Thread: Accuquilt--is it hard to cut accurate squares using the strip dies?

I am considering buying the 3.5 inch strip die mostly for making 3.5 squares. The videos on youtube show how you can cut strips and then turn them around perpendicular (align with "registration" lines you mark yourself if the die doesn't have these lines already) to cut them into squares.

My question is, does this method result in consistent accurate cut squares?

Yes it does, if you align the fabric the correct way. You may get some miscuts along the way but overall it is a wonderful machine and saves you so much time.

exactly. I love mine

Originally Posted by Marsh

Yes it does, if you align the fabric the correct way. You may get some miscuts along the way but overall it is a wonderful machine and saves you so much time.

Yes, I think it works great and I've even used it to cut strip sets for four or nine patch blocks and they come out perfectly...not wonky that happens to me with a rotary cutter.

I agree! Works great for squares, but better than I could cut with a ruler.

Mine drift a tad wonky once in a while, but overall I agree it's better than doing it on my own.

So, would it be better for me to buy the 3.5 inch square die? There are only 2 squares on the 3.5 square die plate so I'm not completely drawn to it (would be much better if it had 4 square to the die) but that would be the primary reason why I would buy the 3.5 strip die. The square die cost less than 1/3rd the cost of the strip die, yet the strip die would be overall more useful. I just don't want wonky squares, I want accurate squares...

I am one of those who don't actually like the Accuquilt strip dies. I always have to stop halfway through and straighten the fabric; otherwise I get a wrinkle (and miscut) in the middle of the cut. I have not tried cutting strips into squares using the strip die, as I'm pretty sure mine would not come out as accurate as I would like.

Have you tried cutting strips with a June Tailor Shape Cut Pro (or the newer Stripology ruler which has been the subject of some recent threads)? For me, it's much easier to cut accurate squares using one of these ruler; I just align the strip with the markings on the ruler, then cut through the slots.

I have the 2.5 inch die and the 1.5 inch die - and even though I know it will cut them into squares I use my June Taylor to make the strips into squares. I love my Go dies to make the strips - one time thru and I have all the strips for an entire quilt binding. I had a jelly roll that I was using for a GFG quilt and the June Taylor was perfect.