Wednesday, September 22, 2010

AccuQuilt Go Cutter Tutorial

I was drooling over over an AccuQuilt Go Cutter for a long time. Look what came to my front door late yesterday afternoon!
I have been eyeing quilts with rounded and curved edges since I made my first quilt at the age of 24, but I have never made one. It is time to give it a GO.
I have a project in mind to try out my new Go. My entry table is screaming for a new Fall table runner. I am going to give the Robbing Peter to Pay Paul Die a go. Picture taken form the AccuQuilt website.
Place the Go cutter on a sturdy table and open the Go cutter. The cutter is instantly ready to Go...no assembly of any sort needed. Isn't that nice?
Mark the shapes on the die with a permanent marker. This makes it easier to place the fabric directly over the shape.
Place the die with the foam side up on the Go Cutter. I have my Go instructions close by to make sure I am doing the right thing.
Place your fabric on the die.
Place the cutting mat on top of your fabric and push the die and mat against the roller.
Now the magic begins. Turn the handle in the direction you want the die to go (depending if you're left or right handed or just personal preference). The Go is so easy to use and it is for lefties too...Both my two daughters and I are lefties.
Remove the mat and die. Perfectly cut curved shapes ready for sewing. Leftover fabric is on the leftside of the Go.
These are the other cutout templates that go with the die.
There is not a lot of fabric waste. This is not really a waste for me, because I love to make string quilts.
Doesn't this look pretty...even if it is not sewn together yet. I am tracking time with the hourglass. As you can see there is not a lot of sand in the hour glass. The Go definitely makes cutting faster.
The notches match up for easy and acurate sewing...which I was terrified off!
I did put one pin in the middle of the block to help me with the sewing.
I sewed the first block...it turned out very nice. I finger pressed the seams and then took it to the ironing board to press the block. Snip off the little tails on the corners. It is a good idea to make a test block first before you Go crazy and cut the shapes for a whole quilt.
I made a mistake...I switched the colors. I am glad I took my own advice...this does not always happens.
I decided to go with a different color scheme so I made 4 blocks for a Fall table runner. I had so much fun and forgot to turn the hour glass. I just kept on going.
I sewed the four Go blocks together. I added a 2" light border, the same color as the background fabric.

A second 3" border in the leaves fabric frames the table topper nicely. If you have a smaller table, 3 blocks would look beautiful. Try 5 or 6 blocks for a longer runner for the dining room table.
I made the top and did the quilting yesterday. It took me longer to hand stich the binding down then to make the Go blocks. This is coming from somebody who had a fear for curved edges.
Remember your quilt is not done until the label is on, the part I usually forget.
My new Fall table runner is in my entryway. I made this table runner in less than a day. Not bad at all, I think.

This is the back of the table topper. I love to reverse my quilts.

The Go helped me spend less time cutting, so I can have more time to quilt which means more finished projects.
I am 100% happy with my Go. I love my new toy.
Next I am going to give the Winding Ways Die a go. Picture taken from the AccuQuilt website.
Happy Quilting until next time...I have to Go now.
~Millie~

44 comments:

Quiltjane said...

I love curves too. The AccuQuilt would take the pain out of cutting and marking all those curved pieces. I use the Curve Master Foot to zip throught the curved seams without pins.

Anonymous said...

I love it and wow how easy was that, I have been wanting a Go for quiet some time and I can see how easy the cutting would become, I love your tutorial.
Well done

cheers
Christine

~Laurie~ said...

Oh Millie - you and me both - about being terrified of curves! I have always admired the Double Wedding Ring patterns, but vowed I would never take on that kind of project. Terry may be getting the die for that project!! You gave a great tutorial - I loved the step by step pictures. I can't wait to see the next pattern!

~Laurie~ said...

Oh Millie! You and me both are terrified of curves!! I've always admired the Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern, but vowed I would never take on that project!! I think Terry may be getting the die for that pattern - I'm looking forward to seeing her try it out! I loved your tutorial - great step by step pictures!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Oh Millie! How fun! And your table runner is GOrgeous! Lucky you! :-)

Ariane said...

I love your table topper!! It's beautiful! I have a fear of curved seams too! I'm going to have to try this die out! It looks like a lot of fun!

Terry said...

Great tutorial Millie! My GO! came late this afternoon but I haven't even played with it yet. I wasn't feeling well so I'm saving the fun for tomorrow! Love your tablerunner too! :0)

Doodlebug Gail said...

I see I'm no the only one with a fear of curved seams. So glad you're over that now - love your tutorial and hope you're having a load of fun!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Millie, what an awesome job you've done on that table runner! It is just beautiful, the fabrics are perfect and your quilting is sublime. Glad to see the GO is so quick and easy to use. Have fun with it!

Pat said...

