Accuquilt...is it worth it?
 

I have lupus and am always looking for easier ways to keep doing what I love. I have looked and looked at accuquilt and I am still so up in the air about it. On the one hand, yes, I hate spending the two to three days it takes to cut out a project and this would save so much time. On the other hand, in order to get all the pieces I wanted it would cost me a couple months salary and even then some of the shapes I commonly use aren't available in their dies yet. I did debate just going with strip dies which would cut about half of my hand cutting down, cut the strips on the accuquilt and rotary cut my squares/triangles from there. I would love to hear from some people who have one. Is it really worth it or should I just spend that money on more fabric?

You should do a search here on the QB; there has been lots of threads posted on this very subject.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....archid=3166002

I personally love mine!

When I am having a hard time cutting due to my COPD, I buy precuts from ebay. I even have hooked up with a board member on here that would probably cut what you want. Her prices were great. This could be an option thatwould get you what you need without a major expense, plus get you the shapes you want that aren't available the other way.[email protected]

I have the Go! and would buy it again. The Studio model cuts more at one time but the dies for it are more expensive but more choice of dies. The Go Baby is inexpensive and has many die shapes. I buy dies when I find an online sale. Accuquilt has a daily sale on the website every day. I always check that out and each Friday on the facebook page a GoBaby or Go is usually a give a way prize. Several from this board have won one.

I have RA so can relate to what you are saying. I splurged and bought the Accuquilt Studio. Best investment I have made since I started quilting. It cuts the cutting time down by so much but the best part is it's accurate! I buy dies as I can afford them and am always looking for a sale on them. I am working on a tumbler block quilt right now and using the tumbler die I cut the entire quilt in a couple hours. You won't be sorry.

No, it is not worth it unless you want to cut out unusual shapes such as curves and appliqués, then yes. A June Tailor laser cut Pro Shape Cut Ruler and her Half/Quarter Square up ruler is all you need to cut strips, blocks, half and quarter squares. Your cutter fits into the slots, and zip, zip, zip everything is cut out very, very accurately. You can use it sitting down, too. You will need to decide.

I have the Go and have found it to be very useful. One thing for you to consider though, is the muscle power required to run the fabric and dies through the machine. Since you have RA, you might want to see if someone you know has the Go or the baby Go and would let you try it before you spend the money. It IS a timesaver and a really good idea, just a little too much force required for those of us who need a little extra help. Good luck!

I'm really ineterested in this thread as I go back & forth on whether or not to buy one of these (or another brand or any at all). Some days I kick myself for not buying one yet & other days I figure it will just be another machine to gather dust.

I love my studio - it is easy to cut layers of fabric quickly & accurately. They also now have adapters for the studio which allow one to use any of the dies that accuquilt makes with the studio. I think it is well worth it.

I have the Accuquilt Go and the Sizzix Big Shot Pro. The BSP is much easier to use, I can use my Go dies in it and can use any of the Studio dies that aren't too wide for it, but there is the selection of Sizzix dies I can use. I can easily take my GO to my sewing group if I want--can't do that easily with the BSP. And they are good for much more than applique shapes. I love doing Rag Quilts by cutting my pieces with the die and the batting with another die--no clipping to do my hand!