water.
For thimbles I like an inexpensive plastic Dritz Adjustable Thimble (accommodates both my long fingernail and my arthritis) available inexpensively at Joann's.
For thread, I use either 100% cotton or cotton-covered polyester Quilting Thread. The thread color depends on the top fabric and your preference. (I don't care much for silk thread for anything.)
For quilting needles, it really deponds on how you quilt. Try different ones to see what you prefer. I like S. Thomas & Sons Quilting Size 10 or 12.
Enjoy!
BlueBars

OK, I'm rather new to quilting, but this is what worked for me. I used both a blue fine tip, and a purple marker. The were both sold to mark fabric, and I tested them on the fabric scraps from the quilt. They both disappeared with cool water. I didn't mark the whole top at once. Each eve. when I was done quilting for the day, I used a wet paper towel and wet the quilting line I had done that day. I'm very impatient and this was VERY REWARDING! On my first quilt I used Cotton/Poly glazed quilting thread and Hobs 80/20 Heirloom batting. When I was done, I soaked the quilt in cold water, and made sure all the marking pin was gone. Then I washed the quilt, and (some may cringe here)dried it in the dryer. It gave me that wonderful, antique, puckered look. I'm now quilting my second quilt. I started with Dream cotton batting but switched back to the Hobbs 80/20. I was having trouble with the Dream Cotton bearding. I'm using Gutermanns 100% cotton glazed quilting thread, and things are looking great. With both quilts I've used beeswax. I think the beeswax strenghtens the thread. I think a thimble is a must. As for needle, I tried several before I became comfortable. I use a rocking motion. Remember, even stitches are what your looking for, smaller stitches will come with time, so I've been told :)
Now all this is coming from a self taught newbie....

Good Luck,
Janice

Thank you so much for all the advice. I have actually ran into an old friend who also quilts. I think I have found the design * simple design * to use and come Thursday I am heading to Joann's to purchase some good marking tools. I have a range of needles and thimbles and I can't wait to get started. Any more advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. I have a feeling that me being so nervous is a sign of things to come. LOL.