Accuquilt
 

This is what I want for Xmas...I would like the electric cutter...maybe some applique pieces to make feather and now what dies for quilt blocks?..ant suggestions?
Thanks for your help...

I adore my strip cutters. I use 2 1/4 inch for binding as well as the 2 inch for strip piecing. The other dies I have were for specific quilts.

Merry Christmas!!!

I just have the hand crank one but I love it....I do have several dies now.....the ones I use most often are the strip cutters.....I like the ones that cut multiples of one size....I do 2.5 inch strips for all my binding strips so use it on all my quilts for that....I also have the 1,1.5,and 2 inch strip cutters in addition to my 2.5 one. I use those a lot for stashing. I like my 2, 2.5, 3.5 and 5 inch square cutters...use the little ones a lot when doing bonnie hunter mystery quilts. I also have various half square triangle ones which I also like....a few odd cut ones like tumbler ones and just two applique ones....I would start with the basic ones you want which for me would be the strip, square, and triangle ones.....they have sales periodically and free shipping if you order a certain amount so I have added on over the years....I do not care for the "cubes" as those dies often just cut one shape...If I need to add more to get free shipping I will order some of the mats as they do wear out and I use them until they no longer cut or split....

I have the Go Big and Go manual. I like the Go manual the best. I usually have hiccups with the Go Big. Just more stuff to go wrong with it. My Go manual is one of the first ones so it's about 14 years old and still going strong. DH has put new bearing in it twice for me. The plastic is getting weaker on the housing after all this time. I use the Go Big for the large dies made for it. All these years I have collected a large amount of dies. My Go is as important to me as my sewing machine.

I too am asking for the Accuquilt for X-Mas. This has been a helpful thread. Will be watching closely for other thoughts.

I got the gobig last year on Black Friday. I got it with the 12 inch cube and have since added the 6 inch cube and a companion set along with the churn dash set and other dies I found at 50% off at JoAnns. Because of my bad back, I have to use it or my husband has to help me cut all my blocks.

I bought the go big las year and I like it very much I have not bought to many die yet because the dentist took all my money.

When I first bought mine, before anyone really knew what it was back then, my quilt friends all thought I was nuts. Said it was too expensive and not worth it. They made me feel bad about my purchase even though I could see the value. Then little by little they started asking if I would demo it, then bring it to guild sew days to cut fabric then to asking to borrow it. I said yes to the demos but no to doing any cutting or loaning. Now my core group of quilting buddies all have one and we share dies. I would never give a bad review of any product I did not use and know what I was talking about so be aware many will about the Go. Most say it wastes fabric, dies cost too much, mats wear out, too expensive and ruler and cutter will do the same thing. Don't listen if not first hand experience.

I love my machine and all the dies too. Easy to use and makes fast work of cutting multiple pieces. I started with the dies for the original 72 blocks and have added qubes along the way.

I suggest to pick a block size that you like to do first and start with those dies and the strips. The cubes offer a nice compact storage method but are limited to cutting 6 layers of that shape. I like the dies that cut multiples of the shapes.

Go to the "learn and share" section of AQ for helpful tips. There is also an app to add your dies to your inventory.

I also have both the manual and Big Go Electric. I had the manual first but after yrs of cranking felt I deserved the Electric. I would go with what you do most...If you work with blocks go for dies 5-6-8 inch, Ohio Star is nice, Smaller blocks 2 1/2, There's triangles, tumblers, Maybe buy when you have a specific quilt in mind. Like most we buy thinking we'll use certain ones and they lay unused.

I tend to buy the die I need when I want that shape. I like the BOB dies the best. I get more use out of the alphabet dies then I thought I would. I got dies as gifts from family for years. Still do if I put it on my list. Most had no idea what it was they were buying. LOL

I have the Go Baby and love it! There seems to be more and more dies available that will work with the Baby.

I have the hand crank Go and love it. I have some physical issues that are not getting better and I sliced myself with the rotary cutter bad enough to give me a real good scare, so I'm coming at it with the mindset that I will use the Accuquilt for everything I possibly can (and hopefully keep all my fingers while making all the quilts I want!)

I tried to give some thought to what dies I'd use the most based on what I like to make already and what I want to make within the reasonable future. If I liked applique, I can see how it would be easy to spend a ton on dies that may not get used much!

I started out buying strip dies in the sizes I used most. Strips are used on their own often enough and the strip dies have lines printed to align for cross cutting, so they are pretty versatile to start out with. You can always cut the strips further with a rotary cutter if you need to. I've added mostly squares and half and quarter square triangles in several sizes as I found patterns I wanted to make. I like traditional quilts, I like to make Bonnie Hunter patterns with tons of small pieces, and I don't really enjoy applique. I've bought the log cabin die and double wedding ring die since I want to make both of those quilts. I know the log cabin isn't especially hard to cut when compared to other things, but I'm currently working on a queen size memory quilt in denim and heavy pants materials and that top alone was worth the cost of the die for me. I'll probably buy the storm at sea die as well once it's no longer new enough to be excluded from their sales. I would have never attempted hand cutting a double wedding ring, but I'm planning one in king size now that I have the die.

I am another person that doesn't care much for the cubes because they often only cut 1 shape per die rather than multiples. If you are the type of quilter who would enjoy them, they look to be pretty handy. Out of curiosity I've looked at a couple of the cubes against the dies I already have and I'm really only missing some odd shapes that I haven't needed for anything I want to do. Those pieces might be important to you though!

