Is an AccuQuilt Machine worth it?

I love my AccuQuilt machine for cutting scraps into usable shapes. It helps me turn an unruly pile of leftovers into neat squares, stripss, and other pieces that are ready for future quilts.

But is it the best tool for cutting ordinary strips?

After my latest cutting session, I’m not convinced.

My AccuQuilt Experiment

I needed 2½-inch strips for one of my current scrap quilts, so I pulled out the AccuQuilt strip-cutting die. Since it can cut nine strips at once, it sounded like the quickest and easiest solution.

At least, that was the theory.

First, I had to prepare the fabric and carefully line it up on the die…..

That took longer than I expected. Then I discovered that I hadn’t cut my fabric quite wide enough to cover the entire die. Instead of nine strips, I ended up with eight strips—and one wider leftover piece.

The fabric was also a little thicker than normal. The die cut through most of the layers, but it didn’t completely cut through the top one. I had to go back with scissors and separate several sections….

That wasn’t a complete disaster, but it did mean more waste than I wanted.

By the time I finished, my supposedly quick stack of nine strips—make that eight strips—had taken quite a while.

Time for a Side-by-Side Test

After that experience, I decided to cut the next eight strips with my rotary cutter and 24-inchruler.

I placed a two-pound weight on one end of the ruler to help hold it firmly in place. That made cutting the long strips much easier and kept the ruler from shifting…..

I cut two strips at a time, starting by trimming one edge, then cutting a 5-inch strip…

…and then sliding the ruler down and cutting the 2.5-inch strip.

The rotary-cut strips were faster to cut, easier to manage, and produced virtually no waste…

Were they as perfectly accurate as the AccuQuilt strips? Possibly not. But any differences were so small that they won’t matter in this quilt.

So, Is AccuQuilt Worth It for Cutting Strips?

For me, the answer is no—not for plain strips cut from yardage.

The time needed to prepare and position the fabric, along with the possibility of waste or incomplete cuts through thicker layers, outweighed the convenience of cutting several strips at once.

In this case, my rotary cutter and ruler were simply faster and easier.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up my AccuQuilt machine. Far from it! I still love it for processing scraps and cutting shapes that would be slower or more difficult to cut individually.

But for a stack of ordinary 2½-inch strips?

I’ll be reaching for my rotary cutter, long ruler, and trusty two-pound weight.

Sometimes the simplest tool really is the best tool for the job.

What about you? Do you use an AccuQuilt machine to cut strips, or do you prefer your rotary cutter and ruler?