Thursday, July 21, 2011

Baby Go! giveaway



I know I promised it last week but I have been having a really hard time coming up with the giveaway for the Baby Go! There are so many options but then I got to thinking that the whole point of AccuQuilt is to make life for us quilters easier, not more complicated.
I really wish I had more of these to giveaway because I know so many who they could help but I only have the one, plus three dies.You can read my review of the Baby Go! here.

So here's how it's going to work. You have three chances to win.

Chance #1
Leave me a comment telling me how you think the Baby Go! will make things easier for you. That's it.

Chance #2
Use social media to spread the word about the giveaway. That's facebook, twitter, blogs, google+ etc
Leave me a comment with the link, and if it's on twitter make sure to include @caraquilts #gogiveaway in the tweet.

Chance #3
Like my new facebook page.

That's it. Three chances. The first one requires nothing but a comment, the extra two are a bit of work for you. I will draw on August 7th.
I'd love for you to follow/connect with me on various social media sites but I'm not going to force it. If you want to I'd love it, you can get all the link on the top left sidebar of the blog.

22 Free Patterns - Download Now


There is also this giveaway going on on Facebook from AccuQuilt too!

Bust My Stash Photo Challenge
Have you stared at your fabric stash and wished that you had the time and energy to cut up your fabric for future projects?  AccuQuilt has the answer!  Click on the following link to participate: http://on.fb.me/qtyUoq or go to AccuQuilt’s Facebook page and click “Like”.  Then go to the ‘Bust My Stash’ tab under their profile picture and upload a picture of your fabric stash.  Submit your photo by Friday, July 22nd and you’ll be eligible to win a GO! Mix & Match 12” Starter Set.  The photo with the most votes by July 31st wins!  Photos will be voted on by viewers and fans of the AccuQuilt Facebook page using the following criteria: relevance, creativity, and originality.  Share with your friends during the voting period to increase your odds of winning!
Good Luck!


It's been so hot here I haven't been able to spend much time in my sewing room, which turns out to be the warmest in the house, but as soon as the heat wave breaks I'll get the tutorial put together for you using the dies I got with my Baby.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Baby Go! Review

 I received my Baby Go! last week and have been playing with it and thinking on its uses, strengths and weaknesses. I wanted to be able to give you all a really honest review. I am really grateful to AccuQuilt for letting me have one, and to give one away!, but my review is based more on if I'd bought it, and what I would tell my friends about it.
This is especially true since I can give you some insights on it from the point of view of someone who has chronic pain, and often am weak and have difficulty with the cutting aspect of quilting.

So my thoughts in general are positive. I'll give all my highlights first then do another section on some of the drawbacks.
I received the 2 1/2" strip die, the 3 size of hexagon die, and Alex Anderson's Bountiful Baskets die.

It is super easy to use, both my 7 year old and I could crank the handle with 4 layers of fabric on it.
It only weighs about 11 lbs, so it's not too heavy to move around.
It folds up nice and small so doesn't take a lot of space to store the machine itself.
For applique, especially fusible, and geometric shapes like hexagons or apple cores, it is a massive time saver when it comes to cutting. If you really like doing any of these type of quilts you will use this a lot.


I was able to use a charm pack and just cut the larger hexagon (5" across). I cut out all 42 hexies in about 10-15 minutes. No back pain. And they all were exactly the same.
If they had a 4 1/2"-5" tumbler die I'd be in heaven. The 3 1/2" tumbler wastes too much of a charm pack for me to use it.
It does cut the 2 1/2" strips quickly as well.  

The mats are thick, thicker then a rotary cutting mat, so will probably last a good long time, so long as you follow the instructions on rotating them when you use them and store them properly.

The dies are well hidden in the foam board so no worries about kiddos, or klutzy me, getting cut accidentally.

Theoretically would could use the strip cutter to cut squares by re-cutting the strips. I didn't try this.

You can put paper through the machine, and in fact that is a step for troubleshooting, so you could make accurate English paper piecing pieces.








It is easy to use the Baby Go! sitting down at the table, or standing up.

Drawbacks
No matter how careful you are it wastes fabric, especially with strips etc, which I hate.
I can use my rotary cutter and get an extra strip or two out of a yard of fabric then I could using the 2 1/2" strip cutter. Also the strips can be slightly wonky, especially in the middle, depending on how you folded the fabric, just like with a rotary cutter.

The dies and mats are fairly large and take up a good deal of space. They are also pricey if you're not going to use it several times. The regular Go! has way more dies available, and in bigger sizes, which I think would be far more useful. I find that the limited number, and size of dies available for the Baby Go! to be a drawback. More will be add all the time though. The Baby Go! will not have anything bigger then the 5" rag die though. So if you like larger patches you will need the Go! This is sort of a personal thing. Look at what's available and what and how you quilt.

You can't use it to trim or square up blocks. Ok you could but it would be very difficult to be accurate and make sure you trimmed it properly.

