Thanks for the fun!! Giveaway is now closed....come back, I LOVE giveaways and you never know when I'll do another one!
Last week I posted about cutting nickels using the GO!. Someone mentioned that the GO! was a waste of fabric and cutting with the rotary cutter could be done just as quickly. So this morning I got my camera a little help and took a few pictures. I wanted to see how many nickels I could get and the amount scraps using the GO! and then compare those numbers to cutting nickels with a rotary cutter and mat. Here's the results. Remember you can always click to get a closer look!
Rotary Cutter and Mat
Square the fat quarter...
Next step is to have the 5" strips and the edge, squaring fabric is set aside....
Then I cut the 5" squares from each strip using the 6" ruler....I did not stack the strips, you can stack them, but for accuracy I did not.
Here is the end results of the rotary cutter. From the bottom of the pic to the top: 12-5" squares, 1-2" strip, ends from the 5" strips while cutting the nickels, final piece of fatquarter after all had been cut and the initial strip from squaring. Notice the very small stip above the 2" strip? My ruler slipped and I had to re-trim the 5" strip before cutting the nickels.
When I repeated the entire process using the rotary cutter for this fatquarter it took me
6 minutes and 15 seconds!!
Here's the fabric that I used while timing the rotary cutting process.
Cutting with the GO!!
Folded the fabric over to the salvage. Press.
Lined fabric up just beyond my line to prepair for the next fold and press.
Folded to the second line, and press....
Last fold and press in the procedure.
Line fabric up on die, place the cutting pad on top and feed it through the GO!
My end results: 12-5" squares, 1-2" strip, as you can see the outline from the cutting, and inside the upper cutout area the trimmings I got from cutting the 2" strip.
I repeated this procedure on another fat quarter using the GO! timing myself and it took a total of
1 minute 45 seconds!
Looks like the GO! Can be just as economical when cutting nickels as a rotary cutter and saves you tons of time in the process! (Disclaimer-I have cut SEVERAL fatquarters using the go, and many more using the rotary cutter. We all know that all fat quarters are created equal (cut to the same size, yeah right) so your cuts may vary from fat quarter to fat quarter depending upon the cutting size of the fatquarter and your folding method.) For you GO! owners I've got a posting planned for tomorrow to show you the method I am using to quickly fold prior to placing on the dies. I like to press my fabrics before cutting and I've found a great way to make it quicker!
Giveaway.....
I love giveaway's...don't you? So for this one I'm going to send you this:
These are nickels that I cut using the GO! along with all of the trimmings so you can see for yourself how the GO! cuts the fabrics. I'll toss in a few commerically cut ones just for the fun of it! Trust me, I will make it a fun package to get! I just love giveaways!
To qualify:
Post a comment on this posting, let me know what you think. Be honest, I can take it. (I've got four teenagers, I can take just about anything...)
Blog about the posting and I'll give you two more entries. Come back and let me know that you blogged about the giveaway.
Facebook post-comment on Accuquilt facebook page that you saw the giveaway posting and I'll give you two additional entries. You must post your own comment. Will not count if you comment on someone elses comment. (easier for me to find this way)
I'll do a random thing and post the winner on Friday, so you will have until then to get the word out.
Thanks for checking on me,
hugs,
joanne
love to hear what you've got to say.....
50 comments:
What do I think? I want a GO! cutter too! :) Thanks for sharing!!
I would love to have these... I have more time than money so I am stuck with rotary cutter and ruler...although with my sprained wrist I could use the Go this week...
Don't put my name in the drawing since I already have a GO!, Joann, but I do want to say that I feel the cutter does much better in time, accuracy AND with less waste than rotary cutting. I don't iron my fabrics for each fold and have still had the same kind of great results you got.
Thanks for showing the nickel race and timing it. Someday I'll have the money for the GO! but for now I have the time to cut.
;)
Posted on Facebook
just commented on Facebook...
as Nancy Lee
Ok, I'm still a bit skeptical. Do you really just cut one fat quarter at a time? I stack mine about 6 high. Saves a lot of time that way, so in the time you cut one fat quarter, I could cut 6 and it would come out about a tie with the Go!.
Try it and see if it would work for you too. But thank you for doing a side by side comparison. I really appreciate someone taking on the challenge.
Morning, Joanne, So glad you shared your experiment. Looks to me like the GO! does an awesome job. I like that you had less waste with it. I'll be interested in your ironing post because that is info I can use when I finally get a GO! :-)
The GO looks great but is to expensive for me so I will be cutting the old fashion way. So glad you have one and love it!
I don't iron mine before placing them on the GO. I love the GO! I think it's easier, faster and less waste. Much easier on my hand trying to rotary cut through fabric. Don't add my name, I have a GO!
Woohoo Joanne! Thanks for doing this little contest. I was concerned about fabric waste with the Go, but I see it is about the same as rotary cutting. I won't be getting a Go, though. Can't afford it right now, but I do think it is a good and nifty new gadget. Have a great day. Please put me in for the giveaway. Winona
Alright I have to admit I am one of the quilters that say the Go looks like it would waste fabric and not too sure it will save any time (I mean really my rotary cutter is pretty handy - considering I just switch to one from scissors - I think it is supper fast) BUT that doesn't stop me from wanting to try it myself!
Wow, I have been seeing all these write-ups about this GO and have wondered if it really is worth the money for a gadget to cut fabric. But it looks like it certainly is! Nice comparison you did!
MGM
Joanne, it is so nice of you to do this for those of us who do not have a Go cutter. Thank you .
Left a comment on Accuquilt's facebook page too!
