Thread: help for a well used cutting mat.

I am loath to relinquish my long time cutting mat, but it has sections where the lines are worn through and the mat is rough with much cutting of fabric. I regularly lightly sand and hydrate the mat but it had just about seen it's last days and I was thinking of just flipping it over. While cleaning off a shelf I found a can of Quilt Glide, used to slick up my sewing machine bed before quilting something. I had forgotten that I had it. I then thought maybe it would help smooth out the rough places on my cutting mat. I smoothed the rough places as best I could with extra fine sand paper and then sprayed and rubbed in some of the Quilt glide. I could not believe the amount of stray fibers that it brought up. I thought I had kept it clean but there was a lot of small stuff clogging up the lines. I then sprayed and rubbed in another thick layer of the Quilt Guide and let it sit for about 2 hours and then came back and using the same cloth I had been rubbing the mat with, I again rubbed in the remaining residue of the Quilt Guide. The result was that the areas treated were much smoother, and had returned to the original dark blue. Now I don't want you to think the mat was back to new, but it was much better and smoother. Areas that had had medium damage were almost as smooth as new, and heavy damage was up to the medium damage level. The line were gone of course but the fabric I laid down to cut no longer sort of stuck on rough parts. I am going to treat my damaged areas often and hope then I can get another 15 years out of the mat.....yes I have had it that long. The can says you can get buy the Quilt Glide at www.jukeboxquits.com I am not sure if this place is still in business but I am going to go there and buy some more, or just find it where ever I can. And oh by the way, it does slick up the sewing area real well, so it does help with free motion on your DSM.

Originally Posted by NJ Quilter

Interesting. 15 years is great for a mat, imo. I would have just flipped it over!

Yah, good idea, but where can you find a mat that has the lines on both sides. I would like to find a good use for my big ones that are practically cut all the way through, like a liner for refrigerator shelves or something. I have a good 8 or 9 mats, big and medium small that I cannot cut on anymore, but I could cut them to fit the shelves and take those out and wash them and keep the glass shelving cleaner. Or drawer liners in the kitchen. I can think of a lot of things like that, but when it comes down to it, it starts sounding stupid, so I don't. Edie

Originally Posted by Edie

Yah, good idea, but where can you find a mat that has the lines on both sides. I would like to find a good use for my big ones that are practically cut all the way through, like a liner for refrigerator shelves or something. I have a good 8 or 9 mats, big and medium small that I cannot cut on anymore, but I could cut them to fit the shelves and take those out and wash them and keep the glass shelving cleaner. Or drawer liners in the kitchen. I can think of a lot of things like that, but when it comes down to it, it starts sounding stupid, so I don't. Edie

Well those sound like good ideas to me, not even a little bit stupid. I like the idea to keep the glass shelving clean.

sounds like a great idea... thanks for sharing

Glad it turned out well for you.

Goodness I buy a new mat every couple of years. Why hang on to a old bad mat that long? For what?