Sizzix, Accuquilt, Cricut, etc Preferences?

[Marianne G.]

Kathy,
I took two Craftsy classes recently. Both were with Debbie Caffrey. She showed how to put my left hand palm on the edge of the ruler and spread my fingers out in such a way that AT LEAST pinkie and ring fingers were off but against each other and that left edge. Then the index finger and tallest fab out towards my right. Think Spock from Star Trek. Hand is FLAT not raised up in the air. I also have learned to cut a shorter distance, hold cutter in place, and reposition my hand further up the ruler, when I'm using a 24" length. She also says repeatedly to move your tools and body, not the fabric. My cutting table is now positioned in the middle of my room so I can cut from three sides. If you have the opportunity to take both of her classes, I think you'd be impressed with her methods for productivity. I'm putting many of her methods on my 'habits I want to develop' list. I found most everything she demonstrated to be beneficial. I just need to practice some of them so they become second nature to me.
Thanks for the info. I too thought that the most beneficial dies will be anything without straight edges. Sometimes a proper ruler for triangles or diamonds is all that's otherwise needed. But Debby did explain how to accurately cut them from strips of fabric. She even supplied cheat sheets so a person doesn't have to look things up all the time.

[Marianne G.]

I've been reading about so many different possible ways to accurately cut fabric. There are a lot of choices. It seems they all have some feature that the other ones don't. So, I'm looking for your personal input. If you have one, why did you choose that model? Would you get the same one again? Do you enjoy using it? Are there any things about it you wish were different? If you don't have one, but have checked them out, what's your take on them? It can get pretty expensive and I actually enjoy the cutting part of quilting. I just am not always as accurate as I wish I were. I did just finish two Craftsy courses about better and efficient cutting, etc. I've improved greatly since I found a method of holding my ruler so it does NOT slip at all.
I'll appreciate any comments you may want to give. Thanks

[Marianne G.]

I bought a Go Baby Quilt cutter (sizzix), just for the apple core die (both were on sale). Wanted to try that pattern, but didn't want to cut all those curves by hand. it can cut about four layers of fabric at a time. I wouldn't bother getting dies that cut squares or other straight cuts - dies are great for curved or specialty shapes.

What's your method of holding for the no-slip ruler?

Kathy

[Barbara G.]

I have a Big Shot Plus, a hand crank model (not electric). My daughter has a regular Big Shot ( she loves to do card making). I tried cutting fabric with Sizzix Bigs dies and the accuracy and time-savings is great. I purchased the larger plus size to be able to use larger dies. I'm going to make a pyramid quilt with triangles die cut as my next new project. What you use all depends on what you like to make.

[Barbara G.]

Thanks for the info. I have taken many Craftsy classes and all have been great. Quilting, knitting, cooking.

Kathy

[Barbara G.]

I used to do a lot of papercrafting and have quite a few dies for paper. Duh! I should be able to use them on fabric.

Kathy

[Barbara G.]

I have a Big Shot Plus, a hand crank model (not electric). My daughter has a regular Big Shot ( she loves to do card making). I tried cutting fabric with Sizzix Bigs dies and the accuracy and time-savings is great. I purchased the larger plus size to be able to use larger dies. I'm going to make a pyramid quilt with triangles die cut as my next new project. What you use all depends on what you like to make.

On your Big Shot Plus how many layers of good quality quilting cotton do you think you can cut and still have the accuracy we need?

[Caroline A.]

I have the cutwork option for my Bernina, an Accuquilt Go, and just purchased a Silhouette Cameo. All three have their advantages, but I find the Cutwork tool to be time consuming. The Go is great if you have the dies, but they aren't cheap. I'm still learning the Cameo, but am enjoying the process. I found right away that I needed the upgraded Designer software to do what I wanted, which was to use the SVG cut files that come with some embroidered applique designs I have purchased. Today I scanned the image and made a cut file for an embroidered applique that didn't have the cut fIles included. I think I'll be using the Cameo a lot for the shapes I don't have Go dies for.
Fi

[Jules M.]

