On Memorial Day weekend Accuquilthad their Studio die cutter at such a bargain price that I had to buy it. I had held myself back from considering it before because I was afraid I would just fill boxes with cut pieces to be sold at my estate sale. I feared that I wouldn't take the time to sew them. I shouldn't have worried about that though as I am cutting and taking them directly to the sewing machine.
Let me explain for those who haven't seen one of these in person. Here is the die for the triangles used in my star blocks. You can see that it will cut 6 at once but the real kicker is that it cuts 10 layers, so that is 60 triangles in one trip through.
If you are concerned that it wastes a lot of fabric, the waste is 1/2". I just have to cut the fabrics a half inch wider than the cutting blades. You can see the waste in the background. I save all of that in a bag for a lady who stuffs pillows.
Now, on to the star blocks. The Bear Paw die was on sale and I could see it's potential with components that finish at 2" and 4". I wasn't sure at first what I would do with the long rectangle.
Then I came up with the idea for the sashing with a triangle square at one end of it to equal the 8" of the block size. I knew that would make a friendship star. Every other corner block has a star and the ones between just a square. I have purchased a few more dies (3 of them with my garage sale money) and always ones that are on sale. I'll be showing more in the future.
Some friends stopped to see me while they were in town and they mentioned my tiger lilies blooming. I was so surprised since I thought I would have to wait until next week for a bloom.
Up close and personal, in fact so close I had brown pollen all over my hand and arm! By the way my house isn't that tilted, it's the photographer who is a little off!
Let me explain for those who haven't seen one of these in person. Here is the die for the triangles used in my star blocks. You can see that it will cut 6 at once but the real kicker is that it cuts 10 layers, so that is 60 triangles in one trip through.
If you are concerned that it wastes a lot of fabric, the waste is 1/2". I just have to cut the fabrics a half inch wider than the cutting blades. You can see the waste in the background. I save all of that in a bag for a lady who stuffs pillows.
Now, on to the star blocks. The Bear Paw die was on sale and I could see it's potential with components that finish at 2" and 4". I wasn't sure at first what I would do with the long rectangle.
Then I came up with the idea for the sashing with a triangle square at one end of it to equal the 8" of the block size. I knew that would make a friendship star. Every other corner block has a star and the ones between just a square. I have purchased a few more dies (3 of them with my garage sale money) and always ones that are on sale. I'll be showing more in the future.
Some friends stopped to see me while they were in town and they mentioned my tiger lilies blooming. I was so surprised since I thought I would have to wait until next week for a bloom.
Up close and personal, in fact so close I had brown pollen all over my hand and arm! By the way my house isn't that tilted, it's the photographer who is a little off!