by Shannon
TRUSTWORTHY
followers:3
follow
Now, to be fair, I should have done my research before asking for this device. It does everything it claims to do and it works perfectly in the manner it describes. It is small, only 8.5 lbs and easy as pie to carry around. It stores just fine in one of those little cubby type shelving units you can buy at Target.. It is durable. I have brought it to and fro. It folds up small and the two ends that fold in become handles. It is white plastic and operates in a manner similar to a pasta roller.
It is also expensive. The cutter itself runs about $100.00 depending on where you purchase it. This is the smallest and least expensive in the accu quilt family. My Love bought it online. At that price it comes with nothing. Just
the machine. So for Christmas that year I received a machine I couldn’t use until I bought accessories. It is like getting the toy you super wanted with no batteries. So be aware, if you plan to purchase this for yourself or as a gift, you need to read what it comes with. There are starter kits out there that come with the dies and the mats needed to actually, you know, cut something.
Next, the dies. There are 43 dies that are compatible with this machine. You need to buy the actual accuquilt brand die. It is not compatible with any other brand that I am aware of. I have googled it. I have tried it, It doesn’t work. There is a pretty wide range of dies, but they are not inexpensive. The least expensive is around $20. It needs to be used with a cutting mat. Those are also sold separately. You need various sizes if you want to use some of the longer dies too.. In other words, this is an investment. Also, though the machine itself doesn’t take up much space as you start to add to your collection the space required grows as well.
I personally have a few dies.. A flower which I am very partial to. A dove. Hearts (it comes with three size hearts on the same die. I use it to make shamrocks with.) and also squares and half squares. The squares, for me, are useless and again this is my mistake. Why did I buy squares? At the time it was So I could cut perfect squares for a patchwork quilt, of course. It made sense at the time. However, I can cut much quicker and much more efficiently with a tremendous amount less waste of fabric with a rotary cutter like I always have. Always have for you know, decades. I don’t have any idea what I thought I was going to improve upon in that regard. With the dies you have to pre- cut fabric so it fits in the machine, then there are the scraps on the sides of the squares. It was a moment of new toy frenzy or something for me. I should have known better. I will blame the very convincing advertising a bit thought, they really made me think that it would be faster and easier and better and less wasteful with these dies! With all these shapes! I had to have them!
