Quilting and My Accucut Machine

Quilting has become my new pastime over the last couple of years, especially during the colder months of our Canadian climate.  I grew up in rural Ontario, in a little hamlet called Kinlough.  I remember my Mother spending countless hours piecing, appliquéing, and hand quilting.  Some of her favorites were Dresden Plate, Parasol Lady and a very pretty appliqué leaf and flower pattern (kind of like a medallion quilt).  

I thought I would give it a try, and started out with a small nine patch design.  It didn't turn out too bad. What with being new to quilting, I was also new to using a rotary cutter.  My pieces weren't all cut precisely  and my quarter inch seam allowance wasn't always accurate.  I tried several small projects but wasn't really happy with the results.

I stumbled on paper piecing and bought some excellent books by Carol Doak.  I had great success with this method and did some small wall hangings and a couple of lap size quilts. 

I wanted to be able to piece a quilt without having to use paper piecing alone.  I had seen some die cut fabric hearts on a website.  I wanted to be able to use my own fabric and began investigating to see if there were any die cut fabric machines available for the amateur quilter like me.

I found the Accucut website, and I was intrigued with all of the possibilities.  To think I could have accuracy in my cutting - eliminating wasted fabric and frustration!

The small wall hanging pictured is one of my first successful attempts at learning paper piecing and coordinating fabrics.  I was happy with this project.
This is a baby quilt which I finished recently using two sizes of  triangles and a rectangle die.  Two of the names of this quilt pattern are Diamond Star or Variable Star pattern

Variable Star Quilt

Churn Dash Quilt

The Churn Dash pattern uses right triangles, rectangles, and a square.  It is a relatively quick pattern to put together.
This is called a Friendship Star Quilt Pattern.  I think it is quite pretty for a Baby Quilt.

Friendship Star Quilt

Chisel Pattern Quilt

This quilt uses the Chisel die set.  The borders as well as the blocks are put together with this die set.  The dimensions for the dies are 6 1/2"w x 3 1/2"h and the Sides 3 1/2".
This is my Accucut machine. It cuts accurate squares, triangles, rectangles and just about any shape you can imagine.  You just purchase the individual dies for your desired shapes. 

On the Accucut website, you can view patch Block Ideas using the quilt dies, and this is the Jewel Box block.   You can arrange the individual blocks to create different patterns.  The pieces go together so quickly because the cutting has been accurately cut, I just have to be careful with my quarter inch seam allowance.  Sewing the cut fabric pieces is so relaxing and rewarding due to the preciseness of the machine's die cuts.  This is my first project that I am doing using the Accucut - it is going to be a wall hanging.

I cut the triangles and squares using the dies from the 8-Die Block set.  It takes only a matter of seconds to cut out pieces. I find there is minimal fabric waste when I precut the fabric pieces to fit over the die's cutting blades. These are some of my first die cut triangles and squares.

This is a tote bag I completed recently with an appliquéd 12" quilt block.  I blanket stitched the appliqué on the sewing machine.

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