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Having been raised by educators, I firmly believe that you should never stop learning. Learning and trying new things helps keep your mind active, helps you stay engaged with your activities, and more. Learning doesn't have to mean taking in-person classes anymore, and it certainly doesn't only have to do with your job, either!
As a mostly self-taught quilter, I’ve tried to challenge myself along the way with different techniques and styles. I’ve tried traditional piecing, foundation paper piecing, English Paper Piecing, and rag quilts. I’ve learned free motion quilting, how to build a scrappy look, sewing Y-seams and curves, and more. So, whether you’re a seasoned quilter with years of experience or a newcomer, there’s always something new to try in quilting.
Since AccuQuilt GO! Dies make cutting so fast and accurate, they are a great way to help you conquer new skills!
Curves
You’re missing out on some amazing quilt blocks if you never sew anything with curves. Lots of quilters shy away from sewing curves, but they’re really nothing to be scared of when you’re using GO! Dies. GO! Dies are constructed so that they cut notches on curved pieces. Lining up these pre-cut notches (and yes, pinning them together) will make sewing curves so much easier than you’ve ever imagined.
If you’re looking for a “first curve” to try, I suggest the GO! Cleopatra’s Fan-12" Finished Die. This block is so stunning, the curves are gentle and easy to stitch, and your results will amaze you! Be sure to watch this video for all my tips on working with this die!
Advanced Curves
Ready for more of a challenge with your curves? Here are my top suggestions for you, starting with the GO! Double Wedding Ring-(11 1/2") Finished (2-Die Set) and/or the GO! Big Double Wedding Ring-12 1/2" Finished Die. Yes, we really do have two Double Wedding Ring dies.
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The GO! Double Wedding Ring-(11 1/2" Finished) is a 2-die set. This version will fit in a GO! or a GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter, and it creates a slightly elliptical “block” that finishes to 11 1/2”. This version gives you the option of working with either pieced or whole arc pieces.
The GO! Big Double Wedding Ring-12 1/2" Finished Die has all the pieces on a single die board and makes a more traditional, circular shape finishing to 12 1/2”. It’s important to note that this die will only work with the GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter, and that you will need a 14” x 16” die mat.
I can’t begin to imagine creating these classic blocks without a die! Both are easier to create with the dies since they cut precise pieces so quickly – including those magical notches! The GO! Classic Double Wedding Ring Table Runner makes an outstanding wedding or shower gift, and it's so much easier than you might think since the die does the hard work of cutting for you!
If you want to embrace some curves while making narrow, picture-perfect points without foundation paper piecing, look no further than the GO! Mariner’s Compass-12" Finished Die. Foundation paper piecing can be an awkward process, but cutting the pieces on this die will produce the same results in less time - and with ease. Don’t worry: just jump in and make a test block. The specialized dog-eared corners and notches will help you score a beautiful block in far less time than you think.
Lessons from the Prairie
...the GO! Prairie Star-14" Finished Die, that is! This is another die that is great for leveling up so many skills painlessly. If you’re new to large blocks or blocks with lots of pieces, this 14” finished block is perfect! With a mere glance at the packaging, you can tell that there are many different looks that can be unlocked with this one die.
The GO! Latin Stars Throw Quilt is a free downloadable pattern that makes the most of the different looks possible with this die.
So, have you ever sewn a Y-seam? While this term seems to strike fear in the heart of many quilters, they really are nothing to fear - and the GO! Prairie Star-14" Finished Die is a great way to get started. The unique construction of this block means that you’ll only have two Y-seams to sew. The key to sewing these seams is marking the 1/4” intersection point before you start sewing! Here’s a video to help you get started:
Advanced Level
Ready for more? Besides creating a gorgeous block, the GO! Courtyard-10" Finished Die gives you a chance to really flex your sewing muscles. While this block does involve easy Y-seams and curves, die cutting not only makes it 90% faster, but the specialized dog-eared corners and notches make it much simpler to create than other methods. Start with a test block and soon, you’ll be creating quilts, table runners, and more with this great Block on Board (BOB) die. Still not sure? Watch this tutorial and pick up tips from Pam and me:
English Paper Piecing
Here’s a skill that’s new to many and easy to start. You’ll find that AccuQuilt has fantastic resources to help you get started with this traditional hand-sewing technique.
Dip your quilting toe in the waters with either the GO! English Paper Piecing Hexagon-1" Finished Sides Die or GO! English Paper Piecing Hexagon-1/2" Finished Sides Die, or go all in with the GO! Qube-English Paper Piecing-1” Finished Sides. This GO! Qube will help you create hundreds of designs and projects with four coordinating shapes.
You’ll also want to get English Paper Piecing Made Easy by the one and only Katja Marek. Katja’s easy-to-follow directions and patterns are a fabulous way to ensure your success right out of the gate (or box!)
You’ll also find a series of helpful videos by Pam and me taking you step-by-step through this fun and highly portable quilting technique.
I hope that you’re inspired to jump in and learn something new to level up your quilting. Be sure to share your journey with us using the hashtag #AccuQuiltBuilt and tagging us @AccuQuilt on social media to keep us all inspired!
