Let's GO! Already!
*Yes, I know you've been patiently waiting for me to post my first Go! demo with my Accuquilt Go! Cutter. Are you ready to GO!
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I appreciate your patience but I've been trying to think of what I could do that hasn't already been done. There have been so many excellent demos of the Go! Cutter but here I am trying to do my best. :-)
When I first started reading about the Go! Cutter I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted one. I mean, seriously, I can cut strips quickly with my ruler and rotary cutter so why would I want one? Well, I was over the moon the first time I saw someone posting a demo using their Go! to cut a template style quilt i.e. applecore, dresden plate, tumbler, etc. Then I knew it would probably be fun to own one.
One of the dies I selected when Accuquilt offered me a Go! Cutter and three dies was the dresden plate. I've wanted to make a dresden plate quilt since I started quilting over 10 years ago but the idea of cutting with a template seemed like a daunting task to me. Ugh! LOL
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I've read that it's much easier to use the dies if you take time to mark the actual dies with a Sharpie. It's definitely much easier to see where to position your fabric.
I wasn't entirely sure that I knew what I was doing so I pulled some scraps to cut my first Dresden Plate. Once I feel comfortable then I'll cut out enough for lots of blocks! Keeping it simple for myself right now. :-)*
Once you've positioned your fabric over the die, you lay the cutting mat on top and roll the entire die through the rollers. You have to lift the cutting mat with care with there's a ton of static cling and your pieces will fly off - simply slide your cutting mat off. :-)
Now it's time to sew - fold your blades in half and using a 1/4" seam allowance sew along the widest end chain sewing is quick and easy!
Trim corner at the fold (sadly I cropped that out of my picture - sorry). Now turn right side out, push out the corner with a point turner or pencil (that's what I used - teehee) and press.
When you sew your blades or petals together using a 1/4" seam allowance I strongly suggest that you start approx 1/4" from the folded tip end of seam - sew then reverse to the edge, then sew forward to complete your seam. This will keep the thread ends from showing.
I cut two circles using the Dresden Plate die. Attempting to use a 1/4" seam allowance I sewed them right sides together, turned them right side out and here you see that I'm trying to finish the center circle. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea - LOL*
I hope my demo of the Accuquilt Go! Cutter has been helpful. :-)
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I appreciate your visits - come again soon.
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In Friendship!
40 comments:
Fun, Darlene! The templates would be my reason, too, for owning the Go! Here's a suggestion for making the center circles. See if it works. Cut 2 circles and sew them together ALL the way round. In the side meant to be the back, carefully cut a slit and turn the circle right side out, using a toothpick or chopstick or something to run around the inside seam to smooth it out. You could use an ugly fabric or a really thin fabric for the backing --as long as the Go! will cut it.
Have fun!
I love Dresden plates but like you said, it takes a lot of time to cut. This die is sure going to be something I would love to have. Great job with the tutorial!
Grazie per il tutorial, questa versione di piatto di Dresda non la conoscevo, spero di provare al più presto, anche se non ho la macchina per tagliare i pezzi....
Ciao Domenica
I love the Go! for exactly the same reason as you - to save doing template cutting! Thanks for the tip about sliding the mat to stop pieces flying off in all directions. I never thought of that!
What fun you're having...I see a wonderful Dresden Plate quilt in your future!
Looks like the Go could be a very helpful tool for quilters. Nice job on the Dresden plate! I haven't attempted one yet because of the need to use a template...hmmmm.
That is the die I would own if I had a go! Love dresden plates.
The Dresden Plate template is one that I would want, too. I took a class when I first began quilting. I hated cutting the blades. My plates were not consistent. That project got chunked. Enjoy your Go!!!!!! And yes, I would love to own my own Go! Have a super Sunday!!!!!
Great tutorial! You said everything I would have.
Using Perfect Circles template by Karen Kay Buckley is the only way to go when you need to turn the edges of a circle. They turn out perfect EVERY time.
Thanks so much for posting the demo. Looks pretty easy!! I love the look of the tumbler quilts made with the GO! I so want one now! I hope Santa leaves one under the tree for me!
Love your tutorial Darlene. The dresden die is one of my favorites. Can't wait to see what else you make. Hugs Ariane
I would really love to try this die one day too. Thanks for the tutorial.
So much fun Darlene...one of these day's I WILL have a GO! Enjoy and show us lots of treasures as you get them made...keep us all envious, LOL! Big Hugs...
By the way, I adore Dresden Plates. I'm hoping to try a table topper with them maybe today if I can do some sewing. The cold weather is severly limiting my activity just now. Hugs again...
