I have been using a Harbor Freight blade. I have made a queen size quilt, DP9 that I cut myself, 5 mug rugs, 2 clutches, a bow tuck bag. It is still sharp. Maybe you just got a bad pack. The blade I had before was an Olfa. The Olfa skipped and I had to recut over an over. You can get bad blades with name brands too.