Go rag die
 

Seriously, how do you pick this mess out?! I've cut 2 yards of flannel and still need 1-2 more. Have been picking for about 15 minutes and still don't have 2" cleared yet. I'm using the picker and tweezers. I'm afraid of tearing up the foam. Not to mention this die belongs to my sister and I'm the first to use it. Help!

we got teenage son to do the picking we tricked him he was so proud he helped lol

I had the same problem, so temporarily abandoned my project. However, I think the way to avoid this is to buy some cheap coffee filters. Place one on top of the die before positioning your fabric. When you run the die through, it cuts both the paper and fabric but the paper stops all those threads from sticking in the dye. You can use just about any kind of paper, including typing paper, but I think coffee filters are the cheapest and easiest to obtain.

I layed a page from a magazine onto the die and then layered my 3 fabrics on top of it.

I don't have a cutter, but I did look at the Accuquilt site. The cutting tips say to put a clean piece of paper "on top of the fabric but before the cutting mat." I guess this is recommended for all cutting using the Go! dies. http://www.accuquilt.com/media/refch...Tips-QQZ08.pdf

I think that Accuquilt tip is for when you are getting inaccurate cuts. It wouldn't affect how many threads get caught between the die blades and foam.

I used a roller that has the sticky tape ( for clothes) and rolled it over it. Also used the pick they give you and rolled again.

I use long needle nose pliers. I saw it on YouTube video and it works for me. You position them just beside the blade and as you grab the threads quite a bit comes out at once. Hope it works for you.

Argh, I just bought this die and it arrived yesterday. I'm not going to be happy if it's going to be a big problem; in fact, I think I'd rather return it. Has anyone used paper with flannel and NOT had a problem with the threads? Thanks!

Yes! I cut 3 layers - 1 cotton and 2 flannel. I placed the page from a magazine down first, then my cotton layer then my 2 layers of flannel. I only had a couple of places that I had to pick out after doing several cuttings and it wasn't a big deal. Certainly not the horrendous mess the original poster had

I never use paper and have had no problems, but I don't have this particular die either. Maybe I'll try the paper and see what happens.

I'm sure glad this subject came up today. I, too, ordered one and it arrived yesterday. Going to buy fabric today and try it out. Thanks for all the good info. :)

I think I'm staying with the old method of sewing and snipping the seams!

And I was thinking about buying this die. LOL Sounds like cleaning the die is equal to ripping out a seam and I hate doing that. Thanks for the heads up.

In defense of the die...I don't have to pull/clean threads because of poor cutting...it just looks packed and I want it cleaned. The time I save and accuracy of the precut fringe is so worth it to me I can't begin to tell you. Plus after it's washed and dried the rag is so uniform and full. I love my rag die and will sing it's praises again and again.

That is tedious and unnecessary. I don't bother pulling the threads out at all. It works fine. The threads build up and come out on their own, and much easier to get a lot out at once. It doesn't bother the blade cutting. I'm on my third rag quilt and have't pulled the threads out.

So I cut out my blocks using the GO! die on my Studio cutter. I cut two at a time, which was a little time-consuming, but certainly less so than snipping the seams! I did pick out bits of thread periodically, but it wasn't a big mess and it wasn't difficult. I've had cotton threads stick in Studio dies that were much harder to remove.

I did think once or twice that I wish I had the Studio die instead, but since I don't make rag quilts ALL the time, I think I'm fine with the GO! die. Once I get the blanket made and washed, I figure I'll know for sure!

Well, an update on the rag quilt I made with the die. I am NOT blaming the die, but my quilt turned out terrible.

I think the first problem (which led to the second problem) was that I used two very different kinds of flannel. I bought the second to match the first, but they just weren't the same. As a result, as I was sewing an X through the blocks, on the solids the fabric tended to slide a bit, so they weren't real square. Totally my fault, but I thought there would be room to fudge since the seam allowance was so big.

However, as is so often the case, when you are off by a little, you can end up off by a lot. I ended up having some sections of fringe that were not caught outside the seam, and there was no way to correct it. Had I snipped the blocks by hand, it wouldn't have been a problem, although of course, it would have been a lot more work.

Next time I use the die, I will be much more careful and also choosy about my fabric. I have to say, though, I am not totally enamoured with this die and am not in a hurry to do another rag block soon!

I learned from experience lack of accuracy and quality will result in disappointment. I have this plaque in my sewing room: Why is it there is never time to do it right the first time but always time to do it over.

I agree, at first I was constantly pulling out the threads but the lady at Accuquilt said not to worry about it each time, it will still cut just fine. Im getting ready to do alots of them and would never do them if I had to hand snip all of those little cuts. No way, even if I had to pull thread after each run, its better than doing all of that snipping.

Willferg, also remember sometimes when the cutting is off, its because of the way the grain is layed down to but, I learned that the hard way cutting cotton squares for my 3 D windmill, couldnt figure out for a while why they weren't square or the right size. When sewing the blocks together you can also use the blue tape to tape the snips down so that they wont get in the way while sewing and then it'll come right off after sewing. I don't always put an X in the middle, I sometimes do an embroidery design or make one side of the quilt with designs on it and then solids on the back with appliques, then it's two sided and kids have something to play and look at. I still say the rag die is the way to go.

I think that with the layers, that you should have used the walking foot. This would have put them through together.

would someone post an image of what you are talking about? Never done a rag quilt nor do I have any of the machine cutters, but I am interested.
Sounds like a two prong problem, reading all the posts. The die fills up with thread hairs and if the cuts or fabric are off, something? needs clipped by hand?

thanks :)

Most people do them by hand; which involves cutting lots of square blocks all the same size and either batting or and additional layer for the center but this one is an inch or two smaller than the fabric blocks. You layer the three (some only use two) fabrics/batting and the sew an X in the middle to hold them all together. I also like to embroidery a design instead of usning the X in the middle. When the blocks are sewed together its with the seams facing out, they aren't inside of the quilt. Then either by rather regular scissors or special scissors all of the out facing seams (which are about an inch long) but they are all cut with slits close together. When the quilts are washed the fabric (normally flannel is used) it frays and curls. Some people use demin and you can use fleece but it doesn't fray. If you search here on this site you can see what they look like. It's hard to explain without having a picture. I would never make one if I had to go and snip all of these blocks. I've done several of them using the raq die and never had a problem with them cutting wrong, you just make sure the fabric covers the cutting line on the die. I will buy flannel when its on sale and then make up a bunch of the blocks and keep them in a tote and then when I need a quick present, I can chose the blocks appropriate for that person, rather baby or adult and sew them together and have a quick present that is homemade. The dies filling up isn't that big of a deal and like others have posted, you don't have to clean after each run thru the cutter and you can cut up to 3 layers of fabric at a time so it saves time cutting and snipping. I'm not sure if Accucut has a video on doing it on thier site or not. if not I'm sure there is one on youtube.

this the type of rag quilt she is referring to.. I cut 3 layers at at time : back/center/front.. but i always use a piece of paper on die first.. yes the threads get stuck from time to time but since its mine i dont bother removing them unless it messes with my cuts and with using the paper its takes a while to build up.. i love this die and i do not have the patience to sit and snip.. so this works great for me.. I used the Go Bear die for the applique..

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I won't make a rag quilt now without the die. I just let the die fill up with threads and they come out on their own. Doesn't hurt the cutting at all. If you don't have the die then the Heritage rag quilt scissors are a must have. Your hand will thank you. Ive tried all the rag scissors, the Heritage is the best and the better quality,