Review of the Slice Fabrique and a Fabric Postcard Tutorial!

Hi all!

I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review the Slice Fabrique fabric cutter.  If you have been reading my blog for a while - you know that I love to use my die-cutters to create projects quickly, easily and with great precision.

The Slice has been around for a while for scrapbookers but now they have come out with one for us quilters!  The Slice Fabrique is a different from my other die-cutters.  For one it is electronic and it is computerized.   This means that we can re-size the images!!!  Yes, you read that correctly - you can re-size the images from 1" to 4" big.  It also primarily focuses on applique images - not piecing - although there are a few piecing images on the Applique Basics card that comes with the machine - but here I am getting ahead of myself.

First let's open up the box:

Inside you will find everything you need to get Slicing right away.  The roll of fusible on the right is extra fusible that the good people at Making Memories sent me :-D  I think they knew I wouldn't be able to stop once I started LOL!  The Slice uses SD cards, like they type in cameras,  instead of dies so the storage of your designs is very minimal.  

The Slice Fabrique comes with the Applique Basics SD card which contains ALL of these re-sizable shapes!  And yes that is an upper and lower case alphabet and set of numbers there.   this is a major plus to the Slice Fabric in my eyes!  The cost of the alphabet and numbers dies for the Accuquilt Go! or for the Sizzix are quite costly.  To give you an idea - the cost of the one alphabet available for the Go! is MORE expensive than buying the Slice Fabrique which comes with this alphabet!  The SD cards are about $60.00 CND regular price and many come with additional alphabets on them.  Plus, these alphabets are re-sizable to give us even greater freedom.  I absolutely love that.

 

Ok let's get to slicing!  First you need to prepare the 6" square glass mat but spreading the adhesive over the mat.

 

And let it dry for a couple of minutes.

 

Next we need to prepare our fabric.  The Slice Fabrique requires that you put fusible on the back of your fabric before you use it.  This is a necessary step since it stabilizes the fabric  during the cutting process.  Some of the designs like the hexagons would be great for piecing and we wouldn't want fusible on them.  I am told that you can spray baste paper onto the back and then cut and peel the paper off if you want them for piecing.  I haven't tried this though - just passing it on ;-)

Now let's turn to the machine.  The Slice Fabrique is cordless so I let it charge for about an hour before I used it.  You can also use it while it is plugged in and charging.  First it takes us to the home screen.

Then we press Select and choose settings.

  

Then it asked me to home the cutter - which I did because the instructions told me to ;-)  I guess this centers the blade.

  

Back to the menu now and I chose Applique.

 

I chose this pretty snowflake.

 

The snowflake could be as small as 2" or as large as 4"

 

For this project I chose 3.5" to work with my fabric postcards.

 

Another couple of cool functions the Slice Fabrique can do are Shadow - which is when you would want to give your applique 3D shadowing.  You would put the shadow behind the applique.  Really neat!  The other thing is mirror - but since the snowflake is already it's own mirror image that was unnecessary here.

After I had chosen my design and the size it was time to load the fabric.

 

You NEED to make sure that the prepared fabric is firmly adhered to the glass mat.  If you don't smooth it out and make sure that it is sticking your design will completely mess up.  This happened to me the first time and it was completely user error.

 

Next place the Slice on top of the fabric and glass mat.  Hold the sides firmly and press the button on the back right to start cutting.  You really do need to hold the Slice down here since it will want to move a bit as the blade drops down and starts to rotate around and cut the fabric.  Can you see the white part on the right of the slice?  That is the mechanism and the blade is in there.

 

The Slice will tell you when it is finished.  Then you lift off the Slice and it will look a little like this - huh??!!  Did it do anything?

 

It sure did!  Look at that!!  Cool huh?  Beautiful and intricate.

 

We now have a positive and a negative design.  I love it!  Look at how pretty they both are.

Let's talk a bit about the Slice Fabrique now.  

