This post is part of the Tula Pink Sew Along!

For full schedule of guest post quilt pattern reviews, discounts, and prizes, click here!

Hi! It’s Katy from I’m A Ginger Monkey here. Sara asked if I could share my thoughts on the Sizzix Big Shot machine as part of the Sew Sweetness X Tula Pink sew along, she knew I already owned a big shot and had heard me mention over on twitter that I use it a fair amount. What is a Big Shot? It’s basically a die cutting machine – fabric (or paper, or card or any number of other materials) are safely and precisely cut using blades concealed within a foam case (a die) as they are fed through a set of rollers. The pressure of the rollers pushing onto the die cuts the material. It cuts cleanly, safely and incredibly precisely – each time you cut a shape it’s exactly the same size and shape as the previous shape. The Big Shot is a small, compact machine that is light weight and portable and easily stored in a closet or on a shelf.

I’ve seen these kind of things before and they don’t cut fabric on the grain, so there’s a risk of stretch and distortion isn’t there?
Other machines that use the same principle don’t always cut fabric straight on the grain – the blades in the dies are sometimes set at a slight angle. The big shot dies are different, they are completely straight, the only way you’ll cut off grain is if you place the fabric itself at an angle. Lay it straight on the die and you’ll get straight cut on the grain shapes each and every time. read more