Accuquilt users please help.
 

I am about to purchase an Accuquilt Studio 2 cutter and am seeking advice from others who use the Studio and Go cutters. Which dies in which sizes have you used the most? I can use Go dies in the Studio, so input from those users is important. I don't do applique yet, so the special shapes are not on my list to purchase with my machine. Since the dies are BOGO and the bundles are 1/2 price I am trying to get my order together today. Please offer any assistance you can.

What size pieces do you use most often?

I had a Studio Cutter, but it was more than I needed and took up a lot of space. I have an electric Go now.

As far as dies go, strips are good. I have recently become a fan of the half square triangle blocks. I like the tumbler die, I like the smaller squares for cutting up scraps. I don't use any of the specialty shapes, but that's just me. I am eager to try the log cabin die but haven't yet. Same with the hunter's star block.

I used the flannel raggedy die for the Go in the Studio. It went okay, but it wasn't my favorite.

Hope this helps somewhat, these are just thoughts off the top of my head!

Mine is just collecting dust. I have found there is always a better way to piece a unit than cutting out the individual triangles and then sewing them together. Say you were making a half square triangle block. Or a flying geese unit. You can get dies to cut such things. But then you are cutting and sewing each one together as opposed to using a method where you make 8 at a time.
What I do find I use mine for is border strips and binding strips.

Thank you Willferg. I am considering adding the tumbler die to my order.

When I lived in the city my guild had an Accuquilt Go, and my favourite use was cutting things that would be annoying to cut by hand. I would never have made an apple core quilt cutting by hand, but using the die I was able to cut a good-sized throw in under an hour.

I'm planning on buying a Go, and the top dies on my list are Winding Ways and apple core. It really depends what sort of quilts you like to make.

I have a manual crank Go!, so not sure how much help I can be.

I personally do not use the strip dies as much as I thought I would; however, I'd use them more if I had the Studio dies. My problem with the Go! strip dies is that the fabric wrinkles on the middle unless I stop halfway through the crank and straighten the fabric underneath the mat. The roller seems to stretch the fabric just enough (even though I am using the lengthwise grain, as recommended) that I have to do this in order to get straight strips without wrinkles and wrinkly cuts in the middle. It would be worth the hassle if I had a Studio and Studio strip dies, which cut more pieces at one time. I would not recommend getting the Go! strip dies for the Studio. For me, it is simply easier to hand cut strips using my June Tailor mats.

What I ***love*** the Go! for (aside from turned edge machine applique; I use the applique dies to cut my freezer paper) are the irregular shapes and triangles. For irregular shapes, the tumbler is a lot of fun. Any shape that is difficult to cut accurately by hand I like. For example, I have hexagons and circles, and Hunter's Star (none of which I have used yet) because those are more difficult to do by hand. Unlike sval, I really love cutting triangles with the Go! All the "dog ears" are cut off, so matching and sewing become very accurate for me. My favorite die combo is the square in a triangle (requires 2 dies for the Go!); makes a great scrap quilt. I also liked the Go! for large flying geese.

It really depends on what you intend to make. To be honest, it's very easy to over-buy on dies. Although it becomes very fast to cut out a quilt, it takes a long time to piece, layer and quilt a quilt. That is why I and many others have die collections we haven't gotten around to using yet. Also, no matter how many dies you have, you will always find you are missing one specific size down the line.

If you have any intention of making a wedding ring quilt, I would definitely get the wedding ring die (for the Studio) -- including the optional arc -- while you can take advantage of the sale price. That is one quilt that is ideal for cutting out with the Studio.

Edit: I love the look of Winding Ways quilts, so that is a die I would consider getting too.

I use the 2 1/5 strip die a lot, the circle die, and the qube for various other combinations.

If you are a Facebook user, search Accuquilt and beyond. You need to join the group but this topic has been discussed and it's a great group to ask questions.

I started with a Go but then I bought a Go Big! I was thinking earlier today about my dies and how I should have purchased them as I started a new project because I have some dies that I haven't used much like the parallelograms.

