Quilting’s Hidden Gem:
The AccuQuilt Studio™ Fabric Cutter
by Ebony Love, LoveBug Studios
Award-winning quilter Ebony Love is the owner of LoveBug Studios, a long-arm quilting and quilt design business…Read more about blogger.
If you haven’t been hiding under a rock for the past three years, you’re sure to have heard of the AccuQuilt GO!® and GO! Baby® – two of the hottest-selling quilting tools on the market. What you may not know is that these two cutters have a fabulous and even more versatile big brother: the AccuQuilt Studio.
The AccuQuilt Studio has long been a staple in quilt shops and specialty retailers, but with the growth in popularity of fabric die cutting, quilters are starting to notice that this cutter can also be a fabulous addition to their own home quilting tools. Let’s look at what the Studio is, what it does, and what sets it apart from the competition.
Long Hot Summer
The Studio Fabric Cutter –
Not Just for Professionals
Weighing in at about 34 pounds (15 kg), with a footprint of approximately 25" x 30", the Studio requires dedicated table space, and isn’t considered portable like its siblings. It’s meant to sit out on a table and be perpetually ready for use. However, the loss in portability and compactness is a small price to pay for the features and options available for this cutter.
The wider footprint (and actually the widest available for home use) means that you can use practically any industry-standard die on the market. With adapters for GO! dies, you literally have hundreds of AccuQuilt® fabric cutting dies at your fingertips. As if that weren’t enough, you can also have custom dies made for any design, at a fairly reasonable cost. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
Fun Fact:
Quilter’s love to name their cutters and I am no different. I named my Studio Mr. T. He got this name from a character in an old TV show called “The A-Team”, who was famous for saying things like “I pity the fool!” When I tell people the name of my cutter, I always follow it with the joke (in my best Mr. T impression) that “I pity the fool who’s still rotary cutting!”
Makes Cutting a Breeze
A favorite phrase of people who own the Studio is that it “cuts like a hot knife through butter.” Many users report that it is the easiest to crank of all the die-cutting models, and is very popular with those who have hand, wrist, or shoulder difficulties.
What really sets this cutter apart is its ability to cut fabric up to 10 layers thick. Imagine being able to accurately cut forty 1-1/2" strips at once; or even 500, 2-1/2" squares! Actually, you don’t have to imagine it; that’s exactly what the Studio does.
It’s also great for those hard-to cut shapes like circles, curves, or really intricate blocks like Winding Ways or Double Wedding Ring.
You’re also not limited to cutting fabric with this cutter. I’ve successfully cut felt, fleece, wool, vinyl, batting and even leather with my dies. I’ve even cut paper and card stock on occasion to make quick gift tags and cards.
It’s Snowing Pineapples
Simple to Operate – With a Twist
If you’re looking to add the Studio to your quilting tools, there are a few additional things you should know, because there are some differences in the operation of this cutter from what you might be used to with other cutters.
First, unlike the GO!, the Studio uses a “die tray” and “cutting plastics”, in addition to the dies themselves. To operate the cutter, you would put the die in the tray with the foam side up, layer your fabric on top of the die, place the cutting plastic on top, and then roll everything through the cutter.
No matter what dies you are using in your cutter, and whether or not you use a GO! die adapter, always use the Studio cutting plastics. To prevent damage to your dies or cutter, never operate the cutter without a cutting plastic over the shapes you are cutting.
Luckily, AccuQuilt adds some basic accessories with the Studio when you place your order, but there are a couple others I would recommend:
- The Super Giant Die Tray: If you plan to get strip dies at all, you will need this. The strip dies will not fit in the tray that comes with the cutter.
- The Super Giant Cutting Plastic: This matches the die tray mentioned above, and is an absolute must for successful strip cutting.
Fun Fact:
The Studio is backed by a three-year warranty, and dies are warranted for one year against defects in materials or workmanship. I appreciate knowing that the company stands behind its products, and the customer service is top-notch in the industry.
The Million Dollar Question: What Dies to Buy First?
Remember that the Studio does not come with any dies (unless you’re getting a package deal.) When you order your cutter, make sure you order at least one die, or you’ll be very unhappy when it arrives!
Quilters are different, and so the answer to this question depends on who you are and the types of projects you want to make. At a minimum, you’ll likely want the 2-1/2" strip cutter (it’s one of the most versatile, multi-purpose dies), but past that, you need to ask yourself some questions:
- Do you have trouble using a rotary cutter?
- How often do you quilt?
- Would you quilt more often if you could cut them out faster?
- What types of projects do you like to make?
- Do you like piecing or appliqué better?
- Do you have dedicated space to leave the cutter set up?
- Will you want to cut fabric for other people?
- Do you want to make and sell kits?
- What’s your budget to spend on the cutter?
- What’s your budget to spend on dies?
“Budget” is one of the last considerations, because once you weigh the types of projects you want to make and some of the other factors, your budget might change, and so might your timeline. It’s tempting to go for the cutter you can afford “right now”, but it’s far better to save for the equipment you need, rather than buying what you can get now. At the same time, don’t feel obligated to purchase the most expensive cutter just because it seems like the best. Truly, what matters most is the cutter that's going to work best for who YOU are and the types of projects you want to make, regardless of what anyone says.
Join a Vibrant & Thriving Fabric Die Cutting Community
The Studio may not be as widely known as other die cutting cutters, but the owners are just as passionate about their quilting! If you ever need assistance before or after your purchase, need ideas, or want to share tips with other owners, be sure to join the Studio Owner’s Yahoo Group. We’ll be happy to have you!
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About Blogger:
Award-winning quilter Ebony Love is the owner of LoveBug Studios, a long-arm quilting and quilt design business. She publishes her patterns and offers die cutting services under the brand Quilt Possible!, and is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of a new digital publication, Blocks to Die For!, especially for fabric die-cutting enthusiasts. Ebony is recognized as one of the leading experts in fabric die cutting techniques, and she regularly produces free videos featuring tips & techniques for getting the most out of your dies. You can find dozens of her videos on YouTube under the username “LoveBugStudios” or in AccuQuilt’s video library.