Talk to me about die cutters, ladies

[Stitchthis]

I have an amazon voucher for £75 and want to get a die cutter that works on fabric but is also good for paper. I've seen this and this one. Can you give me your recommendations?!

[babesdontlie]

I have the Big Shot and I love it! cuts felt, fabric, thick card, calico...

[Dingle]

I think it's not only the die cutter you need to consider but the dies themselves. In my experience it's a lot easier to cut thicker materials such as felt in the "older style" think dies with the metal cutters. Dies like the original Sizzix rather than Spellbinders nesties for example.

I love my Cuttlebug but I mainly use paper and card, I resort back to my old faithful BigShot for the rare occasion I want to cut anything thicker.

Have fun! x

[bettykelly123]

hi there
can i gate crash.
id love a die cutter that cuts just fabric. what and where should i be looking at?

[kellestar]

well it's down to the dies more than the machine. My MiL borrows my Big Shot to take to her quilting group. They have the sizzix quilting dies from cutting edge crafts [in the link]. They really love it for cutting fabric for the charity quilts they make.

They have a number of these quilting dies to use, they'd love to afford the big shot pro, but they are considering buying their own big shot. I bought mine about a year or two ago, mainly cut paper/card/felt but normal sizzix dies will cut fabric, I find it worth ironing on the bondaweb before cutting, makes the fabric cut better, some thin stuff, just doesn't cut on it's own. Before that had the sizzix side kick which was really handy, but took the sizzlits rather than the original dies. You can use some other dies in the side kick, the ellison brand are pretty much the same.

My big shot was second hand of a well known trading site, paid £45 ish with lots of dies, new cutting pads and the sizzlits booster pad.

[Stitchthis]

Well, I bought the big shot. I'm going to have a go with it today. Wish me luck! Thanks everybody

[kellestar]

Have fun.

I've just found out that the Xcut repositionable nesting dies work on the big shot too. They are also much cheaper, not sure of the quality, a five piece nesting set for about £9.95.

eBay can be your friend for buying/selling dies. I've bought a few for a particular project, taken some extra's in suitable colours and then put the die back on eBay, usually selling for what I paid for it.

[Stitchthis]

How quickly do dies blunt? I have tried cutting felt and the second time I used the die it didn't cut properly. Have I done something wrong?

[Stitchthis]

Thanks r e tip for cheap dies btw!

[kellestar]

Mine haven't given a poor cut at all, it could be just the felt is quite thick. Which die are you using? the original's dies? I tend to use the cheapo felt rather than the nice thick stuff.

I think a friend said she just runs it through with tin foil... but not sure if that'll keep'm sharp or not.

[Stitchthis]

Bit of an update... I've started ironing bondaweb to the fabric before cutting which works well. I've used the Big Shot to make a modern take on a footstool for my sister this Christmas too. Pictures here. She was pleased anyway!