I just discovered my new favorite toy! The AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter. I've been hearing about it for quite some time and even saw a demo at Quilt Market last Fall but I just finally got around to trying it for myself. It is so much fun - and easy! One thing I love about it is that it is low-tech - no new software to learn, no uploading, downloading, or programming required! It works every time to give me clean, consistent cuts. I'm loving it for handling scraps and small pieces of fabric. I just cut my leftovers into squares, strips, and triangles, then store them for future sewing - ready to go. I can start sewing when I feel like it with all of the cutting behind me.

I tried one of the new dies - Alpha Baby - and created a sweet scrapbook page for a friend of mine. If you want to try it for yourself, download the instructions by clicking HERE. I can see how the GO! Fabric Cutter is going to save me time in cutting fabric shapes, money because I waste less fabric, and frustration because my pieces are consistent so my seams match and my points are sharp! What more could a stitcher want?!

Create a shamrock using your BERNINA Embroidery Software - EditorPlus or DesignerPlus.

Open Art Canvas, select Basic Vector Shapes, and draw a "long" heart shape. Change the Fill Color to green and the Outline to "none."

Copy the heart and Paste to create a second heart shape. Change the angle to 90 degrees. Move this heart into place beneath and to the left of the first heart.

Copy and Paste another heart shape and change the angle to 270 degrees. Move this herat into place beneath and to the right of the first heart.

Select Basic Vector Shapes and add a trapezoid shape for the shamrock stem.

Select Arrange > Shaping, and the "weld" option. Select Convert to Embroidery.

Change fills and outline stitches to create your own unique shamrocks!

Here's a project from Denise Fischer, manager of the Bernina Sewing Center in Tucson, AZ:

I made these quick and easy cushions Saturday for classes at work. I used five different 1/4 yard pieces of fabric to cut two 1 1/2" strips, two 2 1/2" strips, two 3" strips, and one 7" strip for each cushion (each strip is 22" long). I also bought a 22" piece of solid green home dec fabric for the back of the cushions and cut it into 22" squares.

I auditioned the fabrics, laying them out in different ways until I liked the order. Then I pinned them and stitched them together on my 830, which is marvelous and easy to use. I used Patchwork Foot with Guide #57D with the integrated dual feed feature - which is awesome to work with! I let my 830 know which foot I was using and used the straight stitch plate as well - it won't let me use anything but a straight stitch in center position when it knows I'm using a straight stitch foot - no broken needles! My 830 knows so much and the accessories make it a whole lot easier to use.

Then I took off the straight stitch plate and changed to Zipper Foot #4D - once again, I let my very smart machine know which foot I was using. I moved the needle position, lined up my zipper, and stitched it to the top of the patchwork front and home dec fabric back.

All that was left then was to stitch the sides and across the bottom. You could easily sew this on a serger if you wanted to.

I bought 18" square flat cushions that were 2" deep, wrapped them in batting, and slid them into the zippered casing seat covers.

I think I accomplished this project - two cushions - in under two hours. I was looking for something quick and easy, as I wanted to make several so my sewing ladies could be comfortable while taking classes. They're very comfortable and they look great!

It's cold and snowy outside, perfect weather for staying inside and sewing! Here's a little purse I made using the Tokyo Tie Bag instructions from S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp. It's a quick and simple project - great for when you want to make something fun and fast. The fabric is from a red hearts jacket I started but never finished - it's nice to finally have something DONE using the patchwork and freemotion stitching I worked so hard to finish! The patchwork blocks were stitched using Patchwork Foot #37, and I used Freemotion Quilting Foot #29 for the hearts.

Except for joining the bias strips together, I made these pillows using just one presser foot: Bulky Overlock Foot #12. Designed for stitching sweater knits, it's also great for making and inserting covered cording.

First - Cut bias strips (about 1 1/2" for the narrow cord I used here), then wrap one end around the filler cord. Place under the presser foot so that the cord is under the "tunnel" part of the foot. Move the needle all the way to the right, and set the stitch length at 3 to 4mm. Stitch.

Second - Attach covered cord to the front of the pillow with the needle in the far right position, clipping the seam allowances at the corners. I don't pin it in place, just place it as I sew along the sides. Just before I get to a corner I stop and clip the seam allowances a few times to help the cord around the sharp curve. On these pillows I didn't do anything fancy where the ends met; just cross them over each other and stitched through them. With larger cord I'd unwrap and clip the filler cord to keep the join from being too bulky.

Third - Place the front to the back, right sides together, with the front on top. You'll be able to see the stitching lines from step 2. Move the needle all the way to the right, then back one step to the left; this will place your stitching just barely inside the previous seam, hiding those stitches. Stitch around the sides, leaving an opening in the middle of one side for inserting the pillow form. I always stitch at least an inch or two from the corners toward the opening; otherwise it's hard to get the corners to turn properly later.

Fourth - Turn the pillow cover right side out. Because you've inserted piping into the edges the corners "pop" right side out - no fiddling with point turners to get the corner turned right side out. Insert the pillow form, then stitch the opening closed. I do this by hand, as it's hard to stitch next to the bulky pillow. But, if you're careful, it's possible to use Zipper Foot #4 or Leather Roller Foot #55 to stitch the layers of fabric together just below the piping.