My new toy...........
On Memorial Day weekend Accuquilt had their Studio die cutter at such a bargain price that I had to buy it. I had held myself back from considering it before because I was afraid I would just fill boxes with cut pieces to be sold at my estate sale. I feared that I wouldn't take the time to sew them. I shouldn't have worried about that though as I am cutting and taking them directly to the sewing machine.
Let me explain for those who haven't seen one of these in person. Here is the die for the triangles used in my star blocks. You can see that it will cut 6 at once but the real kicker is that it cuts 10 layers, so that is 60 triangles in one trip through.
If you are concerned that it wastes a lot of fabric, the waste is 1/2". I just have to cut the fabrics a half inch wider than the cutting blades. You can see the waste in the background. I save all of that in a bag for a lady who stuffs pillows.
Now, on to the star blocks. The Bear Paw die was on sale and I could see it's potential with components that finish at 2" and 4". I wasn't sure at first what I would do with the long rectangle.
Then I came up with the idea for the sashing with a triangle square at one end of it to equal the 8" of the block size. I knew that would make a friendship star. Every other corner block has a star and the ones between just a square. I have purchased a few more dies (3 of them with my garage sale money) and always ones that are on sale. I'll be showing more in the future.
Some friends stopped to see me while they were in town and they mentioned my tiger lilies blooming. I was so surprised since I thought I would have to wait until next week for a bloom.
Up close and personal, in fact so close I had brown pollen all over my hand and arm! By the way my house isn't that tilted, it's the photographer who is a little off!
Let me explain for those who haven't seen one of these in person. Here is the die for the triangles used in my star blocks. You can see that it will cut 6 at once but the real kicker is that it cuts 10 layers, so that is 60 triangles in one trip through.
If you are concerned that it wastes a lot of fabric, the waste is 1/2". I just have to cut the fabrics a half inch wider than the cutting blades. You can see the waste in the background. I save all of that in a bag for a lady who stuffs pillows.
Now, on to the star blocks. The Bear Paw die was on sale and I could see it's potential with components that finish at 2" and 4". I wasn't sure at first what I would do with the long rectangle.
Then I came up with the idea for the sashing with a triangle square at one end of it to equal the 8" of the block size. I knew that would make a friendship star. Every other corner block has a star and the ones between just a square. I have purchased a few more dies (3 of them with my garage sale money) and always ones that are on sale. I'll be showing more in the future.
Some friends stopped to see me while they were in town and they mentioned my tiger lilies blooming. I was so surprised since I thought I would have to wait until next week for a bloom.
Up close and personal, in fact so close I had brown pollen all over my hand and arm! By the way my house isn't that tilted, it's the photographer who is a little off! 
38 comments:
Oh, how cool! AND exciting! The studio GO! looks so sturdy and impressive... has to be fun to use too!
Great idea to pass along the fabric scraps. I'm saving mine (rotary cutting) to make a bed for one of my grand-puppies.
Love the tiger lilies... just out and out gorgeous!
You're always one step ahead of me. :)
I just won a GO!Baby and thot I was so in the loop. Well, I'm starting off in a small loop.
What I can see is that it will be a lot better on our sore shoulders than rotary cutting everything.
Congrats on the cutter. I've had my GO cutter for about a year and LOVE IT. I process scraps and store units for scrappy quilts. SO when you are ready to sew, you just get the bag(s) of units and SEW.
Love the tiger lilies. Have a great weekend.
I noticed the friendship stars yesterday and thought they were sweet. Now that you've shown the die, I can see how clever that was to use up the cut pieces.
Now I'm coming over! I need for you to cut for me!!! Hey, that isn't a bad idea Wanda!!! You could charge for that service! Could I be your first customer?
HAVE FUN!
Nice, have fun with your new toy. You are giving me ideas for my go. Love the stars. Hannah
The Accuquilt cutters are like sliced bread, you don't know what you would have done without one. My Studio and GO! baby versions are great tools for fused fabrics too.
And here's a little secret Wanda just for you. In a week or so I'll be giving away some GO! baby dies and a cutter too on my blog!
I'm really not to sure about the Go. For someone who can't cut straight then perhaps it is for me. But on the other hand I like my wobbly blocks.
Your lilies are gorgeous.
I wondered when I saw the star blocks if you hadn't bought one. Glad you like it.Chris
Seems I am on tilt more often than not lately! Wow! Love your new toy!
