Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Sizzix Test Run

I recently pulled out my new Sizzix and the 4.5 inch HST die for a test run.  Happy days, happy days.  I was so excited to give this a try.  I came prepared with a little charm square as eventually I'd love to make a scrappy HST quilt with all of the bits and bobs laying around my quilting space.  So, I loaded the little machine and gave it a crank.  This is what came out the other side:


Can you see the little lines where the die cut the fabric?  There's very little waste. The largest piece of waste is where the HST points are removed for you and I am MORE than happy to have the machine toss them out instead of me cutting them, then tossing them. 

But there's a problem.  When I went to remove the two HSTs from the die, they were not fully cut from the waste edge.  There are little threads continuing to hold the HSTs together.  Can you see it here?  One in the deep orange at the upper tip of my finger and the other at the yellow-orange near the edge of the fabric square?


And here between the two pieces of HST....


Still, I cracked open a charm pack of Oh Deer and got to cutting.  I'm thrilled with how quickly this went, how precise the pieces are AND that there will be no trimming of the HSTs when they're done.  I had to cut apart each and every one of these with a little pair of scissors. 


I was thrilled that there was so little waste after cutting an entire charm pack.  You'd easily have this much left after squaring HSTs made the traditional way.


So, is that right Sizzix owners?  Do you guys usually have the little threads left over? Is my die dull?  It very much reminded me of cutting with a dull rotary blade.  That can't be right...

EDITED: Just to add, I did try with up to six layers of fabric and had the same issue with at least the top three layers.  The bottom layers were better, but usually had a few hangy-on bits.

20 comments:

Canadian Abroad said...

I sometimes get that with the Go! but not every time certainly.

linda said...

get on to them as it seems odd to me but i do not have a sizzix,but even trimming those bits is better than the usual way :))))

JoJo said...

Maybe it would work better if you layered a few charm squares and ran them through the machine one on top of the other? I've never seen/used one myself, but I know our (paper) guillotine in work only cuts properly when we use a few sheets - it just mangles one sheet... So a similar principle may apply?

prsd4tim2 said...

Cindy, I have a Big Shot but I haven't tried to cut fabric with it. I certainly love the idea, though. I haven't seen the HST die but I plan to look for it. Sounds very cool.

Anonymous said...

I've been cutting triangles lately and it did cross my mind to get one of this cutters! Thanks for the review :-)

Annabella said...

I can't help as I don't have one - I'm sure Hadders can help!

Lynz said...

Oh, god, Oh Deer and HST's?!?!? *hyperventilates* You know how I feel about them! *g*

Cannae help with the cutting but that does look very like a blunt rotary blade, dunnit? How bloody annoying - I'd be asking the Sizzix people, I think.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I don't have a Big Shot (or anything like it) but that doesn't seem right. Have you asked Katy Monkey or Hadley? Or Sizzix themselves?

Leanne said...

I debate getting one of those machines. Your quilt will be lovely.

knottygnome said...

i have a big shot and yes, it doesn't cut perfectly cleanly on any of the dies i have. i find that if i hold the shapes down with my hand and gently pull off the excess before removing it completely from the die, it generally comes apart (or i snip with scissors).

i have heard that if you sandwich your layers between paper it takes care of the problem but i haven't tried that yet.

Judith, Belfast said...

Yes I get that with mine too! jxo

Kelsey said...

I get a few that still have strings but I've had much less once I saw this tip somewhere - stack your fabrics on the die and then put the plate thing on top and then put a piece of cardstock (I use a junk mail postcard) on top of it when you send it through. I have no clue why it works but it cuts through much cleaner. I usually only have one or two of the who stack that didn't cut all the way.

Katy Cameron said...

I've only ever had it with one of my dies, but then I had been using it for paper too, so I figured that was it! They do suggest using a 'shim', that is a piece of card, under the bottom cutting plate if the cuts aren't as clean as they were

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Pretty much what a lot of the others have said, some threads are normal, but these can mostly be snapped or snipped. One layer is 'worse' than more; there needs to be enough pressure to squeeze the fabric and die, so 6 is probably best/thickest you will get through. Also the more used the cutting mat is, the more frequent it is, but with new mats I wouldn't expect many.
Make sure you pick out the little threads that stick in the die too xxx

Vicky K said...

I have Big Shot and using a shim usually works for most threads. I put piece of cardstock on top of sandwich. After a while you will need to replace the paper as it gets squished.

Vicky K said...

I have Big Shot and using a shim usually works for most threads. I put piece of cardstock on top of sandwich. After a while you will need to replace the paper as it gets squished.

Wendy said...

once you've rolled forwards, don't touch the "sandwich" and roll backwards. It'll cut straight through

Sophie Belle Designs said...

Hi Cindy, just wondering where you bought your sizzix dies from?

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Like Susan, I have the same annoying problem with the GO! Cutter

Unknown said...

Hi Cindy, I have a Big Shot, it doesn't cut perfectly:-(
A big hug from the Black Sheep to Italy ehehehehe:-) Emanuela

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