Like someone else said, the strip dies are a good choice. If I bind, I use the 2.5" strip die. I also use the 1.5" one on the multiple strip die. I really like my multiple 2" finished HST die and the multiple 2.5" square die. I know you can cut the squares with the strip dies, but I cut mostly from donated scraps that are irregular shaped and/or under 5". generally. I have the strip dies from the multiple one through 3.5".

I do like my tumbler dies.

The 12" Mix and Match set came with my Go cutter from Craigslist. I bought most of the dies for the other sizes and have all 4 Companion sets.

I am sure you will love the Studio.

Prism99: Are you putting the selvedge on the bottom for the strip dies? The strip dies are the only dies that I know that doesn't need to have the selvedge edge or lengthwise grain going through perpendicular to the blades. I always put it on the bottom and the fold on the top so lengthwise grain is parallel. Hope this helps.

Connie

I should add that I think the Go! owl is very cute -- cuter than the Studio version. But it does involve applique.

How fun!

I have the 12" die set and purchased them before the cubes were available. Plus I have strips and different applique dies.

Here is the free download to quilt block patterns. We did a 12 block quilt in class that was fun!

http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/patter...ock-ideas.html

Some dies also have embroidery design files available. ex. Umbrellas, Cars, Snowflakes.

http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/notion...y-designs.html

Enjoy!

All of you make me glad I asked about this. I had no idea that some dies have embroidery design files that can be purchased to work with the die. That would be wonderful. I am still making my list, so all advice is appreciated.

I got the studio cutter and a handful of strip die and the Take Five die. They have this BOGO sale and then a regular 50% off any die before Christmas. I had used one at a quilt shop years ago after I became a Bonnie Hunter Scrappy quilter. Hope you enjoy your cutter!

I have seen many people say not to go overboard buying dies. I don't necessarily agree. It depends on your style. I find that I use my cutter more now that I have more dies. I am not a long term planner when it comes to my quilting. If I want to make something, I'm not going to wait a week for the die to be delivered, I'll just rotary cut it. But I love that I can make a sampler quilt with the dies I have. I do have dies that I haven't used yet, I also have fabric I haven't used yet. To me, it is the same. Those dies will be there when I am ready for them.
I highly recommend keeping an organized list of which dies you have. My list is on my phone. If I am looking at a pattern or shopping for dies, I can know very quickly what I have.

I used the 2" die to make a quilt with over 1600 pieces in it. I made it out of scraps and the die made it much easier than cutting out these pieces when I could just place a lot of scraps on the die and cut away.

Yes, keep a list of your dies. You can also register them in the A*ccuquilt site. Easy to check your list when you find a sale.

First of all, I have the electric go, bought after I hand cranked a double sized grandmothers hexagon quilt, Never again. I'm a scrappy quilter, so my #1 die is the 2.5" multiple square cutter the most. But I use all the multiple squares and multiple triangles. Anything I trade or swap is accuquilt cut, like a multiple 5" die. When they run a BOGO i buy more. I have most of the piecing and strip dies. I love mine.

I use my strip die bundle all the time--probably every quilt, even if it's just cutting the binding. I also have a 12" Qube and Qube companion, of the single dies, the triangle in a square (like the tri-recs rulers) cause it makes them so precise.

I really only like the die cutters for shapes with curves or rag edges. I will never do a rag quilt without die-cutting the pieces first again! Never! I think I used up years of wear and tear on my hands trying to snip all those darn seams. For those pieces, the die cutter is a really really useful tool.

But for basic straight-sided pieces (especially strips), I've discovered I'm much faster and cut with less waste if I use one of my strip-cut rulers and my rotary blade.

Plus, I actually enjoy the cutting process most of the time. I like the precision of it, and the growing pile of perfectly cut pieces is very satisfying. It's a very zen thing for me. :)

Please, before you order any dies, check the compatibility of the dies with the Studio 2. Accuquilt has a page that tells you the compatibility.

