Does anyone have a accu fabric cutter and do you like it?

My husband just bought me one for Christmas along with several dies. I cut a bunch of 2 1/2 strips as soon as I got it and am itching to try the apple core die. I really like it althought would have loved to had the money for the Studio. But I couldn't have taken that to class so it's a toss-up. If you do a lot of cutting, I think you would enjoy it.

Do I understand this correctly, the crank must be turned manually? Some of us also have finger, wrist and shoulder issues.

The concept of the accu cutter is terrific; maybe one day I will be able to try it out for a few days-do they rent it out.

I will be watching this thread too. Wondering if the prices will come down after Christmas??

What is the difference between the accu and the studio besides the size?

See if your LQS has one. Some of ours rents theirs out for your use at their store.

I love mine. You do have to manually crank it, but if you have arm or wrist issues, maybe only do a few at a time. Your cutting is cut in half if not more. I just love mine. Just bought a new die last night!

I have the Go! I love it! OurLQSrents out a Studio too, not sure what they charge?

This question comes up often. If you go to the www.accuquilt.com website you'll see the two systems use different dies. The Studio is built for commercial use and it a permanent system. The Go is smaller and transportable. The Studio is sturdier and cuts more layers of fabric at a pass. The Go is for home use and for people that need to pack it up for travel.

I own the Studio system as I cut a LOT. There have been a gazillion threads on both the Studio and Go if you use the search feature above you can read up on them.

i have all 3 and love them the studio can cut up to 10 layers of fabrics at once the go less the baby go 1 or 2 layers

I have the Go because it's easier to move around then the Studio. The more you use the Go or Studio the more you realize how useful it it. If you have more then 1/4" - 1/2" fabric waste you are using it incorrectly. One thing to remember is the cutter needs to be lower then cutting table height for proper ergonomic cutting.

I totally love the GO!!! The studio is bigger and very heavy...you can buy more dies for the Studio but for me the dies they have for the GO work fine...I love it! it not hard to crank if you use a few layers. If you try to do a ton of layers at once it is harder is harder on your mat. Totally worth the money!

yes, handle turns by hand.
make sure when using it that it is on a table lower than waist height.
This will take the stress of turning off of the neck and shoulder.
Machine needs breaking in so start with one piece of fabric if you have neck, back or hand issues.
I have those problems and have learned to back down to a level my body issues handle.
This machine is so much fun though.

I just got a Baby Go. I love it. Thanks for the tip about lower than table level. I wanted it for making appliques with fusable on the back. I make a lot of Linus quilts and hand appliques just wouldn't hold up. The Baby Go is about the size of a medium to small handbag and not much heavier. I'm trying to finish up all of my Christmas sewing projects so that I can spend more time with my new toy.

Would the go cutter be good for making Kalaidoscope quilts? Particularly the triangle dies? Still on the edge of getting a Go.... so don't know if possible. Thanks Cher

It awesome for all shapes....you will Love the Go...I would not get the baby go to me that is a bit to small. I wish the Go did larger shapes like a 10 inch square. I use the 6 1/2 inch square all the time. the triangles are awesome and it cuts off the ears. I am hoping for the tumbler die for Christmas...told my son that is what I want...

Do you need to take a class to learn how to use a accu cutter?

No...its so easy!

Super easy and I have 2 brain injuries.
Have learned the best ways to fold fabs so little waste.

Wha-a-a-a- Hoooooo! My AccuQuiltGo Christmas present arrived last week and I have been shooting out precise cut squares and triangles ever since. While I have not made anything with them, I sure have been delighted as I demonstrated the process to everyone who has come through my house. :)

Now here comes my stats and testimony for my new play toy: I am into my Social Security years, have worn out the pads between my knuckles from my stenographer to computer tap dancing years, and arthritis has swollen the rest of me. I have three artificial joints and have had nine operations in my lifetime BUT nothing is going to keep me from quilting during my retirement, especially since I now have an AccuQuiltGo. I do charity and Project Linus quilting and am anxious to get delivery of the dies for strips and rectangles. The basic die that comes with the first purchase only entices one to buy what one would use more (ingenious business ploy for sure). As for the cute animal, etc. cutouts, I doubt that I will order those dies since I am not into applique but I could see where someone would utilize them.

At first, I thought turning the handle would be difficult but it is not. Hint: I start the die rolling with side with no material if I am just cutting a 4-inch square. My first cuts were six pieces of fabric. Then I experimented with eight layers. Yes, it was hard BUT, after grabbing the iron and pressing those eight layers, everything rolled right through.

Now here is my additional excitement: If one places right sides together of coordinating fabrics, then after cutting, one goes straight to the machine! No layering of two different pieces and no pinning is required because they have just been pressed(rolled) together extremely tight.

Blade safety--well, I have yet to feel those surgery sharp points as they are embedded deep within the die-sponge. I will, however, keep this machine and dies in a cabinet where children cannot reach, plus out of the way of anyone accidentally hitting the handle which sticks out. It would have been nice had the manufacturer made a handle lock.

Good luck everyone.....hope SantaClaus brings you one too.

