Everybody's talking about it! There are giveaways going on all over blogland, Facebook, etc. I haven't entered any of the giveaways because my chances of winning one are slim to none. LOL
When I first heard about these wonders I wasn't sure I would ever want one. I've been on the fence - Yes! No! Yes! Definitely Not! LOL I fear that I would use it initially and then it would sit on a shelf - I don't want one just to be able to say I own one. Does that make sense?
I have a little stash of cash from my recent de-stashing sale and I don't want to spend it on wind sauce and air pudding (giggle). Mr Daze keeps telling me that I should spend it on something fun i.e. a new 'toy'.
So, can we talk? Do you have one? What do you like/dislike about it? Do you want one? Why?
Talk to me!
Thanks for popping in to visit. Come again soon.
In Friendship!
p.s. Mr Daze wants to know whether or not he can use it to 'fussy cut' pasta. LOL
34 comments:
I don't have one....and I too see these popping up all over blogland...some folks lucky enough to have Accuquilt send them one to try, blog and then giveaway one! I've tried to win but no luck. What I want one for is to cut my 2.5" and 5" pieces. I've got piles of 2.5" and 5" charms that I've cut with a rotary cutter just to be ready for that next quilt. It takes forever to cut them and I'm guessing with the GO it will be quick and I could save cutting until last minute instead of having piles sitting! But then...if I got the GO...I'm be cutting it all up and having a blast!
It is pricey....for those who quilt alot I say well worth it...like yourself. You quilt circles around us! Oh yes...you can now cut them too! Anyway...for the quilter who don't do alot of projects or uses precuts it isn't likely a good deal. Just my opinion. I want one...I do believe I would get some use of out it. Let me know what you think of yours...someday soon.
I want one ...but that's about as far as my knowledge on the subject goes. I'm interested in your answers, too.
Tell Mr. Daze if he figures out how to cut for ravioli to let us know.
Darlene...it's amazing...almost too good to be true...I'm not sure I would have believed it until I tried it...I know it's going to save a ton of time with 2 1/2" squares and 5" squares...and hexagons!
Oh, let us know what people say. Haha Mr. Daze :-).
I think it would be absolutely wonderful for cutting strips and charms...oh my the time we would save. I'd love it for my charity quilts because they are always made of squares or strips...would save me so much time and I could make more quilts. I'll be watching to see what others have to say.
Fun listening to the reports about them. Would I like one? Sure would. I don't even have any idea whatsoever one would cost. I've never investigated it before, but am curious.
And, I wonder if the dies are expensive?
I used to think I wanted one. But I've seen one in action and they waste a lot of fabric. And for that reason I wouldn't buy one. I can cut ALL the same shapes it can cut with little to know waste. Yeah the Accuquilt can do it faster but that's not enough of a reason for me to buy it.
Like you I was flipping back and forth about getting one. I wanted the Studio because of the available dies. However, my pocketbook could only afford the GO. I finely decided to get one when they told us that the Double Wedding Ring would soon be one of the dies for the GO.
I have several dies - Stips 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, diamonds 4", Triangles in a Square, Applecore, Chisels, and Tumbler. I have used and love all of them. The Tumbler and the Applecore are both larger than I would like:
For the Tumbler I make strings and then cut the tumbler, looking great so far (might take me a year to make enought string tumbler blocks)
For the oversized Applecore I am using it as signature blocks for a wedding quilt. it is working perfectly for this.
Triangle in a Square. One of my favorite blocks of all time. I grew up calling it 54/40 or fight. In less than 2 hours I cut all the pieced for a queen size quilt.
As a Fan of Bonnie Hunter's free quilt patterns (Quiltville.com) I love how fast I can cut the strips and the bricks for her quilts. I have a stack of bricks ready to go for the next quilt I select from her site.
I have taken most of my scraps and cut them into usable shapes and pieces. Some became applecore, and the rest squares or strips.
There are several applique dies available - I have no experience with these, as I do not care for applique.
I would suggest that you go the AccuQuilt site and look at the dies available for the GO. Then look at the type of quilts that you most love to make. If you see the dies would work with your style of quilting - then run don't walk to your computer and order the GO. You might also give Accuquilt a call - their customer service is outstanding (Beth is an angle). Ask if there is a local vendor where you can go and try the GO, also ask about any specials they are having. I got my strips as part of a bundle and save alot, also bought the Diamond in the Rough set and again saved money. Also if you are a member of a quilt guild ask if anyone have one that you could try. Although the money is more than I would normally send on my quilt hobby, the time I save allows me more time to work on my quilts. And I have been able to make my own kits - so when the urge to piece hits, I have one ready to go.
