Accuquilt- Yay or Nay?
08-21-2017, 12:28 PM
#41
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 15,211
I recently bought the Studio 2. I didn't know much about the cutters and asked for advice on the board. I worried about the cranking. Some people were raving about how good the electric model is, but after watching a number of videos, I decided that the speed of cranking was more to my own rhythm than waiting for the electric. My first problem was size. I bought the biggest and then had to deal with it. My DH stepped in and converted a rolling steel computer table that we no longer used into a cutting cart. Once that was done, I fell in love! This powerful machine cranks effortlessly even with 8-10 layers on the die. I ordered mine with 2 die bundles and 1 plastic bundle plus a couple of specialty dies. One thing I would caution you about is that some of the big dies are really heavy. The strip dies and other multiples can be a load to lift. I have each die stored flat-not stacked on my roomy cart and have found absolutely no other downside other than the weight of my biggest dies. My first week, I reduced several bags of scraps to useful precuts. I do not regret a single penny of my investment and do not regret going straight to the top of the line to get the commercial grade. I will try to attach a pic of my cart to give you an idea of how I have mine set up.
08-22-2017, 06:34 AM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Arkansas Ozarks
Posts: 425
I just can't imagine making a quilt without cutting all the fabric. I love every aspect of quilting. Although cutting can be tedious, precision cutting is an important part of the process. I love the challenge quiltmaking offers. It is also why I oppose pre-cut fabric. I love cutting my own. I think it all adds to the joys of quilting.
08-22-2017, 06:45 AM
#45
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,184
I acquired a GO. Thought I had the greatest deal. Did not come with dies, so I bought a 2.5" and 3" to cut strips. Thought that would be a good way to build up my dies a bit at a time, as I found which I would need the most.
So to make a long story short......I buy fabric by the yard so the GO is not convieniet to use. I don't want to waste any fabric by cutting it to size for the GO just to crank it thought the machine. Therefore, I have only used it 2-3 times in the past 2 years. Great for shops or individuals that use a lot of scraps. Not so great for yardage.
So to make a long story short......I buy fabric by the yard so the GO is not convieniet to use. I don't want to waste any fabric by cutting it to size for the GO just to crank it thought the machine. Therefore, I have only used it 2-3 times in the past 2 years. Great for shops or individuals that use a lot of scraps. Not so great for yardage.
08-22-2017, 12:18 PM
#46
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I acquired a GO. Thought I had the greatest deal. Did not come with dies, so I bought a 2.5" and 3" to cut strips. Thought that would be a good way to build up my dies a bit at a time, as I found which I would need the most.
So to make a long story short......I buy fabric by the yard so the GO is not convieniet to use. I don't want to waste any fabric by cutting it to size for the GO just to crank it thought the machine. Therefore, I have only used it 2-3 times in the past 2 years. Great for shops or individuals that use a lot of scraps. Not so great for yardage.
So to make a long story short......I buy fabric by the yard so the GO is not convieniet to use. I don't want to waste any fabric by cutting it to size for the GO just to crank it thought the machine. Therefore, I have only used it 2-3 times in the past 2 years. Great for shops or individuals that use a lot of scraps. Not so great for yardage.
Did not like my Go at first because of the pre-cutting. All the demo's on YouTube seem to work with pre-cut fabric. Like it a lot better now, since I realized that I can run yardage through the Go without lots of pre-cutting. With yardage, what you can do is leave the fabric folded as it comes off the bolt (2 layers of fabric), then fold again (bringing fold to selvedges) so you have 4 layers -- perfect for running through the machine.
If the fabric is a little wider than the Go opening, it is no problem -- the excess will still run under the roller. The biggest issue with using yardage is managing the excess yards falling off the machine, but I have that problem when rotary cutting too. That's why it's easier to work with a yard of fabric at a time. However, it can still be done with 2 or 3 yards uncut too.
After the first run under the roller, I just move the die under the fabric and run the whole thing back in the other direction. You can do yardage easily this way without pre-cutting.
As for waste, there isn't much. It's very similar to the waste from rotary cutting. If you have double-folded as described above, anything you can't use towards the end of the width unfolds into 2 larger pieces of scrap fabric. Trim off strings, and you can run the scraps through the Go with a smaller die.
It took me a long time to realize that it's fine to have excess fabric running under the roller. Once I figured that out, I enjoyed my machine a lot more. Still don't care for the strip dies, though.
08-22-2017, 01:19 PM
#47
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
I may have to invest in one of these machines. I've worked typewriters, adding machines, calculators, computers, etc. for about 60 years. I had carpal tunnel surgery on both arms; had bone-shortening surgery with insertion of a metal plate for stability for each arm (I had a difference in the length of the bones in my forearm which was causing ligament damage). Ultimately, the plates had to be removed, so there were three surgeries on each arm, none of which were real pleasant. But, they worked. My hand surgeon prescribed a MicroSoft Natural Keyboard, and while it's a real pain to get used to, it really does help, a lot. So far, I have had no problems with cutting, but I don't want to have any either. My problem is, I really just don't have enough room!
08-22-2017, 03:03 PM
#48
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tavistock, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,059
I bought the Go BIg about 10 months ago. My shoulders were hurting and the cutting was not helping any. I LOVE my Go, especially for strips!!!! I'm picky about what dies I buy because they are spendy. I have the 2 1/2 and 3 inch strip dies, the 2 1/2, 3, 4 1/2, 5, 8 and 10 inch block dies because that's what I use most. My next one will be a 2 inch strip because that's what I use for log cabin.
I store my big dies flat - each to their own shelf - and plan on setting the GO up on a station with the dies and accessories all together. When I find an appropriate piece of furniture to convert.
Last edited by SuzzyQ; 08-22-2017 at 03:18 PM.
08-22-2017, 07:52 PM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Burke, Va
Posts: 344
Hi everyone, after spending days cutting up my fabrics for Shakespeare in the Park I started looking at the Accuquilts- I was actually floored by the costs but intrigued by the value of having one. Of course my favorite is the most expensive one.
Somehow I can't justify the cost though. Each die costs a fortune.
I can afford it but do I need it? I guess I'd like to know if you think it's a good investment.
I do a lot of quiltmaking.
Can you weigh in on this?
I also don't know anyone who has one so I've never seen it.
Thanks
Sue
Somehow I can't justify the cost though. Each die costs a fortune.
I can afford it but do I need it? I guess I'd like to know if you think it's a good investment.
I do a lot of quiltmaking.
Can you weigh in on this?
I also don't know anyone who has one so I've never seen it.
Thanks
Sue
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