Should I buy an accuquilt go?
 

I was wondering about buying this or not. I am having shoulder and neck pain and going to Physical Therapy.
I know that cutting and holding the ruler and sewing is probably not helping but I indeed am not going to quit after sewing for 58 yrs. I would lose my mind. What do the owners of the accuquilt think about it. Is it to expensive for dies and mats and is it just a thing I would not use. I wish they had something better out there! something electric. I am 71 yrs old and would like some recommendations. Thank you

Do you applique? It's good. I use mine for log cabin strips but it takes some arm power to move the fabric through. You should postpone sewing for awhile, complete your PT and then re-assess your decision

I use mine mainly for 5" squares and 2 1/2" strips. I love it but you do have a handle to crank...

Diannia

I would talk to your physical therapist about what she thinks. Maybe all you need is a redesign of your cutting area. For me, I am tall, and I raise my cutting table (a metal computer desk thing from good will) on the plastic bed raisers and I don't have the shoulder and neck pain that I got from leaning over my cutting.

The accuquilt go dies are expensive, It may be worth the expense if you applique alot, it takes time and strength, and patience (which I do not have), my go sits in the closet right now, one day I will do applique, but right nowI do most of straight cutting, use hst paper alot, and have started paper piecing.

I have the go and studio cutter and really like them. The dies are $$. I think it just depends if they have dies that would meet your needs for most of what you do with out having to buy a ton of them.

I love mine. I have the go baby. The dies are pricey, but I use mine all the time. I usually get a die for the holidays. My next die will come at Valentines from my husband.

I got the Go! Mix and Match Starter Set...came with 11 dies along with several of the different size mats. I really thought I wanted it, and couldn't wait to get it in..I have used it twice, once for 2 1/2" strips and once for 6 1/2" squares for a swap...and it worked great...but I have not used any of the other 9 dies and have actually thought of selling the whole thing...I just can't decide if I may actually end up using it more or not...sorry I am not much help other than to let you know it does work great for accurate cutting. I also have Lupus and while you do have to crank it, it wasn't bad in my case...but as we are all different, I agree you should talk with your PT and explore your options...Do you know anyone that has one that you can give it a go (pardon the pun) and see what you think? Also the more layers of fabric you put in the harder the crank is, so it can be "tailored" if you need to make it easier to crank...
Regards,
K

They do have a large electric sizzix that will take all accuquilt dies, but you will be paying about 500 for it, it is not cheap, however the sizzix is better made IMHO than the accuquilt. I hear of the accuquilt handles breaking quite a bit. They do have a hand crank sizzix that is cheaper in large and small. The small sizzix is a little smaller that the baby go so won't take many accuquilt dies because of the width of the dies. Joanns sells many of the sizzix online and they have sales on them often so you can get them at a decent price. I still want a large one but don't have the room yet so just have the small one, but love mine. Dies for both systems can be pricey along with the mats so it is not a cheap investment

would not be with out it. Have both. do to an injury it helps me be able to do some quilting. have most of the dies but recomend the strip dies you can also cut your squares this way'
Judy

Best prices on dies, mats, accessories is the yahoo group pinsandneedles1.

I had trouble turning the go ... so I said No.

I do use my Alto's QuiltCut2 a lot. It has more flexibility and less wastage. and ... no turning.

I purchased my GO a few months ago and I admit, I haven't been able to use it for life's events kept coming up. Well, the cost of the dies was a deterrent, but I decided to focus on the strip dies and only get the ones I tend to use alot (2 1/2 and 1 1/2) I can cut strips or squares or diamonds. I was interested in this for I can't cut (nor draw and probably not walk in a) straight line to save my soul :p. I am hoping to cut down on wonky shaped cuts .

Anyway, my suggestion regarding the dies- think of the ones you will use alot and could produce multiple shapes.and purchase them as you need them- no need to start of library then use them. KWIM?
As for the cranking issue- I have not tried mine yet, but don't put alot of fabric on it. Yes, they say you can put 4-5 layers (I think) but 1-2 layers may be better/easier for you. My dh says when I quilt - he feels like he's divorced (he prefers to watch TV and our house space does not permit us to do our hobbies in the same room) so perhaps I will ask him to crank the strips out....

I would also not be without...but don't go buying every die...think of which ones you will really use...I have all of the starter block sets and really do not use them...I use the tumblers, drunkard path. can't wait to try the windy ways...I just got it...and also the double wedding ring.

I have the Go & it came with a starter die. I also bought the 6 1/2" Tumbler die. I don't use it as much as I thought that I would. I do want to get the 2 1/2" strip die, but the dies are so expensive and I'd also need to get a larger mat.

All of your replies are just great and has helped me. I am going to talk to my Physical therapist and in the mean time maybe lay off the cutting and see if I can improve. I guess I could go back to cutting other items like aprons and purses and pot holders. These would be using my left hand and shoulder. This board is just great and thanks so much for the input.

I had to smile at your last sentences about your dh...About 3 years ago when our son graduated college and bought his house, dh and I "gifted" the pool table, ping pong table and electric dart board we had in our den/game room to him...(We added on to our house 12 years back for my Mom to move in with us, one of the areas is a big den on one half, and a game room on the other side) Anyways, dh said, hmmm..now game room will be a large enough area for you to put your cutting tables and sewing machines won't it? I said, yes but if you are trying to watch tv and I am sewing you probably won't be able to hear the tv very well. He said, oh it'll be fine, and also that way you can watch the tv while you are working over there if you want to. Plus dh works full time and on his days off he spends a lot of time in his workshop or puttering about our acreage, so he's not inside much..I did tell him that he is much nicer than I am, because if I was watching a show and he was over there running a saw or something and I couldn't hear my show I would probably say, "Hey, shush it dude, I can't hear this quilting show!"..lol... I will say the only down side is that no matter how much I try and keep it neat, a sewing/quilting room is just that...I have projects I am working on, etc...so to me it always looks messy...and when anyone comes over instead of staying in the front living room we come back here...oh well, it is what it is, eh?
Kif
PS the few times I have used my Go! I put 4 or less fabric layers, and it cranked it out just fine...I know it says can do up to 6 layers, but I won't ever do that many...

Have hand, wrist, arm,shoulder problems (depends upon the day!). Went to try a Go. No way would that cranking help. And then discovered the prices of dies, mats,etc.

Found a cutter (Martellie) that lets you grasp it on the cutter head and that helps with the shoulder and arm problems. On bad days I just go owie, owie, owie as I go down the strip!