Cutting Mat Tip
Every quilter needs a good self healing cutting mat. I prefer the Olfa mats - I have no affiliation but am a very satisfied customer who has tried many different brands of cutting mats over the years. I found a list of great tip for mat care at the Olfa website and decided to try the eraser idea after cutting some batting.
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You know how the fuzzy bits get stuck in the tiny slits left behind by the rotary cutter? When you rub an eraser (I bought a cheap Staples brand eraser) over the mat, it pulls out the fuzz. You end up with schmutz that you just wipe into the garbage and your mat is clean again. I then wipe it gently with a damp cloth.
This mat however, is dead. Done.
It has worn completely thin and is no longer a self healing mat because it is bare. No amount of rubbing it with an eraser will fix it. It needs to go in the garbage.
Santa knows I need a brand spanking new self healing mat, and he also knows that I have been a very good girl!
19 comments:
I've seen that tip. I'd be checking our Pintrest for cutting mat recyle ideas. I'm thinking Gerry Krueger had a good use for them but for the life of me I can't remember what it was.
Great tip.
I had an old mat that was beyond redemption as well. I didn't want to put it in the garbage though so I repurposed it as a sewing machine mat and it works great. My husband cut it in half and we each took a piece. Not too sure what he used his piece for but it worked for both of us.
Thank you for the tip! I am going to try it today! My old cutting mat is under my cat’s litter box!
I flip mine over and use the other side for paper or batting or to pin baste on.
I've also heard you should spray your mats with water to help if self heal.
thanks for the eraser tip
I love Purl Soho and really like how they offer projects for novice knitters too. I can actually knit most of their free patterns.
YOur Blockhead blocks are amazing! SO much perfect piecing.
My mat is very old and it was suggested to me as a reason for not cutting fabric well. But obviously that has not happened to you! I just read that Olfa made the very first rotary cutters so they are the experts.
Glad to hear you say that about different mats and your preference is Olfa. I have always used Olfa but was thinking of trying another company. Now I know what I want: another Olfa cutting mat. Thank you. ;^)
My quilting friend here cuts her old mats up and uses them as dividers between her fat quarters, etc. Is the eraser just a plain old eraser, or is it one made by Olfa?
Good tip. I too have used Olfa mats for years and have replaced many times because of so much quilt making.
I have more than I need and just stack them. I would purchase them when they were on sale at Hancocks - before the went under.
I keep my batting scraps and cut them into 3" squares and keep them handy - as I cut out a project, I wipe the scraps, etc with them and then the mat says clean.
when cutting batting, I use an older mat that looks a little like your worn out mat!
I cannot believe how expensive they have become - must be made of gold.
If only we could find a way to have a new mat without that strong smell that comes with them!
Going to try the eraser on my mat too!
Good tip! Are you sure you have been a good girl this year? Hope Santa get's your wish list. I'd be happy to let our elf on the shelf pass it along to Santa too... just in case! Just told our Elf Chilli... hope it arrives in time! (The kids thought it was funny with me talking to their elf... who is hanging in the drape by my chair today.
I haven't ever thrown a mat out. I prefer Olfa also and cut them in half to take with me at classes. I never use the lines, so that doesn't matter to me. I always use the back for cutting batting and yes, the eraser works great. Recycle your old mat. You can even use them in the kitchen for small cutting boards.
I actually used a mat so much that the line along the short edge broke off!
I still have my original mat. It looks sad but it still works. I must not have made as many quilts as you have. Thanks for the tip.
Took my old mat to quilt ministry and we use the reverse side there. The new Olga mats smell bad for months, even after soaking in white vinegar, but well worth the wait and money.
Good tip to know! Thanks!
As long as Santa knows you have been good, I guess you are safe. Otherwise, Olfa and Coal have a lot of similar letters in them.
But you HAVE been very good, from what I can tell. :)
No amount of magic will fix my cutting mat so Santa needs to bring me a new one too. One of my old ones is propped up against the wall with a piece of batting over it and that is my "design wall". Another one I cut the good part off and use it as a small sort of revolving cutting mat on top of this mat. The other bad part I cut off I covered and used as the bottom of a hand bag I made.
You've got to be on Santa's nice list this year, so hopefully you'll get a new mat soon. Mine isn't quite that bad yet, but it won't be long before mine will need to be replaced too.
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