I have the 2 1/2" square die and the first time I used it I thought it wasn't as sharp as I thought it should be. After a few uses it cut fine. I still have a few snips to make but no problem. The Go is as essential to me as my sewing machine. I think of the mats as the thread to the sewing machine. If the mat has a crack, even a hair line one, the fabric will not cut where the crack is. I always move my mat a smidge with each cut so it's not cutting in the same spot all the time. The mat only has to be over the die blade you are using so I manipulate old mats that may have a good corner or spot not used. When I find a sale, I stock up on mats same as I do thread.