Fabric in your Big Shot!

Crafting with fabric is one of the biggest industry trends right now,
and we aren't just talking quilts! You can create beautiful fabric
accessories and home décor with your Big Shot–even if you don't sew.
The Sizzix Big Shot makes it easy to cut intricate fabric shapes to use
in all your crafting projects. It's a great way for you to connect with
new customers. In fact, we have provided you with several projects that
you can demonstrate at your workshops. To help you get started, we have
listed some basic questions and answers about using the Big Shot to
create with fabric.
What type of fabric will the Big Shot cut? The Big Shot will cut all types of fabric. For a complete list of Big Shot-approved materials, click here.

How many pieces of fabric can I cut at a time?
That depends on the fabric. Different fabrics vary in thickness. For
example, your Big Shot can cut through eight layers of cotton, which is
a relatively thin fabric, but it will only cut through one layer of
faux fur, which is a very thick fabric.

Do you shim fabric in a Big Shot differently than paper?
No. Your Big Shot works the same with fabric as it does with paper.
Different fabrics vary in thickness, much the same as different paper
materials vary in thickness. If you are only cutting one layer of a
very thin fabric, you might need to use a piece of card stock as a shim
just as you would if you were only cutting one layer of thin paper.

Will all Big Shot dies cut fabric?
You can cut fabric with any of the Sizzix steel-rule dies (Originals,
Bigz, Bigz L, and Bigz XL). You cannot cut fabric with Sizzlits,
Embosslits, Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, or Texturz Plates.

Will dies with score lines ruin my fabric?
You can still use dies with score lines to cut fabric. The score lines
will slightly distress your fabric, but shouldn't damage it
permanently. However, we recommend that if you are using dies with
score lines to only cut one or two layers at a time (depending on the
thickness of your fabric). If you try to cut too many layers at a time,
it is possible that the score lines could tear your fabric.

Will cutting fabric with the Big Shot dull my dies?
The Big Shot steel-rule dies (Originals, Bigz, Bigz L, and Bigz XL)
were designed to work on several different types of materials. For a
complete list of Big Shot approved materials, click here. Cutting
fabric with your Big Shot dies will not result in any damage to your
dies, and will not dull them any faster than cutting paper will.

Should I wash my fabric before working with it?
It really depends on the fabric. Some lower-quality fabrics will shrink
after they're washed, which could result in your project coming apart.
However, many quilters don't wash their fabric first because the fabric
is stiffer and easier to work with before it's washed. And if you use
higher-quality fabrics, they will likely not shrink.

I just recently purchased my Big Shot. How does it work? You can find general information about the Big Shot on the Big Shot product page. We also have several videos that demonstrate how to operate your Big Shot. You can find those on our Video Techniques training page.

Does Stampin' Up! plan to sell fabric?
Stampin' Up! works hard to stay on trend, but it just isn't possible to
offer every crafting product on the market. We will continue to explore
new products and possibilities, but will keep stamps, ink, and paper as
our core products.

Why should I demonstrate fabric projects if Stampin' Up! doesn't sell fabric?
While Stampin' Up! does not sell fabric, entering the world of fabric
crafting is a fantastic way for you to find new customers as many
Stampin' Up! products will appeal to customers who enjoy working with
fabric. In addition to the Big Shot and our exclusive dies, fabric
crafters will love our ribbons, buttons, and craft and paper scissors,
just to mention a few. These new customers you will meet already enjoy
working with shapes, colors, and patterns–they will be natural
stampers! It's also a great opportunity for you to introduce them to
the wonderful world of stamping, while providing them with quality
products for a craft they already love.

Where can I
find the fabric used in the Leadership sample quilt square? Will we be
seeing those designs in an upcoming Designer Series paper?
Shelli chose fabric for the Leadership quilt blocks from a local quilt
store. Those fabrics do not contain any Stampin' Up! artwork, and we
will not be basing any future artwork on those fabric designs.

Is there a pattern available for the quilt square given out at Leadership? Yes. Written instructions for making the quilt square are available here. You can also watch a quilt square video demonstration here.

I don't have a sewing machine. Can I still create fabric projects?
Yes! The world of fabric crafting is as varied as the world of paper
crafting. There are several alternatives to using a sewing machine. You
can create many simple designs sewing by hand using a needle and thread
or even a hot glue gun. In addition, fusible web is a great option for
creating one-of-a-kind fabric crafts.

What is fusible web, and how does it work?
Fusible web is a manmade fiber that will melt when heated with an iron
and become sticky. When it is placed between two pieces of fabric, the
melting of the web causes the fabrics to fuse together making it
possible for you to adhere the fabric without the use of a sewing
machine. Fusible web is available in rolls (similar to tape), in
pre-packaged pieces, or is sold by the yard in your local fabric store.

My quilting friends mention things called charm packs, layer cakes, and fat quarters.
What are they? Charm packs, layer cakes, and fat quarters are terms for
precut cotton that is generally used for quilting. Charm packs include
a variety of coordinating fabrics cut into 5" x 5" squares. The packs
have an assortment of patterned and solid fabrics, and their small size
makes them ideal for using on quilt blocks. Layer cakes are just like
charm packs, but they are larger in size, with the cotton cut into 10"
x 10" squares. Fat quarters are pieces of cotton cut into quarter yard
segments. However, instead of being cut vertically, like you would cut
a piece of fabric off a bolt, fat quarters are cut horizontally first,
giving you a piece of cotton that measures 18" X 22". All of these
options are a great way to get a good selection of fabrics at a
relatively inexpensive price.

Stay tuned for more posts with fabric Big Shot projects–I'm working on three different things right now but my El Cheapo sewing machine is on the fritz once again. Doing what I can with a glue gun and hand sewing, but I think a new machine is in my future. Too bad–takes money away from my stamp fund!!