I have a Studio, but honestly can't remember if it is a "2" or the original Studio. It is not electric. the majority of big strip dies made specifically for it are heavy. Even so, I have several different sizes 4, 4.5, 5 and 6.5 inches. They cut very nicely as long as you prepare your fabric the same way you prepare it for rotary cutting.

I also have several 1/2 square triangle dies. I really like the kind that allow you to cut several triangles at once, because I can sew 2 strips right sides together, cut, and have 3 or 4 sewn together 1/2 square triangles both cut and and pieced, ready to add to the quilt.

it is really helpful to have square dies, too. Don't go crazy on dies, though, until you have some experience using them. Buy them on sale and test each die as soon as you get it! Sometimes you get a defective one, so you want to know that asap- so you can return them.

good luck with your accuquilt; it has made quilting easier for me. Rotary cutting was literally a pain in my hands, elbows shoulders and neck.

some of the triangle dies can cut 3 or 4 units at a time - just sew the right sides of two strips on both lengthwise edges, place them carefully on to the triangle die, cut, and you have pieced half square triangles to put into your quilt. After you've done it a few times you can really reduce waste, too.

You can also use the strip dies in a similar manner to make strip pieced blocks, like you do with jelly rolls. I happen to love checker board quilts, so the strip cutters get lots of use! I also cut the strips for 1/2 square triangles using the strip dies.

Sharply press the fabric fold in order to reduce the likelihood of the "elbow" in the strip. I have the studio; the problem happens with it, as well, pressing the fold helps immensely. Another thing I have discovered is that 'fan-folding' the fabric often causes the fabric to shift. If you press the folds sharply before you use the strip cutter, there is much less chance of fabric shift.

Thanks to so many of you for all your advice. I have learned a lot from all of you. Thank you.

I use the strip dies the most, do have some others that I have not tried yet. I starch and iron my fabric prior to cutting. Sometimes when I am trying to get the most cuts that I can from a piece of fabric, I cut it just outside of the cutting line on the die. That way I don't have the folded edge, way less stretching. I love the go. I have the manual one, probably will not get the electric until my arm gets too weak to turn the crank!

I think this is a personal taste only. I use the strip cutters, the equilateral die, the 5" and 2.5" dies the very most. I just bought the 3/6.5 " brick die that I think I will use a great deal too.

I have the Studio2 and I took a different route... rather than get the strip dies, I buy the shapes that I use the most -- HSTs, squares, 1/4-square triangles, triangle-in-a-square. I consider these my puzzle pieces and the accuracy is spot-on. I love scrap quilts and use these pieces all the time.

For the HSTs, I take 2 fabrics, right-sides together, and then stack a few layers. I can then chain those through the sewing machine quite fast. For the squares, especially small ones like 1.5", 10 layers of fabric will give me 160 squares with one pass.

I do like some of the specialty dies too -- tumblers, Winding Ways, elongated hexi.

I don't know what I did before getting this. Cutting took forever! I would rather spend more time sewing and less time cutting.

I have a Studio, and could not do without it for cutting. My most used dies are the strip dies. I use the 1/4" and 3/4" strip dies to cut rag rug strips and fusibles. Work perfectly every time. Also own rag dies for making rag quilts - invaluable. Don't think you can go wrong with the Studio; it serves me very well.

I've had my Studio for about 10 years and since they are having more Studio sales I have added to my collection. I have the 12 inch and the 8 inch "set" and then many curved and regular dies.
I am currently paper piecing a queen size quilt where 90% of the blocks are 1 inch.
So I ordered the half square triangle which cuts 8 at a time and it is a dream in cutting all my fabrics - I hardly have Any waste and it is so easy cutting all that fabric.
Karensue

I just saw this post so I am late in replying. I have both the Studio 2 and the Go! crank style. One is home bound here in NM and the other is at our condo in Florida. I love the Studio! I have a ton of dies for it and find the more quilts I make the more I use the dies I never thought I would. I have the adapter so I can use my Go dies in it and then take them back to the condo with me each winter.