I really like this little machine.  There are lots of positives:

• I think that for the alphabets alone it is a great idea.  
• Even if you're not interested in the alphabets the ability to re-size designs will give quilters an affordable way to die-cut applique shapes and lots of options!
• By using SD cards instead of dies the cards are less expensive than dies.  The Applique Basics card alone is filled with many wonderful shapes that I think would make any quilter happy.  
• If you read the instructions it is user-friendly.
• It is cordless so you can charge it and take it with you.
• There is a hands free attachment that you can purchase if you don't like holding onto the machine.
• Frankly, this machine is another option for quilters - it won't replace the other machines but it does give us more flexibility in out applique designs.  It is a great addition to any sewing room.

Now, there are s few negatives to this machine. 

• There is a learing curve to using it.  I did mess up my first cut because I didn't ready the instructions clearly enough - but after that I was fine.
• There is a bit more fabric waste than with other die-cutters.  Now that said Making Memories has an excellent blog with video tutorials which are extremely well done and really helped decrease fabric waste.
• The glue needed for the glass mat could get seriously expensive - however - they have a spray adhesive that you can get and I am told that it works better than the glue.
• The size limitations on the applique - 4" is as large as you can go.  However, I think that the ability to re-size out-weighs this negative for me.
• They recommend using the Slice fusible webbing but I am told that other brands like Steam A Seam 2 and Wonder Under will also work.
• The blades do wear out but they are not expensive and I have still not worn one out yet.

I am really happy with this machine.  It has honestly filled a gap for me with my die-cutters.  It allows us to re-size designs and give us an affordable source for multiple alphabets.  I really, really like those options.  I think that the Slice Fabrique would be great for ANY quilter would does applique - especially if they don't like cutting those shapes out like me!  I think it would be a great present under the tree this Christmas ;-)

Ok since I was cutting up some fabric I decided to work on a project while I was trying out this machine.  Every year I make fabric post-cards for my Christmas cards and the Slice is PERFECT for this!  You probably noticed that I started off with a rectangle of fabric that I cut into with the slice.  This was a 4" x 6" rectangle that is the size of a postcard.  As you saw int he review I pre-fused it and then cut out the shape.

 

I also cut a 4" x 6" piece of timtex - available at lots of quilt shops or fabric stores.  I grabbed my Lapel Stick - my absolute favorite fabric glue and started gluing.

 

I glued a 4" square of silver fabric to one piece of timtex and a 4" x 6" piece to another.

 

Then I very carefully ironed everything down.  The silver will melt if your iron is too hot.  At this stage you can do some machine quilting on these if you wish but I decided not to.

Then I used my Lapel Stick again to glue my postcard back onto the other side.  I have a stamp for this but you can draw this by hand.

 

Next zig zag around the outside - I love my uneven zig zag stitch for this since it is so forgiving - and if you use white thread it really looks like icicles!  So simple - so pretty!

So there you go!  I used both the applique shape and the background fabric to create these very pretty fabric post cards!  What do you think?  If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them here!  Will you be asking for a Slice Fabrique for Christmas?

Whew that was a long one!  I feel like you deserve a prize if you made it to the end LOL!  Well how about this - our friends at Lapel Stick would like to offer one of my readers the chance to try Lapel Stick out!  If you would like the chance to win a Lapel Stick fabric glue stick just leave a comment here saying that you would like to be entered - I'll pick a winner on Sunday right after I pick a winner for the die-cut applique shapes from my other give-away!  There is still time to enter if you haven't yet!

A Christmas Tree-Skirt and GIVEAWAY!

Hi all!

Welcome to all of my existing readers and new readers alike!  Today is my day in SewCalGal's Christmas blog hop!  You have to hop on over to SewCalGal's blog and check out the list of all the other hoppers - there are some great tips and tutorials and a great give-away so run on over and check it all out!

I hope that you like my tutorial using the Accuquilt Go! Sleigh and Snowflakes die.  I have been wanting to make a new tree-skirt for our tree for a while and this blog hop gave me the perfect excuse.  I love this die since it makes cutting reindeer and the sleigh so quick and easy - not to mention the snowflake (but I don't use that shape today).

First let's start with the background for the tree-skirt.  I decided to do a non-round tree-skirt so we are going to need to peice it.  Now if you feel comfortable making an octagon without peicing feel free!

You will need:
2 x 12.5" squares
1 x 12.5" by 36" rectangle
1 x 18.5" square

Cross-cut the 18.5" square on each diagonal to make 4 triangles.