Wanda, I know you will love the Studio. If I had room, I would probably have gotten one. They do cut more layers than the GO! and have more dies available.
You are putting yours to great use already.
Looks like fun to me!
Yippie for you! How exciting to see what you'll do with this in your hands. :)
That die cutter is cool. It's amazing to think of all the new quilting technology.
And I love your tiger lilies!
my tiger lilies finished over a week ago and I do love them.
Have fun with your new toy, I would only get one if I won it as I don't mind cutting and I don't want more toys in my sewing room - I just don't have enough room!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Cool! I have the Go! but someday I'm going to get the Studio.
If anyone will get their money's worth out of that machine, it will be you! That is awesome!!!! You will really have fun with it.
Your lily's are beautiful. I love the color.
What a wonderful way to cut your fabrics. Now you can stitch more flimsys.
Love your Lily.
Looks like fun. enjoy your new toy!
Wanda, what is the difference between the Studio and the regular GO cutter?? Also do you know anything about the Sizzix?
I can see you doing amazing things with your GO - you are so organized that this fits your style perfectly. What fun to watch you use it to its full advantage!
There are times I would love to have precut pieces to work with, but 99% of the time, I'm happier doing my own cutting (design as I go process). Nothing is written in stone, so I'm sure that could change as time marches on ...
Thanks for explaining the AccuQuilt. I have seen them advertised but worried about the waste factor. Now I understand!
Lucky you! I want to come over right now! I have been wanting to try the Go for a while now. I haven't had any luck in all the giveaways.
Does the Studio need a lot of room?
Well, good for you! As many quilty things as you make, I know you'll make good use of it, and it's a lot easier on the back, isn't it?! Your tiger lilies are so pretty. We had them when I was a child, but it's a little too hot and humid for them here.
I'm happy for you, bigger is better!
You always inspire me with your use of COLOR, perfect name for your quilty creations ~
:-}pokey
This is going to be fun, watching what you do with the shapes you cut! I loe the little star quilt you've got started. Can't wait to see what's next!
Lilies are so pretty but they make me sneeze if I get too close, so I love seeing close-up pictures like yours.
DARN! DARN! DARN! DARN! D-A-R-N!
I can't believe it was on sale and I MISSED it!!!! This is the one I have been holding out on!!! Wow, I'm going crazy right now knowing it was on sale!! Ok, where did you watch look and lurk to know it was on sale. Did you frequent their website?
I would L-O-V-E to cut 60 triangles with one swoop!!! DARN!
The studio is amazing, I think you'll like it when you're prepping for classes.
I know you will get a lot of use out of your Studio Cutter Wanda! Now you can cut your own Winding Ways! Lucky you.
Don't you just love 'tools' that make things easier. I would think that cutting would be fun but turning all those pieces into quilts would be more fun. Now you can buy dies instead of blades! Enjoy.
I am so jealous. I would love to have one of those cutting machines but just can't afford it. Now you will be able to make more quilts.
The Tiger Lily is beautiful. I will have to go outside and see if my lilies are blooming. Keep cool!!! We are going to have a hot, hot week.
This looks fantastic. I had seen it before some years ago, but have taken another look, since your post. I have now added it to my wish list and will keep an eye out for another of their Sales.
Oh the fun we can have with our toys! What's so wonderful about quilters' toys is that we so often share what we end up with. Boys and their toys --those tend to be self satisfying. (The ladies win that simplistic comparison.)
Your tiger lilies are dramatic and gorgeous! Hopefully you got some rain. We had a major storm go through last night leaving us 2".
Conrats on your new toy. I could never see the point of these cutters until I was given one. Now I can't imagine not having it. It makes prep work fun... Enjoy!
I won an Accuquilt Go Baby and am waiting for it to arrive so I can post about it!
60 triangles at once - wow, that would be a timesaver!
I think these are great tools, I have rented time at my LQS. I'm going to use it when I need 1000+ circles. No scissor cutting for me on that one! LOVE your tiger lilies. I planted 3 bulbs in a bucket and all bloomed. Now to find place to create a "lily garden".
Good golly, Wanda, I can't imagine a tool that could make you produce quilts faster than you already do! Enjoy your new toy. You'll make marvelous use of it.
Missed this post about your new toy, congrats! I bet you are having fun with it. I have the Sizzix Big Shot which is fun but the Studio would be wonderful with the bigger dies. I missed that sale, did you buy it with dies?
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