Using Accuquilt for the Harvest Star Quilt

I was so excited when Accuquilt invited me to be part of their ambassador program. I make a ton of quilts every year as pattern samples, and I’m always looking for ways to streamline the process. Accuquilt machines are die cut machines that can cut up to 6 layers of fabric at once, which speeds up the cutting process and does it with accuracy! I was especially excited about Accuquilt’s possibility to cut half square triangles and flying geese that require no trimming. Could it be possible?!

I decided a good first test for my Accuquilt was to make a Harvest Star quilt block. Harvest Star has many little pieces, half square triangles, and flying geese, so I thought it would be a great way to jump right in! The Accuquilt Ready, Set, GO! system that I received comes with the Accuquilt GO! cutter, 8″ Qube dies, GO! Strip Cutter- 2 1/2″, GO! Cutting Mat-10″ x 24″, as well as great instructions and block ideas. The Accuquilt 8″ Qube has everything you need to make the Harvest Star quilt.

Don’t have the pattern yet? Find Harvest Star in my shop!

My mom happened to be over when I was cutting my pieces and I invited her to take a turn. My mom really doesn’t like cutting with a rotary cutter, and it is her biggest hurdle to making quilts. She was amazed at how easy it was to cut pieces with the Accuquilt system!

If you’re making Harvest Star with the Accuquilt, please note the following fabric requirement changes:

• For the Fat Quarter version, it is possible to cut A/B from a fat quarter but it is quite tight. A 3/8 yd cut for these fabrics is recommended.
• For the 3/8 yd version, you’ll need 1/2 yd of each fabric you’re using instead.

Another benefit I quickly found out was that by cutting out all the pieces individually, I was able to lay out my Harvest Star block before I sewed anything together. This is great for mix-and-match patterns like Harvest Star, where you might find you have trouble visualizing which fabrics to pair together. You’re able to cut everything out, lay out all the blocks, and decide on combinations before sewing anything together.

I was a bit nervous about sewing the half square triangles and flying geese on the bias edges, but I shouldn’t have worried, they came together easily and so much faster than usual!

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And here’s my finished block! I’m really excited to have found a way to speed up making Harvest Star, I’m going to spend some time cutting up the rest of this scrumptious fabric pull and get sewing!