Piece two of the  triangles to each side of the 12.5" squares as shown.

Piece these two units to either side of the long rectangle as shown.  Now we have our center.  Trim off the excess from the setting triangles

Now cut 4 strips 3.5" by the width of fabric for the borders.  You can either use your 3.5" strip die or rotary cut these.

Add these onto the sides first to the shorter 12.5" sides and trim to the correct angle to match up with the longer sides.

Add the longer sides. 

 

And trim off the excess.  Whew, the hard work is now finished!!

Ok now onto the fun and easy part!

Press fusible onto the back of some brown fabric and cut 8 reindeer (9 if you want Rudolph!).  Press some fusible onto the back of some red fabric and cut the sleigh. Choose some various Christmas prints and put some fusible on the back of those to make 4 presents using your 2" square die (or you can rotary cut these as well).  The presents in the sleigh make it look like Santa is completely enveloped and covered in presents!

Lay out your top and draw a circle in the middle - mine was about 7" square or the size of my side plate.  Then draw a line from the circle to the end - you will be cutting on these lines later.  Lay out your applique shapes until you are happy with them and press.

I debated adding some snowflakes around the reindeer but every time I placed them I didn't like the effect - maybe if I used a blue snowflake print as my background fabric I would have liked it better with the snowflakes.  But, against the white background I just didn't like it as much so I left them out.  I really like the simplicity of this design.

Layer your quilt top, batting and backing and applique and quilt as desired. I used Sliver metallic thread by Sulky to machine quilt and to applique.

After I finished all of that my kids started to ask where Santa was in the sleigh!  So I grabbed the Holiday Accessories die and cut out the mitt and the small circle.  I placed the mitt and the circle on the presents to look like Santa was completely engulfed in the presents on the sleigh with only the top of his hat one one mitt sticking out.  This is optional but I think it gives a little more action to the tree-skirt.  You could also use the bow on the Holiday Accessories die to add a bow to the present heap but again I thought that it got a bit fussy for my taste and i really like how this one is simple and flowing.

Next I free-motion quilted the reins using black thread and a very fine zig-zag stitch to join the reindeer and the sleigh together.  I love the movement the reins give to the piece.  It makes the whole thing flow.  I thought about adding cording but I figured that with the hustle and bustle of Christmas morning that cording might not last too long before it was pulled off.

You will need to cut bias binding for this since because of the circle in the middle.  If you need a tutorial on cutting bias binding you can find one here.

Well there it is!  I hope that you have enjoyed my tutorial to make this tree-skirt.  You could easily embellish this more that I have - with bells and ribbons etc - it is all up to you!

Ok now onto the GIVE-AWAY!!!

How would you like to win all the applique shapes needed for this tree-skirt?  The sleigh, the reindeer and presents all pre-fused and die-cut?  I debated doing the background fabric as well but since I started thinking about a blue sky or a night sky instead of the white I thought that I would leave that up to you!  LOL

Ok here's the fine print!

For one chance to win you can comment on this post.  Tell me anything about Christmas past or present.  Do you have a tree-skirt?  Did you make it - or are you thinking about making this one?

For a second chance to win, become a follower and leave another comment here for a second entry.  If you already follow my blog that's fine just leave a comment here telling me that you do.

For a third chance to win like me on Facebook and leave another comment here.  Again, if you already like me on Facebook just tell me so in a comment.

Every comment is your entry - 1 comment one entry ;-)

Please, please make sure your blogger is not set to no-reply!!!!  Please see my previous post here on how to make sure that you are not a no-reply blogger!  If a no-reply blogger is chosen then I will be forced to draw another name and I really don't want to do that!

The winner will be chosen on Sunday to give everyone a chance to enter! Good luck everyone!

Don't forget to visit all the other blogs on the hop!  There are some great tutorials offered.

Here is the line up for this blog hop:

Monday, December 12th

• SewCalGal

Tuesday, December 13th

• Leona's Quilting Adventure
• Cherry (Cherry Bossoms)

Wednesday, December 14th

• Terrie (Bits & Pieces)
• Nancy (Tattered Garden)

Thursday, December 15th

• Katrina (Sunshower Quilts)
• Jacque (Lily Pad Quilting)

Friday, December 16th

• SewCalGal
• Paulette (Sweet P Quilting and Creations)

A Christmas Tumbler

Ta da!  Another tumbler quilt!

