When Michael and I visited a beautiful church in Italy (sadly, I can’t remember which town), I looked up—and immediately saw a quilt design…
The ceiling is filled with ideas that could easily be translated into fabric or thread. The circular design begins with a strong focal point and radiates outward in sections. Repeated stars create rhythm, while the squares, lines, and decorative borders add layer after layer of detail.
It reminds me of a quilted mandala. You could begin in the center and work outward, changing the design with each new round. Some areas could be densely quilted, while others could remain open to let the design breathe.
I am especially drawn to how the geometric framework gives structure to all those small details. Even though the ceiling is ornate, the repetition keeps it from feeling chaotic.
Of course, I’m not planning to reproduce the entire ceiling in a quilt! But I could borrow one element—a ring of stars, the radiating wedges, or the framed squares—and use it as the starting point for a quilting design.
That is one of my favorite things about creative inspiration. We don’t have to copy what we see. We can notice a shape, a pattern, or an arrangement and ask:
How could I interpret that in fabric or thread?
Sometimes quilting inspiration is right in front of us.
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?
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It is easy to watch an experienced free-motion quilter create smooth curves and beautiful designs and think, “I could never do that.”
But here is the truth:
Confidence doesn’t arrive before you begin. It grows with every practice sandwich, every imperfect curve, and every design that looks a little different from the one you imagined.
Those early wobbles aren’t failures—they are evidence that you are learning how to coordinate your hands, your machine, and your ideas. Gradually, your movements become smoother, your designs feel more natural, and the lines begin going where you want them to go.
And even experienced quilters still make the occasional wobble. We’ve simply learned to keep quilting and let it become part of the design.
So, lower those feed dogs, take a breath, and start stitching. Your lines don’t have to be perfect.
