Neuras

Finally breaking the bank & purchasing the GO cutter. What would you recommend are must-have tools that I need to make sure I have on hand? Not so much dies, but other "stuff" you've found has helped your quilting & cutting? Thank you!

PaperPrincess

A metallic silver or gold sharpie for making additional marks on the foam. Also, order extra cutting pads. Always have an unused one on hand. It's a consumable item, like a rotary blade and you don't want to be caught without one on a Sunday night.
A good pair of tweezers. The cutter will come with a pick to keep the dies free from threads, but sometimes you can get them wedged where the blades join.

Neuras

Thank you! The marker is for marking on the underside (foam)?

cathyvv

Enjoy your Go!

Dies - first get the ones you know you use the most - like strips, squares and triangles.

A roll up masking tape thing to pick up fabric threads is very helpful.

It would be nice to have some shelving to put the dies on, too.

Band aids are useful - you'll find out why if you accidentally mishandle one of the dies. They are sharp!

I have the Studio - bought second hand - and love it. It makes cutting so much easier and faster, and, since I have hand, arm, shoulder and neck problems, less painful. You were smart to get the Go as the dies are much lighter.

PaperPrincess

Yes, most of the foam on the newer dies is two toned so you can figure out exactly where the shape is, but some are all the same color and you may want to mark a registration line or two. I first use masking tape and then when I'm sure of where I want to mark I use a pen. I also marked the name of the die on the foam on a couple of them. For instance, the 2.5 and the 2.25 strip cutters look pretty similar when you are laying the fabric on them. after mixing them up once, I marked the foam so I could easily double check.

ragamuffin

Decide if you want the 6", 8", 10" or 12" boxed dies in a book form. I bought the 8" and I usually make a 12" block but I have not used them enough to know what I really want. Some new and used dies are for sale on ebay and you can trade with or use friends' dies also. I have the Go Big and I am glad I purchased that one. I had both shoulders operated and right now have lots of pain. Pills every day. It's tough getting old.

quiltingshorttimer

for storage you can get wire racks at the local walmart that people use on desks to divide and keep files upright. You do best not stacking them on top of each other.

Neuras

I don't mean to sound obtuse, but would you mind posting a picture of how you did/do this? It must be late... Thank you!

quiltingcandy

Congratulations on your decision. I hope you love it as much as I love mine.
Unless you have a special cupboard to store them upright, I recommend the wire rack too. You might want a couple - my long strip dies go across the 2 racks that I have.
Also, find a place to keep your GO that is very easy to get to. That way you will use it, rather than think it is a bother to get out. I have mine sitting next to my treadle on the floor with the handle towards the wall. My dies are kept in the rack on a top shelf of a white plastic rack. (Easy to see the dies and easy to get out and use.)

Jane Quilter

I can't live without my 2.5 Sq qty 9 die. that is where my end of project scraps go....not the trash or scrap bin