Your runner turned out very nice. I love my GO, too!

Darlene said...

Beautiful tablerunner! The GO! is definitely perfect for template style quilt (anything with a curve)

Great tutorial, Millie.

Sparky said...

You made this with a GO, go on???? lol
MIllie it is beautiful..I really like the idea too of reversible..perfect setting for it...great tut...
way to go...

blessings msamm

Anonymous said...

Love it Millie!!

Leah said...

Wow Millie, love the table runner. The GO cutter looks fun and perfect for cutting curved peices. I also must say I am impressed with the whiteness of your ironing board. My ironing board cover never looked that nice except for the day I bought it. :)

WoolenSails said...

I love that runner, you did a beautiful job with the sewing and color choices. It is fun to see what people are making with the types of dies. It gives me an idea of things I would like to get and make.

Debbie

Marina Louw said...

Your runner is beautifull! It looks so easy!

Rebecca said...

Well that just looked WAY too easy! Thanks for making me want one of these even more! :)

Kim D. said...

Thanks for the tutorial, love love your new table topper. That pattern is fantastic!

Barb said...

Oh my goodness, I love love love the runner....there are so many dies that I want...the greedy monger that I am.... congrats on getting a Go...

Vicki ♥ said...

Awesome Millie :) I love your new table runner and it certainly does look easy to do.

Cindy said...

Millie, you have wanting to give the "Rob Peter to Pay Paul" die a GO. I LOVE the tablerunner you did, the fabrics you did it with and that it's reversible!!!!!!

And, BTW, are YOU sure that hour glass isn't really a glass of wine? lOL

Val said...

Oh I just love seeing you do this! It really does look easy. I have seen them in the quilt stores and on the blogs. Amazing. Wonder what Granny would have thought?

Lovie said...

Beautiful. I am going to add this die to my list. Also eager to see what you do with the Winding Ways (another die that I want). Congrats on your win, and happy quilting.

Linda said...

Love it Millie.. Mine is on backorder.. can't wait.

Eve said...

This table runner is so so pretty. I love it!
I'm new to your blog and about to make my first quilt. You have lots of goodies here, nice to be at your blog.

Eveshouse.blogspot.com

SewCalGal said...

Great job Millie. Love this table runner and it looks super in your home! Inspirational.

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

luv2quilt2 said...

Thank you for the opportunity to win a GO. The dies I'm most interested in are Sunbonnet Sue, Drunkards Path and Apple Core.

Wilma Lee said...

I'd love to win!! I'd like GO feathers, funky flowers, and rose of sharon.

luv2quilt2 said...

I have become a follower of your lovely blog.

Cathy said...

I would love the 2-1/2" strip and the apple core. There are so many to chose from.

Cathy said...

not sure if I need to leave a 2nd comment that I am now a follower

Bonnie said...

I just soososososssooooo want a go-cutter so here goes again on about my 50th competition entry! If I win, I would like:
1) Rob Peter to Pay Paul die
2) 2 1/2 " die
3) Wedding Ring Die
I sososososoooo hope I can get this one!?! Pleasssse!
Yvone

Bonnie said...

I have become a follower of your blog too! Please enter my again for the go-cutter!!

Laura said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nancy said...

Haven't tried this yet (darn budget...) Would LOVE to though! If I won? Dies:
Rag Square 8 1/2"
Winding Ways
Triangles in Square 3 1/2"
And I too love your tutorial! Makes it look fun and easy.

ozjane said...

I would love a new toy and would happily play with hearts and stars.
I am off to add it to my website.

ozjane said...

I would love a new toy and would happily play with hearts and stars.
I am off to add it to my website.

Mary Sue said...

Nice tutorial and beautiful topper! I am eying the double wedding ring set myself....

Gayle said...

I'd love to win this GO! cutter! Do you know if it will cut through wool fabric? Or only quilting cottons? Anyway, the three dies I like best are the basket block, the robbing peter block, and the HST template (not sure what size yet). Please draw my name out for your winner! LOL

Gayle said...

OH - And I'm a new follower too!

Oh Sew Addicted said...

Thanks for sponsoring the giveaway. How fun! LOve what you made. If I won I would want the 2 1/2" strip, sunbonnet sue and the double wedding ring dies. Thanks!!!!

Zlaty said...

I haven't been on line for a little while and look what you have made Millie! I love the table runner! Well done!

Happy Go cutting! :)

YankeeQuilter said...

Nice tutorial...did have a moment of panic though when I thought "she has a glass of red wine on a quilt..." then of course I read instead of just looking at the photos and saw it was a egg-timer with sand - duh!

Kimberlee, The Spunky Diva said...

I just love the table scarf you came up with! How neat is that.
~Kimberlee
www.TheSpunkyDiva.blogspot.com