You have to cut, fold or rip your fabric to fit it to the machine. The bed of the machine is only about 6" wide. Once I'm already cutting with the rotary cutter I don't want to switch back to the machine. And again you lose fabric making sure your dies are fully covered, about 1/4-1/2" on either side.

So what's the final verdict?
The Baby Go! would be a neat addition to your tools list, it will save you tons of time and back ache, especially with geometric and applique shapes,  but you are still going to being using your rotary cutter and mat, just like we still use scissors.
If you can afford it go with the regular Accuquilt Go! just based on the number, size and types of dies available.

Stay tuned for a tutorial or two coming up using the Baby Go! and a giveaway, where you could win a Baby Go! and your choice of three dies.

And remember to sign up for the Accuquilt newsletter, where you get 22 free quilt patterns just for signing up! You also get a discount code that can be used when ordering.
Disclosure: I get points for every person who signs up and with enough points can get a free die. I appreciate it thanks!
22 Free Patterns - Download Now


There is also the Bust My Stash Photo Challenge going on FacebookWhile you're there make sure to friend me!
Have you stared at your fabric stash and wished that you had the time and energy to cut up your fabric for future projects?  AccuQuilt has the answer!  Click on the following link to participate: http://on.fb.me/qtyUoq or go to AccuQuilt’s Facebook page and click “Like”.  Then go to the ‘Bust My Stash’ tab under their profile picture and upload a picture of your fabric stash.  Submit your photo by Friday, July 22nd and you’ll be eligible to win a GO! Mix & Match 12” Starter Set.  The photo with the most votes by July 31st wins!  Photos will be voted on by viewers and fans of the AccuQuilt Facebook page using the following criteria: relevance, creativity, and originality.  Share with your friends during the voting period to increase your odds of winning!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bust Your Stash! Win a Baby Go!


Have you stared at your fabric stash and wished that you had the time and energy to cut up your fabric for future projects?  AccuQuilt has the answer!  Click on the following link to participate: http://on.fb.me/qtyUoq or go to AccuQuilt’s Facebook page and click “Like”.  Then go to the ‘Bust My Stash’ tab under their profile picture and upload a picture of your fabric stash. 
Submit your photo by Friday, July 22nd and you’ll be eligible to win a GO! Mix & Match 12” Starter Set.  The photo with the most votes by July 31st wins!  Photos will be voted on by viewers and fans of the AccuQuilt Facebook page using the following criteria: relevance, creativity, and originality.  Share with your friends during the voting period to increase your odds of winning!
Good Luck!
 I'm stilling writing my review, tutorial and giveaway posts but wanted to let you all in on another opportunity to win a Baby Go!

Also if you sign up for the AccuQuilt newsletter you can get 22 quilt patterns free!
22 Free Patterns - Download Now

Pattern and Kit Winner!

WOW that was a lot of entries! And lots of great fabric ideas for my patterns, Avalanche and Cheers to You were the most popular.
I have to say I think Cheers To You is my favorite as you can change the words easily for it to fit any occasion or any fabric.
Thank you to Shawna at 1 Choice 4 Quilting for hosting the giveaway and carrying my patterns!
But you want to know how won!

Getting a kit Cheers to You in Flurry of is ... Jodi!!

Congratulations!! Email me your physical address and we will get it out to you!

Keep an eye on the blog as I have at least 2 more giveaways coming up, including an Accuquilt Baby Go!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Exciting things are coming!!

I will draw tomorrow for the kit and one of my patterns so if you haven't entered yet make sure you do here!!
And don't forget the 10% off coupon code "carapattern". You can get an extra 10% off you order at 1 Choice 4 Quilting until July 15th!!

 This week has been very exciting for new arrivals, my little nephew on Monday and this came this week too!!

You know what that means! One of you lucky duckies will be winning a Baby Go! and 3 dies of your choice!! I'll be doing a review, a tutorial and giveaway soon!
I've been playing with mine and I have lots to say about it.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Welcome to a new nephew

Monday my little nephew was born.





Friday evening we had a family dinner to welcome him to the dysfunctional craziness that is my family of origin.

Hello little guy.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Kit Giveaway!! And 10% off

  Shawna at 1 Choice 4 Quilting is going to giveaway a kit for one of my patterns!! The best part? You get to choose the pattern, and the fabrics you want for it!!!


Just head over to her shop and look around. Come back and tell me which pattern, you can find them under notions, and what line of fabric you'd like to win!!


Want more entries?
-Sign up for 1 Choice 4 Quilting's newsletter, come back and leave a comment letting me know.
- Be a follower of my blog. Again leave me a separate comment letting me know you follow.

  If that isn't enough for you, you can also receive an extra 10% off by using the coupon code "carapattern" until July 15th!!! So much of Shawna's shop is already 20-30% off so you can really get some amazing deals!
Check out her Sample Spree section for some pre-release fabrics before they're all gone!