Irishrose2

I have the Olfa green one and have been very pleased with it. I have to use the plain side. I use rulers for my measuring and my ADD brain can't handle two sets of lines and numbers. When it seemed a little rough, I just washed it with a cloth and spray cleaner and it was smooth again. I have the gray Fiskars here and at church. I do not care for them. The same blade is much harder to use on either one of them than on the OLfa.

quilttiger

[Saw one at a show not long ago, advertised as PVC & guaranteed for life, but of course, thought it was too expensive at the time & later read that nearly all mats are PVC but none that I saw were guaranteed. Thank you for your valued opinions, lots of excellent experience on this website.

Sandee in MO[/QUOTE]

i bought one of those mats at a quilt show about four years ago. The Big Mat, which has a warranty for five years, is still going strong, and I don't have to change the blades so often. If I had to, I would buy it again. www.sewingemporium.com. Worth every penny of it.

JENNR8R

I can't believe no one has mentioned the Martelli mat. It came with my table, but it can be bought separately. It will not warp in the heat. In fact, you can iron on it, and the lines are accurately spaced for measuring.

jmoore

I have both Olfa and Fiskars mats...because of the size, I use the Olfa more and have cleaned it several times over the past 4 years.

Esmerelde

I've been using the same Olfa mat for at least 5/6 years. Never had reason to buy another yet, and it's still just as good as the day I got it.

Texas_Sue

My favorite is a Martelli cutting mat. I don't think it will ever warp. When I bought it at the Dallas Quilt show years ago (probably about 7 years ago - at least) the salesman literally rolled it up and jumped up and down on it and it just unrolled flat as could be. It is self healing and I do a lot of cutting on it. I've never had any problems with it at all. Of course it is always on top of my cutting table and not one of my traveling cutting boards, but for those I like the Fiskars.

sewbizgirl

Have you tried this? I doesn't work. Water nor vinegar penetrates the mats so they really have no effect on them. This "tip" was all over Pinterest a while back, so I gave it a try. It was supposed to rejuvinate and 'heal' your mats. But like so much of what's on Pinterest, it was bunk.

Some of my friends bought the recycled PVC mats at the last quilt show we went to, because they were guaranteed for 10 years and weren't supposed to dull your blades as fast. I'm waiting on the verdict...

mhollifiel

Martelli! WOWZER! I have at least 8 mats and a couple of rotating ones as well. I have duplicates in my little fishing shack on the sound and back in the city as well. My latest purchase was the Martelli. I swear it seems to sharpen my rotary blade with every cut! The difference is amazing. I use the Martelli cutters and blades as well. They are all pricey but I got on their email and picked up on their sales. Great discount! This is the sweetest cutting I have ever done. Then my kids bought me the rotating Martelli for my birthday. I am in love with my kids! And my Martelli mats!

gigi712

Martelli all the way for me, too! Love the colors and they're a great quality mat.

madamekelly

I bought them same one you did and love it. Up until I bought it, all I had ever used was June Taylor from Walmart. What a difference a good mat made! Amazing.