Let us know what you decide.
I have the go with several of the dies. I really love my go! It does take much less time to cut out shapes for a quilt. I did find on a couple of the dies that they were cutting shorter then they should. I still have to play with it to try to get them accurate.
I absolutely loved the tumbler die and all of the applique shaped ones are awesome. The circle cutter is amazing and saves an unbelievable amount of time.
I just purchased the rag quilt and the feather dies and have many more on my list of must haves lol. I think you should buy one!
It looks like fun. You're such a prolific quilter that it would probably be worth the cost. Just think of how much time you'd save!Mr. Daze is too funny. If you end up getting one, you might not want to leave him alone with it. :)
I do not have one and don't intend on buying one. I don't think I would use it very much. A good toy for someone who cuts a lot of repeat shapes, I suppose. I don't know how much the additional dies cost. That would be something to consider too.
I don't have one, but they seem to be the new "IN" craze at the moment. I did wonder how long the novelty would last with this sort of toy. Hence I don't have one, like you I think it would get used for a few weeks until I went back to the ever faithful rotary cutter.
There have been all kinds of rave reports recently, but I have seen a few who were not too happy. Here is one from yesterday -
http://quilted-with-love.blogspot.com/2010/06/ohhhnoooo.html
I don't think I would buy one, but if you were to cut a lot of special shapes like circles it might be worth your while. I look forward to hearing about your decision.
I really wanted one... you know that story. :-/ I've done a lot of research on the dies and shapes and think I would use it mostly for the applique shapes. I've always wanted quilts with applique borders, but accurate cutting is pretty essential for those, and I think the GO! would really have me appliqueing in no time. I also liked the apple core and the drunkard's path dies. I've made a few dp blocks and again~ accuracy is important with them. Good luck in doing your research.
I don't have one. I wish I knew someone who did. I'd like to spend a couple of hours and cut tumblers and apple cores for a couple of quilts. Personally, I enjoy cutting fabric. My problem is the clutter on my cutting table. A GoCutter won't clean my mess:) Good luck! Let us know what you learn and decide.
I got one for Mother's Day and have to confess that I hardly use it at all. It's tough to get the fabric positioned so it makes a perfect straight of grain cut and I think that's essential to perfect piecing. I didn't think it saved much time because you have to precut the strips or squares to fit in the die. But I can tell you that I'm in a minority. Just about everyone that has one raves about how great they are and how much they use them.
I've heard these mixed reviews also so I can't add anything new here. I don't have one but as of this moment I don't think I want one until I hear consistently good reports about it. I'll be anxiously coming back and reading all your comments.
Cindy
I have an AccuQuilt and am very happy. They also have a great customer service department. The link to the person that is unhappy is associated with a manufacturing defect on a die, where the grey foam has lifted off. AccuQuilt will replace it, but when I had my problem with 1 of many dies, they had me glue it back down and it worked fine (still works fine).
I have really felt the AccuQuilt saves me money and time. Love it.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Not for me - I don't do a lot of piecing, mostly just applique, so it would just collect dust in my sewing room! I guess it depends on what type of quilting you do. I think for someone that makes a lot of charity quilts, it would be awesome.
I have one. I bought it 9 months ago. I have made 2 quilts. I have cut many projects for my Mother in law though, she can not use the rotary cutter due to carpel tunnel and arthritis. The Go! gives her and I accurate cuts without the pain. I managed to cut my fabrics in such a way to avoid the waste everyone is talking about. I have had it for 9 months though..so I have practice. I did receive dies from accuquilt...but IF I didn't like the Go!, I would have declined. I have used my Go! so much that I have cracked my mats...from soo much cutting. I love the circle dies and hexies..but gosh I have a purpose for all my dies.
As well I love using the Go! with my scraps...I have cut countless circles, flowers, leaves and hexies..just from scraps that I would have thrown away.
Gee,I don't know if that helps or not. LOL
For me it is kinda the same a an E-Reader - I am intrigued but not sure it is for me. I love a real book and I do love to cut out fabric...I find it relaxing.
Well, Darlene, I'm like you...want it/don't want it. If I did have one I think I would use it to cut out applique circles because that is one quilting job I don't like. I'm interested in finding out more about it. Maybe I'll just enter one of those contests!