I bought the Go! regular size a few years ago because it is made for fabric and that is all I wanted to use it for. I have used stash money and taken advantage of the Accuquilt sales. My best purchases were the 12" block set and the 8" block set. Different times!! I printed the block chart from the site and it is so easy to pick a block for a baby quilt or any new project and get it all cut so quickly and perfectly.

Just having it to cut HSTs is worth the price! Best way to cut & piece them to me (and my friends w/ the Go!).

[Jules M.]

Thanks Fi and Joyce,
This isn't going to be a quick decision. I'm hoping to find some members of my local guilds That would be open to do a show and tell about their machines.

[Jules M.]

I was blessed to received the AccuQuilt Go (regular size) for a birthday/Christmas gift from my Dad & stepmom this past year. I haven't used it tons, but have played with it and so far love it.

Like you, I thought it silly to use dies to cut straight lines BUT having tried out the HST die, I love it. It cuts them already dogeared so that you can actually line up your triangles and they are already right. For me, that is a huge help, because I am terrible terrible terrible at getting my triangles aligned properly for sewing. And doing the "put 2 squares together, sew 2 lines 1/4" away from the line down the middle" method, I often still wasn't 100% accurate, because the pencil width of the line down the middle, the edge away from the ruler, etc.... -- my squares made from HSTs done that way almost never ended up exactly the same size as each other.

I think using the die, then, for the HSTs, will be loads better (it seems a lot more accurate, with the trials I've done so far). As I've a quilt coming up that is nothing but HSTs, I'm looking forward to trying it out! What I've been told is layer my fabric in the same way I would pair them up to sew, so that when they come off the cutter, they are already paired and ready to sew just like that (rather than cut all one color first, etc...).

I do wish the dies weren't so expensive, but I'm happy with it for now.

[Elizabeth S.]

I love my Silhouette Cameo because the design can be resized, reshaped and edited. I also like to design my own shapes though hundreds of designs can be purchased. It is more difficult to cut some fabrics, and more fabric prep is definitely needed than is required for the dedicated die cutters. It has a steeper learning curve than the straight die cutters but there are many helpful You Tube videos which demo the product. I bought the Sizzix Big Shot many years ago specifically to cut hexies and found it works well on fabric though you are limited to the die size and available shapes. It is possible to stack several layers and still get a good cut. I then bought the standard Accu Go die cutter and it is great for accurate cutting of many layers of fabric but again, your shapes are limited to the die in shape and design. But it is the easiest to use with the highest probability of an clean precise cut.

[Elizabeth S.]

Thanks everybody,
So far, no one has commented that they've had any kind of problem with any of them. That's encouraging. You can all laugh at this one though,
Yesterday I ended up checking out a laser cutter. Online of course. Boy would that be the one to get! But, at $5,000 it's a few thousand miles away from my budget ! But it was cool!
Thanks again for the input, my BDay is in March and I'm thinking I'd like to make my decision in time for that. My hubby's BDay is in June, but yesterday while picking up some painting supplies, he came home with this 'needed' tool



I think an accurately cutting device is definitely in my future! LOL

[Catherine S.]

Yes Luann, I think it is definitely called for. I have a GO cutter. I played with it a little, but have not used it for a quilt. My DD borrowed it and used it for a tumbler quilt. She loved it. I may have to try it soon. I think I have a bird die that would make a nice applique on some of my "quilts in waiting". I haven't forgotten them, but just haven't gotten to them yet. I hate calling them UFO's. They aren't really started if I have only made 1 sample block. Right??? :huh: :huh:

[Judith A.]

The only one I have is the GO! cutter. I use it regularly.
Before I bought it, I was concerned that it might be too hard for me to turn the handle, as I have shoulder problems. However, that is not a problem.
The triangle dies with the dog ears already cut off sewing triangles accurately a breeze.
I use the strip dies also. They come in various widths - 1", 1.5", 2.5." I cut a lot of perfectly cut strips fast.
I also use the GO cutter to cut my hexagon pieces. It will cut the fabric hexagon pieces and/or the foundation papers. I started using fusible applique foundations for my hexagons. I love the speed and the accuracy for cutting hexagons.
The price of the dies is the only thing I don't like. However, occasionally Nancy's Notions and JoAnn's puts them on sale.
One tip - I starch my fabrics before I cut them. That helps.