I know I'm kind of late in replying to this thread. I did a search on the forums here to find some info on the Accuquilt Cutting system. I was really impressed with it when I saw The Quilt Shows recent episode done from the Accuquilt Offices. Normally I wouldn't post all this info I'm about to share about my medical problems in an online forum but I thought it was appropriate to this discussion as it pertains to why I decided to purchase this system.
I'm disabled with spinal and nerve problems. I've had 3 spinal surgeries, one both elbows and one on my right hand. (I'm right handed). I'm now being told I have arthritis in my shoulder and in my back. I have been having a lot more hand pain lately and I'm waiting for my appointment to see a hand specialist. That started after I spent a couple days cutting out all he pieces for a storm at sea quilt. I picked up Quilting a little over a year ago when I could no longer knit due to carpel tunnel and ulnar nerve issues. You know someone should have really told me beforehand how addicting quilting can be lol. Agewise I will be 48 this year.
I researched the prices on the Accuquilt system and all the good I've learned about it. This week Joann's is having a 30% sale on the dies and cutter. I figured that would be a good time to purchase the system. Thankfully before I drove to Joann's, I looked online at Amazon and found out they were selling it close to 40% discount. I could have saved a few dollars more if I went with one of their marketplace sellers but I felt for a big purchase like this I wanted to deal with Amazon directly. They have all of their dies and cutters cheaper than anywhere else. I compared cutters and die sets and choose the AccuQuilt GO! Mix & Match Starter Set while more expensive than just the cutter with the value dies $219 opposed $389.28 I felt It had a good number of useful dies and would be cheaper than buying those dies separately later. I'm sure I could make a ton of quilts with just these dies :
Included in Value Die & Starter Set:
Square- 4 1/2" (4" finished),
Square- 2 1/2" (2" finished),
Half Square- 2" finished triangle (cuts two),
Included in Starter set only:
Square- 6 1/2" Triangle,
Triangle- 4 7/8",
Parallelogram- 3 3/4" x 3 1/2",
Rectangle- 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" ,
Square- 3 1/2",
Half Square- 3" Finished Triangle,
Square- 4 3/4
and as for Cutting Mats it comes with 5" x 10", 10" x 10", 6" x 12" . I also separately bought strip sets dies 2.5" & 3.5" plus the 5" die so I could cut my own Jellyrolls and Charm packs. I haven't received the cutter and dies yet. They are due to arrive by UPS today. So I'm unable to let you know how well they worked for me.
My thought on the outlay of cash is that we buy specialty rulers all the time for different blocks plus pattern and technique books that show you how to use the rulers. Why not pay the same for a die when it will save you pain and hours of cutting?
As for the BOM adding the die cutter directions as well and the worry that it would inhibit the designers, I feel that wouldn't have to be the case. They could always put the die directions for what could be accomplished by dies and the rest would be rotary cutting directions. It isn't like we are throwing our cutters, mats, & rulers we already own away. We will always still need to true up blocks and square up our quilts for quilting. And if the worry is the designers being given a greater task then why not after the designer designs the BOM, They could ask Accuquilt or Sizzix to convert the patterns. I'm sure they would do it as it would be additional advertising for them and in their best interest.
Just IMHO. thanks for listening.
Happy Quilting,
Josie
Andree's recommendation about show 1404 is good and if you are not keen on the results you can always use it on the back - I am a great believer of 'back art' or double sided quilts 