I bought one over a month ago and have only just recently used it. I have so many gotta haves sitting around and don't really need a new one. But, I am having a lot of difficulties with my hands, bilateral trigger fingers and find it difficult to to use the rotary cutter at times. So the go cutter for me ended up being a win-win. I have blogged about it and even fessed up to the downside, cost, but would still buy the cutter. If you use alot of the 2 1/2" or 1 1/2" strips, you will love this machine to pieces! I went to their site and watched all the videos that Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims put out on it's use. One of the points they specified was that the die needs to be put thru the rollers slightly tilted and not straight on. That really makes a difference.
If you lived near me, I would love to have you come over to try it out. I know there was talk some months back that some shops were going to rent the usage out on their store models but I haven't seen any ads on it lately. Bring your fabric, or buy some of mine, lol, and cut to your hearts content. I honestly wish I had used one before I bought it...I would have bought it sooner! Maybe if Accu quilt knew that more shop owners would have one to demo! You have a lot of really nice shops in A don't you? Give some of them a call and see if they have one for you to try out. You might even call some of the quilt guilds in your area, they may know of someone that has one.
Good luck and have fun. Pop over to my blog and see what I said. Best to you, Elaine in Texas
Last month at our guild meeting, one of our members demoed one. It appeared to work very well and quickly too. We came to the conclusion that the only downside we could see was that there appeared to be a lot of wasted fabric.
I have one and love it. Careful folding of fabric means that I get hardly any waste, although I did to start with. I have had 3 friends come over at different times to play with it - 2 of them now have them and the third is about to order one. I have had a foam thingy come unglued, contacted Accuquilt and they replied straight away.
Great Post, Great Comments!
I was right there with you, to buy, or not to buy....
After reading all the comments I think I'm going with not to buy, for now.
I can certainly change my mind down the road, but I don't have any wrist issues like so many other quilters, so I think I'll continue to cut my fabric by hand and save my money.
I'm just not sure I'll use it on most of the quilt patterns I make, and the fabric waste comments are a little worrisome.
I keep trying to talk my quilt club into buying one, then rotating it around, but so far it's been a no go.
Don't get me wrong, if I could win one, or one show up my doorstep for free....I would take it!!
I've been researching them. I hate cutting strips, so thought it would be helpful for that. Hoping there's a vendor at Long Beach so I can try one out. The downside of the fabric waste is the biggest complaint I have read about thus far. With fabric dollars rising, it's something to think about.
I'd love to have one but that's a big chunk of change investment!!
Unless you use the same size strips or squares there would also be the added cost of the dyes.
Nope...don't have one. I'd rather buy fabric!
I don't know enough about them to give an opinion. I do know that I thought I had to have a Cricut (cuts paper into design in case you don't know). Bought the thing and there it sits on a shelf. Had it for 3 years, used it 3 times. That's me.
I use the June Taylor Shape Cut for "bulk" cutting of strips and squares and it goes plenty fast for me. I actually enjoy the cutting process so I'm not sure I would want one...which is weird 'cause I am a total "gadget girl" lol!! I haven't even looked at how much they are, I've looked at the actual machine at Rosie's and just wasn't interested. I'm assuming they're expensive? So for the $ and storage and I'm sticking with what I've got for now. If I start hearing amazing things about it I could change my mind in a heartbeat though :)
First, let me say to Mr. Daze - "I like where your head's at!" And, I'm so glad you did this post - I've been on the fence about getting one, too! I enjoyed reading all of the info about it! I actually like cutting, hate to waste fabric), and didn't find enough dies to interest me - so I'm thinking no for now! How about you - what are you going to do, Darlene?
I'm in the 'not planning to buy one' group as it seems like the cost of dies could be an endless drain. It just doesn't seem to take that long to cut strips,etc and special shapes are too varied from one project to another. Maybe if I tried one but I'm trying to hold on to my cash :-)
I was just wondering what you decided on the Go? I have a BIG SHOT (made by Sixxix) I actually bought mine from Stampin' Up. It was $89 I think...best money I ever spent, seriously cool, fast, and efficient! I don't know much about the Go, but with mine I can cut tons of things from leather, to cardstock, fabric...you name it. I can cut 8 layers of fabric at one time!!! I love how accurate these wonderful little gadgets are. Which in turn will make quilting a lot easier because everything then will match up perfectly. With the BIG SHOT you can use any dies from any other machine as well. I went recently to the Sixxix site and saw that they sell dies for cutting strips and about anything else. The dies ran from $69-$89 each. If you know your going to use it...so worth the investment. I can assure you that now that I have one......I won't ever be without one!
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