 

I sure do love the tumbler die!  This is the large tumbler die for my Accuquilt Go!  once again.  I love, love, love it for doing seasonal quilts.  It is so fast to put together, uses up odd pieces of fabric and it showcases larger prints without cutting them up too small.  I thought about saving this for SewCalGal's Christmas Theme Blog Hop (which i am participating in) but there were a couple of tumbler quilts on her Halloween Hop so I thought that I would just show you this one and offer a different tutorial on my day.

This quilt will be a gift in a yearly drawing I do so hopefully who ever wins will like it!

I love this quilt because it is completely from my stash - top, backing, binding - everything - yey!  I love using my stash!

I found that about 10 years ago, maybe less, it was all about building a stash and accumulating fabric for your stash.  I read articles in quilting magazines about how to build a stash; and, many of us, me included, did just that - we built a mighty stash!  Sigh!

Now, the big trend in articles and books and quilt shop clubs seems to be busting your stash, scrap quilts - and using pre-cuts like jelly rolls - but that's a whole different story LOL!

Why did this new trend start do you think?  Is it the down-turn in the economy?  Hmmm. . . maybe.  Or, maybe, a lot of us looked at the hundreds, if not thousands, of yards of fabric that we have and realized that we would HAVE to make A LOT of quilts to use up our stash!  I am seriously amazed, every time I pull a complete quilt completely out of my stash, at how little difference it seems to make.  It seems like I own a nearly bottomless supply of fabric that I might never get through - odd predicament don't you think? 

Don't get me wrong I get so happy when I pull a quilt completely out of my stash - but I feel like I should ALWAYS be pulling quilts out of my stash instead of buying some new and yummy fabrics.  So, now when people ask me about building a stash, I tell them not to.  I advise new quilters to buy for the project and not for the stash; because, at some point you will have to bust that stash.  Thank goodness for things like the tumbler block to make it all come together!

So what do you do?  Buy for the stash or bust the stash?

In the Dye Pot!

I spent a portion of yesterday doing this - dying up some wool for the background of the rug that I want to start soon.  it is a pattern by Gene Shepherd called Pickering Oak.

There's the wool all simmering on the stove.  Unlike cotton fabric we have to heat wool on the stove to get it to absorb the dyes.  Imagine my whole house smelling like wet mittens over the heater.  At least it was nice out and I could open up the windows for a bit to air everything out. 

It wasn't going as dark as I wanted so I added more black dye.  Uh oh it went a little too dark I think! 

 

Well at least there is the other pot that I didn't add too much dye to.  Whew!

 

I guess I'll just have to wait until it all dries before I make up my mind.  Wool always looks so much darker when it is wet.

 

Hey not bad at all!!  It is a little bit darker and more blue than I wanted but I really like it!  I think I'll keep it as is and go with it.  Since the leaves will have so much orange in them this will be a nice compliment to the orange.

Dying is always such an adventure for me since I am so new to it - I really like to dye wool but I would just have a fit if someone asked me to replicate a recipe!  I know I know - I should start taking notes for my own sake at least.

Ok now that that is finished I have to dye for the leaves - more adventures!

I "Fixed" it!

I fixed it - and I am much happier!

 

What do you think?  I must admit I was really lucky and I found a whole bunch of extra first border pieces and there were enough for me to piece an additional 10 X-Blocks with only a bit more work.  That really cut down on the time I spent yesterday and I didn't need to cut an additional white squares!  Yey!  

So, I spent the afternoon yesterday, in my PJ's (because I could), working on this quilt and getting not only the additional blocks on but also the first pieced border.  I love how it is turning out - but I am not finished yet! 

If you would like to see how I made the X-Blocks as a leaders and enders project and how I made the first border you can see the video I made here.

Now I need a whole bunch more 16-patch blocks because I am going to add an additional pieced border on.  I know - crazy right!?  I set the challenge to myself to do a 100% pieced quilt ie no long inner or outer borders - ALL piecing.  It would be so, very, very easy right now to just add some straight borders - and believe me I can't help but be tempted to do just that - but - I am going to stick with my challenge to myself.  

