My Alto & 100 2" squares in less than 2 minutes.
 

There is always a discussion popping up about the Alto Quilt Cut. I have said many times how much I love mine and I have a hard time cutting without it. Not because I can't but because its so easy to use. While I was cutting squares for a star border today I thought I would show you. I assume many of you know how to square up fabric..if you want to see that part~let me know and I will snap a few more pictures next time...but here is my fabric cut and the squares..and the stack in less than 2 minutes..more like a minute..but I didn't actually time myself. =) They are a bit pricey at first...but there is virtually NO WASTE. The beauty is that you don't have to move the fabric to cut shapes. And if you do..just line it up and cut away. This is the best investment I have made in my Quilting Journey. Just my opinion..I know there are those that don't like it, don't use theirs...ect.. I just can't live without mine..I COULD..but why reinvent the wheel?? =)

That's a teaser, girl. How long did it take to cut and square up the blocks before it went into the nifty invention? Fast, I am sure - but it had to take a little longer than that!

Glad to hear good things, probably a good investment for those who aren't good at cutting

actually it takes just seconds. As long as you know how to square up your fabric without getting the dreaded bow in the fold. I actually learned from Fon's & Porter to straighten the fold and not the selvage and I hardly ever get a bow.

Totally agree, I have the Alto QuiltCut2, and I couldn't live without it!

I've had mine for over a year and love it. My sister liked mine so much she had to have one too.

I agree with you love mine too

Looks impressive one day maybe but for now its back to the cutting board.

sounds super interesting...

OK....now you have my curiosity peaked! How do you square up the "fold" instead of the selveges? I had not heard of the ALTO cutter either...I have heard of the GO BABY cutters and etc tho. Are they similar?

I saw this at the Hampton Quilt show this year and it's on my list if possible for next year. It'll be a great asset to my Accuquilt. I was so impressed by it. I'm not so good on squaring up the fabric though, I still have problems with the dreaded bow.

Looks great. Can you show us the machine and how it works? It sounds interesting.

Its not a machine. Its a board,mat and the magical ruler..Here is their site and they have video demo's.

http://www.quiltcut.com/

The first thing I ever cut with mine was hexagon's. I cut a stack in a flash. It was amazing to me and that was almost 14 years ago. The ONLY thing that irks is having to order the cutting mat when it needs replaced. But they last a long time with proper care. If I'm lucky I pick one up at the Quilt Shows I go to...last one..she was out. =(

Its hard to explain the Fon's & Porter Method of squaring the fold but I will try...

Hold your fabric selvages in your hands with the fold toward the ground. If you notice..when you hold the selvage even there is a ripple in the fold. If you slide the selvage until the ripple in the fold is gone you almost never have the dreaded bow. I almost gave up on quilting until I figured this out. I found it in this book..

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...+cutting+guide

Terrific, great job and thank you for sharing Have a Blessed day Ellen

I just watched the video and that is a pretty neat system!! Wish I had it when I was cutting several hundred strips for my Omigosh quilt!

I love my Alto, thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the info on the squaring , since you explained it, I do that sometimes myself...just never heard it referred to in that way. Also, thanks for the ALTO info. Most interesting...maybe they'll have big sale one day! LOL,LOL

Can't live without mine either, once you have one you'll never go back to a plain old cutting mat!

I have one and love it. It takes no effort to cut... and you get to get all the fabric cut without moving it... you move the ruler... plus it holds down the fabric so there is no chance of slippage. You can take a lot of my sewing stuff, but not my Altos.

Anita in Northfield, MN

Amazing that is all I can say. Thanks for sharing.

question: what does the replacement mat cost.....and the blades for the cutter?, does it limit you to the amount of fabric you can work with? The working mat seems awfully small to me.......just wondering....maybe will look into one

yes, it is very nice, still have not bought one

The cutting mat is 18 x 26" & replacement mat is $27.95. As for the blades, you use your regular rotary cutter. I,too love my Alto

I just may have to gift myself this system for my 60th coming up next month :-)

Sounds very interesting. How much do those things run?

Website has them listed for $229.95.

Think about it this way...Except for the specialty dies~I can cut almost every shape with my Alto that the AccuQuilt does without having to spend the money for each die. I just move the ruler. And my fabric is squared and I don't really have to move it..but even if I do move it I am controlling everything. I was a new quilter when I bought mine and cut hexagons with it right out of the box. I've never looked back. =)

I love mine too !!

Along with my 36"ruler with the lip edge I use on my cutting table mat.

I would like to know about the squaring up as well.

This reminds me so much of my engineer DH's drafting machine from the Dark Ages before CAD was invented. His drafting table and machine occupied about a fourth of our livingroom. Sometimes when he wasn't home to see, I'd use his drafting machine and table to cut material for quilts - very quick and accurate. He sold the table, but we still have the machine in storage - maybe I should get it out and mount it on the side of my cutting table. Hmmmm.

I bought a Go last year & have only used it 2 or 3 times. Now you've done it...I want an Alto!!

you don't have to cut and square up the blocks first, that is the beauty of the quilt cut. I have one and I love it.

it is a wonderful device and the demo video on their website explains how it works. Unfortunately they never go on sale and people who own them will never part with them so you never see them for sale on ebay either. I love mine.

I love my Alto too!

I have one, too, and really like it. I demo'd The Alto in TX, OK and LA quilt shows. Really enjoyed that, but do not do that any more. I am retired.

I've never heard of this but it sure looks easy to use. Too bad I didn't invest in that from the start; I've probably got that much invested with all my cutting mats and rulers.

I did it - I got an Alto QuiltCut!!! Best part is I got the QuiltCut and carrier for $150 from someone that only used hers once and decided to sell it.

That is amazing. But boy is it expensive.

Phyldar: I'd show him the video and then ask him if you can have the machine or the one in storage.

I got mine at the Hampton show last year...dh spotted it and bought it for me...










love it

Thanks ladies!!! I've put it on my list to buy!!! :)