TamiRoss

Hello! I am brand new here. I am wanting to get a fabric cutting machine for my mom for Christmas and was looking for input from those who use one. The machines I am looking at are the hand crank Sizzix Big Shot or Big Shot Plus or an electronic one like a Silhouette Cameo or Cricut Explore Air.

I am not so much worried about cost but ease of use for her. She is currently working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden and still has a lot of pieces to cut. I am leaning towards the Silhouette Cameo but just not sure.

Thank you!
Tami

Onebyone

I use the Accuquilt Go manual crank. The Silhouette and Cricut are more for scrapbooking but can be used for fabric. Sizzix is a good cutter comparable to the Go. Accuquilt has a good sale now on all cutters and dies.

PaperPrincess

There are 2 general types of machines, ones that take dies and ones that are electronic. Again, in general, if you are cutting lots and lots of identical pieces the die cutting machines, like the Sizzix machines are a good choice. If, however, you are cutting lots of individual shapes, such as leaves, flowers etc. for applique, then the electronic ones may be a good choice. The die machines can cut multiple layers at one time, where the electronic ones cut only one. If your mom is doing a grandmother's flower garden, then she is cutting lots and lots of hexagons. I would take a look at the Accuquilt GO machines which are geared specifically toward quilters. The Go Big is a die cut machine that is electric, so easy to use.
http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/fabric...-compared.html

Prism99

My recommendation would be the Go Big electric without the cutting die bundle, or the Go manual crank without the die bundle. The Go Big would be preferred if it is in your budget. If you know what size hexes she is making, you could add in the correct size cutting die. You would need to know if she is paper piecing. If so, she would probably want one size to cut the papers and another size to cut the fabric.

Jane Quilter

I love my electric Go Big by Accuquilt. Lay the die on the table and it starts itself and pulls the die through by itself. Soooo much better than hand crank.

trapmar

Is there a lot of fabric waste with the Accuquilt?

quiltingshorttimer

not necessarily--if you accordion fold the fabric and carefully align your fabric like they show on the Accuquilt website, there's not much waste--no more than you'd have with your rotary cutter.

If you Mom is making a Grandmother's Flower Garden, the Accuquilt has a die that allows you to cut your fabric and also your paper pieces (the sizes are set up so you can have your fabric hexes the right size.

Scan N' Cut and Silhouette allow only one layer, and on the Silhouette (I think the Scan N' Cut also but don't have it)needs a fusible backing--which means the applique are usually going to be fused. Not sure how this would work on a GFG frankly. Think your best bet would be either the Accuquilt or a Sissix.

Dolphyngyrl

The scanncut doesn't need a fusible, the fabric just needs to be stiff but can be cut without fusible. As for sizzix it is very easy to use. I haven't had any issue with my big shot or my scanncut and love both for their own benefits

quilttiger

No regrets in getting my electric Go Big cutter over a year ago. It is easier on my arthritic hands but I recently pulled a muscle or two in my right arm. The machine has been a real blessing, indeed.

Geri B

I have both GO and Sizzix....Sizzix is easier to crank, but each has its place. As far as gfg...I did buy the go die that had two cuts..one for fabric, one for paper...I found seam allowance to skimpy...so paperpieces.com has a template that offered an acrylic with 3/8" seam allowance(for fabric), and fiskar had a handpunch the size I needed for papers....so I'm doing my gfg with those tools. But, for other projects...can't beat the die cutters!
my FYI...on some Sizzix dies-squares, rect.,tri., it will state -inches-" assembled, that is not the same as "finished" as the Accuquilt dies state.....