Since this is (or was to be) completely a leaders and enders quilt (until I decided to add more blocks and kind of cheated on the additional X-Blocks) I am going to piece those 16-patches as leaders and enders; so, the quilt top will not be finished for a while now.  Oh well!  Back into the quilt closet for a while again.

Now, I just need to decide if I want to do a 6" final border or a 12" - hmmm.  Right now the quilt top is 72" x 72" - so the possibilities are an 84" square quilt or a 96" square quilt.  I'm kind of leaving towards 96" but not sure if I want 12" borders.  Oh well - that decision will wait for another day!

What do you think?  Did I "fix" it?

What Would You Do?

Remember this quilt?

 

This is my current, in process leaders and enders quilt.  Well, I have been piecing the first border, leaders and enders style, and I was about ready to put it on.   I decided to hang up the quilt center and see what I thought about it from a few steps back.  In the first picture I liked what I saw - at first.  Then, I started really looking at my quilt.  I DON'T like how I have used an even number of blocks across the top and sides - this means that I have a 16-patch on the top left and an X-block top right.  Hmmm,  maybe it will be ok.

Let's audition the first border.

 

YUCK!!!

Nope, I don't like how that X-block looks in the corner!  I do like how the 16-patch looks as a corner though.  So, now what to do??  I think that if this bothers me this much now it will always bother me in the future.  Since I like this quilt top a lot so far, and I have spent a lot of time on it, I think that the only thing to do, for me, is try to make this more visually appealing.

As I see it I have two options.

1. Rip off one side border and add it to the bottom of the quilt - yuck frog stitching :-(
2. Start piecing more X-Blocks to add to one side and the bottom of the quilt to make the quilt an 11 x 11 block setting instead of 10 x 10.

Sigh - what would you do?

The first thing I did was check to see if I had any more of the off-white background fabric - yes I do!  And I think I might have just enough!  So, since the thought of ripping all of that off the side (and potentially damaging all the piecing) just makes me cringe, I got out my tools and I am about to start cutting up more background squares.

 

Just when I thought I was done with the center - here I am cutting for more!  Luckily I have some bits left and I always have lots of 16-patch blocks sitting around.  I'm going to look at this as being half-done the work I need to do LOL!!

If you would like to see how I do my leaders and enders and/or how to construct the X-block you can click on the videos tab at the top and check out my YouTube videos.

So what would you have done?  Ripped or cut more?

Another Finish and Another Start

Isn't he cute??!!!

Mr Iggy is finished!

 

This is a free pattern that was an insert in Rug Hooking Magazine that I just fell in love with! It is a pattern by Star Rug Company.  She has a way with whimsical designs like this and she loves Halloween as much as I do!  I know that this is another Halloween finish after Halloween but hey - it is finished!

After I finished this rug I decided that I would start another one.  I thought that it might be fun to hook a larger rug that is intended for the floor in my bedroom.

 

This is a pattern by Gene Shepherd called Pickering Oak and I just love it!  This will be about 26" x 38" when completed so this will be the largest rug that I have hooked.  I am going to hook it in a #8 cut (or 8/32 of an inch wide cuts) and I am going to die my own wool for it.  I am very excited to take this on and push myself a bit more.   In the picture you can see that I have transferred the pattern onto the tracing fabric so that it is ready to transfer onto the linen I'll be using as a backing.  The picture of the backing didn't work out very well so this one will have to do!  The little yellow circles are pattern weights by Olfa that I got in a prize basket and I use them a lot for rug hooking since they have little pointed feet that really stick to the backings.

Have you started anything new lately?  Or, picked up an old project?

A Start and a Couple Finishes

Hi everyone!

I decided to do something I haven't done in a long time - I decided to do a Block of the Month (BOM).  You see, I have a lot of the Accuquilt Go! geometric set and they are mostly still in their packages!  So, when Accuquilt started their new BOM I thought it would be the perfect way to crack open those geometric dies.

I downloaded the first two months of blocks from the site.  If you're interested in checking this out you can get started here.  It might be fun to work on this as a group project!

