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The AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine has exploded onto the quilting scene in the past couple of years.
Go to a quilt show and you're sure to see demonstrations on at least one of their three models of fabric cutters.
But should you buy a fabric cutting machine?
We all like to spend our money wisely.
Your first step is understand the product and then evaluate whether or not its cost justifies the time you expect to save.
Know, too, that a fabric cutter does not replace your current rotary cutting tools or scissors. You need both during the construction of your quilts.
Go! Baby Fabric Cutter
As the name implies, this fabric cutting machine is for the beginner or novice just getting started in quilting.
Quilters who've been at their craft for a while may find the convenience of having this small cutter right at their sewing machine well worth the price. MSRP is $139.
This portable fabric cutting machine is travel friendly—weighing in at just 8-1/2 lbs. To use it, you'll need an open space about 12in wide by about 18in. Folded for storage, it requires a space 12in wide by 4-1/2in deep by 8-1/4in high.
The Go! Baby fabric cutting machine uses any of the Go! dies that measure less than 6in wide.(At this writing, there are 48 dies available for this machine. No other commercially made dies work with this machine. (Studio dies do not work with the Go! Baby.)
It's MSRP is $139 and includes a User Manual. No extras are included. You'll need to purchase at least one die and cutting mat to use it. Dies range in price from $20 to $70.
Machine and compatible dies have a 1 year warranty.
This model is the next step up, larger with more dies available for it.
Still a portable fabric cutting machine it weighs 20 lbs, almost double the Go! Baby. It folds to 17in wide by 5in deep by 15in high for storage. You'll need a flat space 30in square to use.
It's MSRP of $349 includes these extras:
The Value Die, a single die that simultaneously cuts a 4-1/2in square, a 2-1/2in square and 4 half square triangle units(2in finished)
One 10in square cutting mat
A die pick
User manual
Free pattern
Depending on the thickness of the fabric, it cuts up to 6 layers at a time. No other commercially made dies work with this machine (Studio dies do not work with the Go!) Dies range in price from $20 to $90.
This non-portable (it weighs in at 55 lbs) fabric cutting machine is a heavy duty machine for heavy duty use, intended for prolific quilters and quilt-related retailers. You will need a dedicated space of about 2 by 4 feet for this model.
It easily cuts up to 10 layers of fabric at a time (again depending on the thickness) with any of the 350 Studio dies available for it. These Studio dies will not work in either the Go! or the Go! Baby because of the thickness of the dies.
The Studio can also be adapted to use Ellison, Sizzix and GrandeMARK dies. You must purchase an adapter from AccuCut in order to use these other dies.
UPDATE: On October 17, 2011, Accuquilt announced the availability of the "Go! Die Adapter for Studio" in two sizes:
10"x12", MSRP $19.99
10"x24", MSRP $32.99
This means that by using this adapter any die that you can use on a Go! can now be used on the Studio. You will need to use the Studio Cutting Plastic (the mat) when using these adapters.
The die you use (Studio or Go!) determines how many layers of fabric you can cut at one time. So if you use a Go! die on a Studio cutter, you can still only cut up to 6 layers of fabric at a time.
NOTE: The AccuCut GrandeMARK is the scrap booking version of the Accuquilt. The machines are identical except for their names.
The Studio's MSRP of $595 includes these extras:
A studio die tray
9 sheets of cutting plastic
A die pick
User manual
You will need to purchase a die(s) to use the Studio. As of the writing, Studio dies range in price from $25 to $200.
The machine carries a lifetime warranty with a 1 yr warranty on the Studio/GrandeMARK dies.
An added benefit for Studio owners is the ability to have custom made dies created to your specifications. You'll need to contact Accuquilt directly for specifics.
Studio cutters are only available from AccuQuilt, unless you can find a used on on Ebay or other classified ad outlet. Both the Studio and GrandeMARK are occasionally discounted on their websites. I suggest subscribing to both newsletters to be notified of upcoming sales.
Before you buy, know that cutting mats need to be replaced as they wear out. Dies with lots of cutting edges, like the rag quilt die (shown right) wear out a mat faster.
Just like rotary cutting mats, if most cuts are made in the same spot, the mat eventually wears out there. The same principle applies to your Go! and Studio mats.
You can help extend their usable life by flipping each mat from side to side and front to back to distribute the wear.
My Decision Process
I rarely cut out a whole quilt at one time because I find rotary cutting totally boring. So right off the bat, these fabric cutters interested me.
Since most strip cutters are wider than 6", that removed the Go! Baby from my choices. I didn't want to spend more than $500, so the Studio was out, too.
That left the Go!
I figured that my time was worth at least $10/hour. At it's MSRP of $349, that means I'd need to save 35 hours to ‘pay” for the machine. Yep! I certainly could do that. Most of the dies I want are less than $100. Again doing the math, could I save the time?
The answer was a resounding yes, and I purchased the Go! and several dies and mats.
But there's more...
Since getting the Go!, I've now decided to purchase a Studio the next time the it goes on sale on the AccuQuilt or AccuCut (the GrandeMARK version) websites. It will be used in my hand dyed fabric business for cutting fabric packs efficiently.
Which AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine will you choose?
