I use the Studio Cutter & my Go Baby for cutting my binding strips, triangles & squares etc. (6 layers for most part). I don't pre-wash(GASP! yep...I one of those gals!) unless it's hand dyed...I do have some sense! If I use a fusable on the fabrics I cut 4 layers at a time. Then fuse to the background and sew down.
I also use Ricky's Stable Stuff for my applique pieces (6 layers) for perfect circles, flowers & leaves! Glue the die cut applique piece of Stable Stuff to my fabric, cut around the Stable Stuff with a 1/4" or so allowance for turning and use a glue stick to turn the applique piece, then machine or hand sew that to the backgound. So much fun & really a time saver!

Kevin I understand what you are saying as I don’t have a go cutter myself as I don’t do a lot of appliqué work and I use paper piecing a great deal, BUT my best friend who has arthritis in her hands bought one and it has made her patchworking life so much better, especially after thinking she would have to give it up, and like some other comments the machine would be great if you needed large/huge amount of small pieces cut.

materialblessings wrote:
I read this forum thread and I kept thinking...wouldn't this be a great opportunity for a quilt shop to have a machine to cut pieces. Might work great for folks who like to participate in block of the months at their local quilt shop. I think that it would be nice to have a die available to cut out curved pieces, esp. such as drunkard path blocks, etc.

One miss of a template with your rotary cutter can make you a believer! Blood, butterfly bandages or stitches, possibly a tetnus shot. Yes, I am speaking from experience...

Diane

You are so right Margo....I know she has some of Sarah's dies....shouldn't be a hard 'sell' at all...Whoo-Hoo!!!

materialblessings wrote:
Debbie, you will have to see if your shop owner will get the necessary dies for next year's BOM!! That could be good for the shop and good for TQS!

Hi Lorchen & all! My LQS has a Accu-Quilt "Studio" club. Once a year you pay "dues"($60 last year) to use the big Accu-Quilt Studio machine in the quilt store. The owner has a class to teach first time users on how to use the machine then you sign up whenever the shop is open to use time on the machine & the many dies that she has. She also has project classes "showcase-ing" new dies to show what can be done thus creating new excitement & interest in the machine and bringing in $$$ for the shop. I do have a Go Baby...and love it but it does have the size limitation problem. The dies & mats are an expense...but with the Studio club I can use the latest dies without having to shell out $$$ and worry if I will ever use the die set again! It's a win-win all the way around for me!

Quick question from somebody who can't really afford a 'Go Cutter', but is always inquisitive......

How many layers of fabric can you cut at once?

And if you can cut fabric that has already got a fusible (like Wonder Under) attached, how many layers can you do at once then?

Dawn, Kevin, I can think of another reason: If a new gadget becomes available, some people just have to have it, even if it ends up at the back of the wardrobe after a couple of months.

And another question: Does anybody know of a quilt group or quilt guild that has bought one 'Go' and kind of hires it out to any member who wants to cut of multiples of the same shape? Because it seems to me that that would be quite a good idea.

Kevin, I do not have an Accu Go! But, when I read your post I laughed and wanted to answer, "Because you CAN!" I personally could benefit from one because, having had some major shoulder surgery, this would eliminate the shoulder pain that I get when cutting multiple strips or shapes. And, there are lots people who have one for just that reason. Then there are those who have many grandkids, or are cutting quilts for the so many needy causes out there like the Linus Project, and other charity quilts. This cuts (pun intended) the cutting time WAY down. And, then there are those who make a business from their quilts. The more they make, the more they can sell. I would love to have an Accu Go! just because I think it would be fun! And, it would do a lot better job cutting out circles and feathers than I would! I have to do one at a time. The GO! can do 8 to 10, I think!

Dawn,
In beautiful Northwest Montana

I don't want to kidnap this thread, but I have a related question: WHY? Why should I consider an accu-quilt machine? I'm a little in the dark as to why I would need one. I understand if I am appliqueing lots of pieces, which I don't usually do, but I am at a loss to understand why I might need one for my regular cutting of pieces and strips.

I have the Go! And it was a life saver when I needed a boat load of 2 inch circles. I have done a few strips as well. What I discovered was that it was less than perfect when operating the Go on my cutting table. Maybe because it is too high. I moved to the floor and had much better results. Easier to apply pressure while moving the die through the roller. Not wanting to have to work from the floor when using the Go, I think my kitchen table will work.

I have the tree die and Alex's basket die set...... Can' wait to play with those. Half square triangles have jumped to the head of the line, though.

I have the Go Baby and about five dies, and I really like it. You do have to pick little threads out of the dies after you've used them multiple times, but AccuQuilt sells a little pick that makes it easy. It's probably a dental pick.

I've never starched my fabric, and I don't have any trouble with it.

I spray starch as I go along. I spray the right side, wait a little bit (really it's not more than a few seconds), and press on the wrong side. No stickiness and no flakes.
Pat--"Keep Calm and Carry On"

The only time starched fabric is sticky is before the starch dries! I lay my fabric out on old beach towels and thoroughly wet it with spray starch (Sta-Flo mixed 50/50 with water in a spray bottle) then let it air dry. A quick pass with a steam iron makes it nice and flat and stiff, but not sticky. Letting it air dry prevents the flaking you often get when you dry it with a hot iron.

I don't find starched fabric to feel sticky at all, unless you could be in a very humid area and it isn't totally dry or something - check out with Margo about the stickyness factor, but it doesn't sound right to me.

Rosemary