 

I picked my colours and theme and set to work.  I chose to do my sampler in 30's prints because I LOVE them so much and have built up a bit of a stash ;-)  I finished the first two blocks in the sampler and I can't wait until next month when the next block comes out!  They went together so easily and precisely - it was a pleasure to do the blocks.  What do you think?  Do you like my fabrics?

 

Well that was my start - now on to a couple of finishes!  I finished two baby quilts.  They are machine quilted, bound and labeled!  Yey!  The quilt on the left is my die cut tumbler quilt and the quilt on the right is all flying geese cut with the Eleanor Burns flying geese ruler.  I love to make flying geese using that method.  If you have never seen that method before there is a video right on the page I linked to that shows her rulers in use.   I tried to be a bit more modern with these quilts and I like the way that they turned out - but - honestly I think that my heart lies in using a bit more colour.

 

I hope that the babies who receive these quilts love them to death!  Or, maybe that they add their own bit of colour to them LOL!  I love to make baby quilts!

So, what are you all up to so far this November?  Any finishes?  Any starts?

Review of the Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutter

Hi all!

As you all know - or if you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know - I love my Accuquilt Go! fabric cutter.  I have really enjoyed using it and creating quilts with it.  I don't know how I quilted without it!   

Recently I started hearing about the Sizzix cutter and how they have partnered with Westminster fabrics to make a quilting machine; so, I thought that it would be interesting to see what all the buzz was about.  When I was given the opportunity by Sizzix to try their machine and a few dies out I jumped at the chance.

Now let me first explain my ignorance concerning Sizzix and their cutting machines.  I am a quilter - not a scrap-booker at all so I had no idea what they were all about or their scrap-booking products.  I know that a lot of you are scrap-bookers so you're probably ahead of me here ;-)  I wasn't aware of their machines until they put out a quilting edition.  So, naturally,  my review is going to focus on quilting.

I also want to clarify that I have not tried the Accquilt Studio machine yet so I can't compare that one - sorry.

My machine came in the mail and I gleefully unpacked it.  I had to put the handle on the machine - but that was all the assembly required.  My initial reaction was - look at the little purple jewels!!!!  LOL I kid you not I love those little guys.  My next reaction is - wow is this ever heavy!  

I grabbed the small Dresden plate die and cutting mats.  The Big Shot uses two Plexiglas sheets to sandwich the die.  I layered just 4 layers of quilter's cotton over the die and ran it through.  the Sizzix can cut up to 10 layers of fabric!

 

I have to be completely honest here - I was shocked at how easy and smooth the die rolled through the machine!  Really and truly it was effortless to put the die through the rollers.  No strength was required at all.  The little rubber feet on the bottom of the machine kept the cutter very still and stable - I think the weight of the machine also helped with that.

 

I had perfect shapes in seconds - I did have to trim a couple threads but nothing big.

 

Look at how cute those little Dresden petals are!  I will be honest - I was going to make small project using this die but I am so in love with those petals that I want to make many more; so, I figured that instead of holding this review up that I would do the review and then do the project.

 

Next I grabbed the 2.5" strip die and gave that a whirl.  I thought that the this die would be challenging to use because of the length of the die and the shortness of the bed on the Big Shot - I was completely wrong!  It was once again effortless to run this through and I got a perfect 2.5" strip.

When I was looking at the strip die I thought that it looked a little longer than the Accuquilt ones so I layed them side by side.

Guess what?  The Sizzix strip die IS a little bit longer than the Accuquilt die!  I have often wished that the Accuquilt dies were just about an inch longer and the Sizzix one is!  Remember that I put the silver Sharpie lines on my dies so that I know where the blades are when I cut - they didn't come with the lines on them.

 

I took a trip into Michael's craft store and was in the scrap booking isle area and I found these so I grabbed them to try out as well.  Even though they are not "quilting" dies they will cut fabric so I figured I'd better try them out - I am excited to do something with these.

I am truly impressed with how the Sizzix works - I think it is a great machine!  I was told that there is a shim available so that the Sizzix machine can take the Accquilt dies - I think this is a an amazing thing since quilters can have all the Accuquilt dies available to them as well as the Sizzix ones.