MGM
Well, I DON'T have a GO so I could use precut 5" charm squares. I cut mine with a ruler with slits and it seems pretty easy and except for the squaring up, there is no waste since I am also using all the strips I have left over. But a GO for applique patches would be really nice. Oh, and I got you $$ and will send you the numbers as soon as I dig out the tickets.
I wish I had a GO! ;-) One question~ is the grain straight with the GO? For some reason I thought that the fabric needed to be laid on kind of wonky to get a straight grain cut~? I don't know where I got that idea! Thanks for taking all those photo's!
I am still on a high from the demo I saw this w/e- and excited about the chisel quilt class I'll be attending...your demo today just absolutely reinforces what the ladies said on Saturday- this tool is awesome! Thanks, Sandy in MD
What a wonderful post...and...leave me out of your giveaway.... I love my go cutter and find that it saves an enormous amount of time....I am sure once people see this that their concerns will be over.
What fun having a race like that and timing it too!!
Wish I had a Go!
Gill
WOW! What a time saver! I will purchase a GO! in the near future! Thanks for the demonstration!
Would love to get a Go but would really love to win some squares already cut. Thanks
Thank you for posting the step by step, on fabric prep for the GO. I am a very new GO owner, and still trying to learn how to use it. Don't yet have the 5 inch die, but it is on my wish list.
I'm resisting wanting a Go because 1. I'd rather spend the money on fabric 2. THe last thing I need is something else to find a spot for in my already overrun sewing area 3. I actually find cutting with a rotary cutter sort of relaxing. However if I win these cuttings I may have to change my mind for the sake of efficiency!
Joanne, you are so funny! What can I say but I am addicted to the GO to! Saves me time and cuts perfectly each and every time!
I am so Happy you won yours! I gave up retreat this year to purchase mine and it was worth every penny!
Hugs, Ellen
I too have been concerned about fabric waste with the GO. And, I just cut a group of fat quarters purchased one at a time, and none of them were the same size. Boy, would I love some nickels! I've never made a quilt with them and the idea of someone (or something like a GO) else doing all the cutting -- well THANK YOU! I don't own a GO.
I posted on the Accuquilt facebook page (Margaret).
Joanne, I don't need to win - BUT I did blog about it. I know how great it is to cut with the Go. However, I learned a new trick from you -fold and press. Thanks!
And if you draw my name, can I donate the winnings to someone else?
It seems like everyone I know except me has the GO! and I'm super jealous! Looks like a decent purchase...
Great post. I definitely agree the AccuQuilt is faster than manual cutting! My first ahh ha moment was cutting ~40 yards of fabric into strips. I did it in ~2 hours and wasn't sore or tired.And didn't need to make a single re-cut. I would have never have been able to cut 40 yards the manual way that fast (or accurate), and certainly would have been sore & tired.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Well, I am impressed....with BOTH! I still use those antiquated things called...GASP....scissors! Course, I haven't started quilting YET:) Maybe one of those thingees would get me motivated?? Luv your blog, btw!!
Happy Monday
Been rotary cutting and now have the Studio., Not just is cutting faster, and more accurate, but less painful for arthritic hands!! I'd love the GO to take places, can't carry the Studio. =-)
Loved your demo, I learned a better way of placing fabric straighter! TY
Also loved the music.
Thanks for demonstrating both, and I learned a new tip. To be fair though, you really should have stacked the 5" strips for rotary cutting. I don't know anyone who wouldn't stack strips to cut them, and I think if that's what you would normally do, it should have been done for this test too.
thanks for the demo, I do have the Go. haven't had much time to use it yet. I am working on a big quilt project I want to finish first. Keep the ideas coming.
I posted on Accuquilt's wall :)
Great demonstration! I'm looking forward to seeing how you fold your fabric prior to cutting.
Thanks for the "competition", and the GO WINS! This should definitely convince a lot of people how wonderful it is. Don't include me in the giveaway; as am now going to GO cut up a bunch of my fat quarters.
Oh my God, Joanne: what is a GO? Il looks so unbelievable and I'm really hit by your ability. I don't know if GO exists in Italy, I've never heard about it. But I'm not an able quilter, so maybe that's the reason why I don't know it. Anyway, let me try for your giveaway so enter me, please. Tomorrow morning I will post about it. Hugs, Clara.
Me too! I could use a GO. I have been wanting one ever since everyone starting blogging about it. It would be a wonderful asset to my stuff! Steph
Joanne, I blogged about it and I posted a comment on by facebook page! I have done it all. Hope I win! Stephanie
Wow that's great to know!!
Thanks for the chance to win your awesome giveaway!!
Already posted on my blog, Joanne. Not on facebook because I don't have a page on it. Happy week, Clara.
Thanks for the demo. Using the paper as a folding guide instead of folding on the die is a great tip.
Great demo. I just want to go out and buy one.
My friend has a GO! and it works well for diamonds & tumblers. I'm still cutting with my rotary cutter but if I have a LOT of cutting to do, I'm heading to my friend's house to use her GO!
Justine at rivervujc@comcast.net
I think that the GO cutter looks great! I would love to own one, I can ave to win one; can't afford it at this point. Boy, could I make quilts for my students, etc. if I had a GO cutter!
I have posted a comment on the Accuquilt facebook page! thanks for the two additional entries!
I love the way the go cuts. I posted about your giveaway on Facebook and posted about it on my blog here:http://thedote.blogspot.com/2010/07/really-neat-swap.html
Micki
So glad I found your site. I enjoyed finding out about the Go too. I'll post there next.
Have a great Fourth of July.
Susan
i just love on how you show the timing between the rotary and the go and i agree the go will be faster i been trying to win on
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