There are always sales of some kind going on at the accuquilt site. I also am not shy about reviewing anything I've purchased since that earns 'points' for their reward program. The app is great too, especially if you shop for dies outside of the site. It helps keep track of what you have already, but you'll need to manually add anything you don't buy from Accuquilt's site.

I think I've got nearly anything I'd ever want to cut, but I'd love to see what other people are finding to be useful! I have actually bought a die based on something I read here and I'm happy someone shared that info.

Amy,

You can add any die to the app. It’s not exclusive to AQ purchases. Simply scan the bar code with your phone. I buy from the LQS. Easy to add.

Hope that helps!

Cary W--right now (through this weekend I think) Accuquilt is having a sale on their cutters and dies--it's their big annual sale and probably best of their sales. Think both the Go and Go Big are reduced by $150, and dies 20%off, Qubes $30 off.
I love my GoBig (although it's getting either repaired or replaced right now. I started with the strip die bundle and still use at least one of those strip dies every single quilt I make, especially the 2.5". I've found that beyond the strip bundle, I tend to buy dies as I need them or their prices gets slashed so much I can't pass up. Be sure to register them on the Accuquilt website so you have a complete list to avoid duplication (although that does sometimes happen)Also, be sure to check out the website for learning videos--which sometimes you have to put into the search box to get (i.e. to cut bias binding).

Another huge fan here of the Accuquilt system! I have both the manual and did purchase a Go Big because of the great sale price but haven't set it up yet. I bought several dies when JoAnn's was getting out of them for 50 percent off, including the Go machine itself. I don't have any of the cubes because I have so many duplicates with the individual dies I have. I like the strip cutters but if you like to do applique, I their appliques, especially if you also have an embroidery machine since most have a pattern you can download for free to place and stitch around your design. Definitely register with them online and download the app to your phone, especially if you start collecting several die or want to start making the patterns they offer since it's very easy to start forgetting what you actually have after a while!

I have the hand crank Go and I love it. I had a hard time justifying that purchase. In fact, I retuned it once. Lol
I bought it years ago mainly for strips and I feel that alone has paid for it. My strips never seemed to be straight..more like a “V”. I still use the strips the most. I am thinking about making “Omigosh” by Susan Garman and that Go will be a Godsend.

i just bought the big go electric so haven't used it much but what i did i like .

OMG I read each of your comments and I need help. I'm 76 and may not be quilting too many more years. I wished for a Go Big but thought it was too expensive at my years left . So want Go Big , and this is where my confusion overwhelmed me . I was on their official site. There are so many packages of the same models, starter package , and several more . I think I just want a Go . How do I choose which package ? Then I really got a dilemma . On Amazon , there is only $100 difference between the Big and the Go. So I thought well of course , for an extra $100 , I should get the Big . They also have an Accuquilt Go Fabric Cutter for only $209 , which seems to be a ridiculously low price . How do I figure my best buy . The Big says starter set and the mat is 6x12 for $459 and has a flying geese die . Sorry this is so lengthy , but this is my confusion . Open to all opinions you offer . Thanks .

What type of quilt do you like to do? Quilt block? If you want to make quilts using the BOB dies, you need the electric model. For the $100 additional investment, it is worth it imho. Think of how many times you will use it. It is pennies per cost.

The cubes are nice for storage. However, if you want to power cut shapes consider the individual matching die shapes.

I bought mine not even thinking I could die before it got shipped. Don't think like that, it's robbing you of joy. The Go Big is on sale now and it takes all the size dies made for the Go.

I am a huge fan of Accuquilt. I own a Studio 2 and it! When selecting dies, I decided to first buy the dies that make standard precuts--charms, layer cakes, strips, etc. By starting with those dies, I was able to find plenty of patterns that I could cut with a limited number of dies. I have a large selection of dies now, but I still use those basic dies a great deal of the time. For those who think it wastes fabric, I would like to compare my scrap bags to theirs. Mine are neatly cut in standard sizes categorized and labeled--ready to use! My last quilt cleaned up 2 boxes of these easy-to-use scraps. The one bit of advice that I would have is to wait for sales on the dies you want. I list the dies that I want using the wish list on the Accuquilt site. When they have a good sale, I refer to my wish list to see what I want. I love the commercial grade Studio 2 because the dies for it are sturdier, yet, I can use all the GO! dies with my adaptor. The Studio 2 cranks easily and will cut more fabric faster. It is also heavy and less portable than the GO! systems. My husband built me a rolling cart as a permanent home for my cutter, so I never put it away.

I have only had my Go Big for a couple of months. I bought a cube, the Angles and the Corners dies to go with it; I also bought several strip dies to make binds, borders, etc. I love it so far and yesterday cut and sewed half-square triangles all day! Gotta say I love it and I am working on my second quilt using it!!

What are BOB dies ?

Onebyone, you are so right .

They are dies that cut the whole block in one pass. Let me introduce you to Bob!

https://www.accuquilt.com/go-cutter-...-on-board.html

I used the Hunters Star die and the 55027, peaky and spiky. They are points on the stars with the volcano in the middle.

I too cut off part of my left index finger, I lovingly carried it to the doctor who promptly threw it in the trash. You didn't cut enough off to sew back on!

I just have the hand crank but that is all the room I have.

I never thought I would purchase the Go Big electric cutter but I changed my mind. I have not regretted it either. I've since gotten several dies during their specials especially when they offered free shipping. I am having to hold off for a while now though because the eye Dr. wants to be paid too. Well, if he insists I guess I will have to wait on the latest Die to try and hope it has been added permanently to the line.