Now for the pros and cons.  I still love my Accuquilt machine!  I think that both manufacturers have pluses and minuses.

Pros for Sizzix

-the machine is sooooo smooth and easy to opperate.  It was effortless to put the die through the machine

-the easy crank deserves at least two points!  LOL!

-the ability to cut MORE layers all at the same time.

-the little purple jewels are too cute!

-the ability to use the Accquilt dies in the Sizzix machine.  Accuquilt can only take Accuquilt dies

-huge selection of dies available if you take into consideration the scrap booking dies.

-I love the longer strip dies!!!

Cons for Sizzix

-there are not many quilting dies made by Sizzix yet.  I know that they are releasing more but right now there are not very many.  You can also use the scrap booking dies though, however, looking through the dies many of them just don't seem to be conducive to quilting - the appliques are too skinny or would not be easy to applique.  So right now there is a limited selection.

-the bed is very narrow so the dies must be less than 6" wide.  The Baby Go is a little wider so there are more dies that can be used on the smaller of the Accuquilt machines.

-the space needed to store the machine.  The Go folds up smaller and can be stored more easily.  This can be a huge issue if your space is limited and I know that it is for many people.

-not a lot of supporting materials.  For example on the Dresden plate die there is just the three petals and that it makes a 6.5" block.  There is no direction as to the size of the center circle needed or a pattern or piecing directions.  This could be confusing to a lot of quilters.  There are only a few patterns on the web site, at present, I am SURE they are working on this LOL!

So what should you buy?  That is a huge question.  Both Sizzix and Accuquilt have good and bad points.

I love the way the Sizzix machine operates.  Sincerely, it is so smooth and easy to operate.  But, it doesn't fold down so the storage space needed is much larger.  This is a huge issue for some quilters so I would say look at your sewing area.  If space is at a premium you have to go with Accuquilt.  The Accuquilt is much more portable so if you are traveling or want to take it to bees the Accuquilt is the way to go.  However, Accuquilt Go machines can only take Go! dies.  However, if you have shoulder problems or anything like that the Sizzix is the way to go!  It is extremely easy to crank and requires no effort at all.  

There are two sizes to both machines so look at the dies you like before you decide.

Right now Accquilt definitely has far more supporting materials available for customers.  There is a free pattern in every die and multiple patterns and videos available on their web site.  The Accuquilt dies have everything that you need for the block on the die.  For example the Dresden plate die has all the petals and the circle.  This is a good and bad thing in my opinion.  I like having everything I need on the die - it's easier.  But sometimes you get repeated shapes.  It's a toss up!  Accuquilt has gone heavy into quilting and has partnered with Electric Quilt and has embroidery designs available too.  This is a huge plus for many of us!  However, with a shim you can use Accuquilt dies in your Sizzix machine; so, you are not limited there at all!

So, which machine is better?  Which should you buy?  Honestly I have no firm answer for you.  Sorry.  They are both good machines and I will enjoy using both of them.  I am looking forward to getting a shim to try my Accuquilt dies out on the Big Shot next!  The Big Shot is approximately the same price as the Baby Go! And the Big Shot pro is a bit more than the full sized Go!

Thank you to the kind people at Sizzix for this opportunity to try their great little machine out!

Wowzers that was a LONG one!!!

Halloween Tumbler

I know that it is after Halloween but I finished my Halloween tumbler quilt!  I love how it turned out and it was so fast and easy to put together.

 

It was also so great to use my stash completely for this project and finally use some of those Halloween prints that have been sitting for years in my stash.  Even the batting was one that I had purchased years ago when it was on sale.  I find it very freeing to use what I have - it frees up space for new fabrics ;-)

I machine quilted this quilt using WonderFil Tutti variegated thread in a 50 weight.  It quilted like a dream! The thread is so soft and smooth and it didn't break once while I was quilting.  I will definately use this thread again in the future!

From the left-overs I grabbed my chisel die and my 2" square die and cut them up!  I used the 2" squares as leaders and enders while I was piecing other things.  But, now that Halloween is over I honestly don't feel like doing anything with them right now.  So, I bundled them up and put these away - probably until next Halloween; but, once next Halloween is here I will have these ready to go!

Now on to other things!