Glad you got some play time with your GO cutter. Don't worry about showing something absolutely new--we want to see what YOU want to do.
Hi Darlene!!
Great demo...I really liked the thread tip on how to sew the petals together. I used the circle die cutter(the largest one) for my Dresden flower centers...much better size and can turn under with ease. Have a wonderful Sunday!
How fun! Love the Dresden plate quilts! I knew you were so busy playing, you just didn't have time to post. ;-) Missed you! Happy Sunday!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh that is wonderful - and a great demo too. I adore Dresden plates - isn't it amazing what the clever quilting world is coming up with???
I demoed the Dresden plate yesterday with my little sewing group. When I did the center, I cut a circle of fabric and a circle of cardstock. I cut the cardstock 1/4" smaller. Then did a basting stitch around the fabric circle just like doing a yoyo. I starched the heck out of it before I pulled the cardstock out from the back. Worked like a charm!
I love it! I, too, have been wondering if I really need/want a GO. Maybe I do NEED one! Thanksfor the demo.
I demoed the Dresden too...I love the die!
Micki
I've been wondering if you've cut all your fabric to bits. :-) Love your Dresden Plate block, and that's a great tip you shared about starting 1/4" away from the end and backstitching.
Darlene, I love my Go. Thanks for the Dresdan Plate tutorial...I would love to have this die.
I would think the templates would be the biggest selling point for me - dresden plates look tedious to do by hand! Yours turned out just lovely.
This is similar to my first quilt that I ever received from my mother-in-law and I still LOVE it...maybe I should learn to make one so I can continue the tradition and make one for my daughter-in-law (if I ever get one!)
Looks like a blast. I love the Dresden plates as well. Have fun playing.
Looks like quilting is getting a lot "easier", especially with the GO!. The dresden looks much less daunting now, after your tutorial!
Elzaan
Wohhoo.. love to see your play withthe Go... and dresdens... thay are so pretty blocks... THANKS.. I am also btw making some in my sewing room..:O))
Well look at you GO! lol!!! That's AWESOME!
'liked the tip about starting 1/4 in. from the edge so the thread ends don't show. I'll have to remember that one.
It looks like you're sold on the Go cutter, it sure would save a lot of time with those sorts of templates. I think I have a partly done dresden somewhere in a drawer.
Your demo is great. I think the Dresden Plate is a great one to start with.
Yeah! Great job. I have been wanting to make a dresden plate quilt. I guess I will have to get one of those dies one day.
Your dresden plate looks great. Thank you for the demo, now all I need is a GO! Your tip about sewing near the folded end and reversing is something good to know no matter how the fabric is cut.
This is great Darlene! Dresden's look like fun. I used someone's AccuQuilt to make a tumbler quilt and it was so easy!
Great Demo Darlene! I've made a few Dresden plate table toppers, but I agree a whole quilt does seem daunting. I'm still hoping to win the Go cutter, if not maybe Santa will bring one for Christmas. *<l:^).
Sew helpful and really inspiring since you made it look sew easy...good tut...
oh Darlene your so lucky to have one of these.
I tried to win one so many times...
oh well maybe someday one will come live at my house too.
making a dresden plate quilt would be easy!
I can see lots of uses for this machine.
looking forward to seeing many more projects from you with the go templates.
Kathie
I think you did an excellent job on this tutorial and I certainly appreciate it. What I find interesting is that you were able to get the Dresden Plate to work with 20 petals. I've seen some bloggers that felt they needed 21, some needed 22. I wondered if their 1/4" seam was off. So, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I have seen others struggle with what to do in the center of their AQ Dresden Plates. The two circle idea is a good solution and probably the easiest. I've also seen versions of smaller Dresden petals in the center, as well as machine embroidery work. What ever you do will be beautiful.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Love dresden plates - and yours looks really nice! Thanks so much for sharing about the Go! Hope that pesky circle gets in line for you (smile)!
Hi There...Just checkin' in with ya. I've been trying to learn how to applique and I finally gave it up and used the old fusible (double sided) web. Then I'm stitching around it. By the time I tried all the methods in the how too books, half of my sewing day was gone so I thought, I'm going to have an applique block one way or another before I stop and I'm almost there. Don't have all the stitching done but the pieces are cut and placed....so, I'm off, to try to finish up. If I have to finish tomorrow, I will go to my place at the dinner table, head hanging in shame *heavy sigh*. Well, head hanging anyway, I think it is permanently stuck in the looking down position from reading the books that I learned nothing from...later gater!!! Hugs....
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