Yes, phatquilts, the handle is manually turned. Check out what I wrote (just above). I imagine if it were electric, the company would have a huge liability insurance package because someone would do something wrong and unable to stop it quick enough.

You should know the Go is warrantied to 6 layers of fabric only, for thin fabric. If you push 8 layers through you will eventually break the machine and void your warranty. Quite a few people have been breaking their machines and handles by using it in a way it's not designed for.

Oh, thank you so much Candace! I will go directly down to my booklet and read through more details than the initial set-up of fabrics. You are a doll to let me know. No more than six pieces for me anymore. Thank goodness I have only done that twice. It is way too expensive of machine to break a handle and void a warranty! Happy Stitches and thank you again.

:thumbup: Just remember that thicker fabrics like flannel, fleece etc. will be even fewer layers. I believe Accuquilt has been very nice to send out replacement handles , but if it happens to break with a die jammed in it, as has happened to a few people, that's a real pain. And you're unit is out of commission until you can get it fixed.

I asked my LQS if they had certain dies for this pattern and she said that it was just simple squares and rectangles and that it would be easier to do by hand? I'm not exactly sure why but ok whatever. I have wanted one since they came out!! I' waiting for the price to drop.

Huh? What does "the cutter needs to be lower then cutting table height " mean? Why?

I suppose it is the angle of ones shoulder when making the circle motion of six o'clock to twelve o'clock while rolling the dies through the wringer. I have placed mine upon a regular desk with the handle extending over the edge for circling. I am short but it would only seem plausible if one is tall that you could use it upon a higher surface. Then again, I have not cut a full quilt upon it as yet--just playing until my strip dies arrive.

I was going to ask for suggestion of where people put theirs to use it. I only have a sewing table to use, other than the floor which I wouldn't think would work. Hummmm

I have the Studio and absolutely love it. I cut alot and it saves so much time.

Today I used my Accuquilt fabric cutter for the first time since I got it Friday Evening.

The first turns were hard. I am into the fifth or sixth week of carpal tunnel/trigger finger surgery one hand and just carpal tunnel the other hand. No fun. I'm a bit concerned that it will not be easier with practice, but my DH has said he would help. I got it because I wanted to cut the fabric, not ask him to help me every time. RATS.

So, my first use of the machine was not too good. I am hopeful it will get better. We go down to Arizona for a few weeks every year after Christmas and I got it so that I could take with me in the RV. Good for that as it is portable. So, along with my small sewing machine and the Accuquilt I was truly hoping for a good few weeks down south. Maybe ..

I bought one and I really like mine as well. I do hate the prices of the dies though. I really need a 2 1/2 strip cutter but Im waiting for Santa to bring it to me.

Yes, it must be turned manually but if you don't put too many thickness in, it's not difficult. I do no more than 3 layers at a time. Works well for me.

Thank you Quilters for your experiences and testimonials. This will be on my wish list probably in the far future. Now, do I understand it correctly, no more than six layers can be cut at a time and six (6) inch squares are the largest die size?

Future decisions a FW or an accu-cutter? Merry Christmas everyone.

I love that I do not have to plug it in or connect it to a computer!!! You can bring it anywhere with out worrying about having to plug it in.

I don't know if I will invest in this, after having the Simplicity model, and returning it because of poor performance, not sure I would invest that much into the product....

Joanns just had it on sale for $199. That was a great deal!!!

I love my AccQuilt GO!! My left hand is paraylsed from a childhood disease and I found cutting with a rotary cutter and ruler really hard. With my GO it is just a matter of putting fabric on die, place the plastic on it and send it through by cranking the handle. I just cut up all my scraps and it is unreal how many strips, squares large and small I have. Now all I have to do is sew. I cut these while I was camping. Check www.accuquilt.com as they have a special deals each day. I also found a quiltingshop in Bunnell, FL that gives a nice discount plus I have fun at a craft penny auction site that has accuquilt dies most nights that go for less than two dollars. There are quite a few videos on youtube and there is a gal named Ebony that has some great AccuQuilt videos.

I love my AccQuilt GO!! My left hand is paraylzed from a childhood disease and I found cutting with a rotary cutter and ruler really hard. With my GO it is just a matter of putting fabric on die, place the plastic on it and send it through by cranking the handle. I just cut up all my scraps and it is unreal how many strips, squares large and small I have. Now all I have to do is sew. I cut these while I was camping. Check www.accuquilt.com as they have a special deals each day. I also found a quiltingshop in Bunnell, FL that gives a nice discount plus I have fun at a craft penny auction site that has accuquilt dies most nights that go for less than two dollars. There are quite a few videos on youtube and there is a gal named Ebony that has some great AccuQuilt videos.

That system (even the GO) is too expensive for me. My husband bought me the QuiltCut2 for Christmas. I will let you know how it is when it arrives.
It cost $300 with the carrying case. Rather than explain it here, just google it to see.

I was watching a video on the smaller one the other day and it says to put a piece of papaer, (computer paper ok) over them before you cut. No reason was given.

The Baby GO is about $139.99, Over the Rainbow in Wash state had them for $129.00 ad she akways has dies on sale.