heck yes that's a great buy!!! the ruler alone could cost more than that in some shops! same for the cutter ... come to think of it ... same for any of the individual pieces in the set!
i also recommend you get a bigger mat as soon as you have the space and funds for it. BUT the smaller mat will still come in very handy very often, so it was also a wise buy. :wink:
learning how to fold your fabric "just right" so you can cut with a smaller ruler is a valuable skill to develop. the shorter the cut, the less likely you are to make mistakes. the ruler is less likely to slip; you have a more accurate view of the entire length of the cut; you don't have to bend over as much or as far; so altogether it's more pleasant and less tiring.
even if you don't prewash your fabric, it's a good idea to open it up and press it flat. then, refold it along the selvages carefully so it all lines up nice and straight. carefully fold it up again so that the first fold lines up with the selvages. IGNORE THE ENDS of the fabric. check to make sure the second fold lies flat once the first fold is aligned to the selvage. once it's all nicely straight and flat along the folds, square off the end from which you plan to cut. when you cut, make sure to line up your ruler on both the cutting edge and the bottom fold. check this every time you cut. if you need to re-square the cutting edge every once in a while, do so.
practice, practice, practice. it's worth it. ;-)
my personal preference for piecing and quilting has turned out to be 100% cotton thread. i prefer the price of polyester but i have decided that cotton is easier to work with (because it's much easier to pick out cotton stitching than polyester. and i do a LOT of picking out. :roll: :lol: )
i use polyester for most machine embroidery. it's less expensive and more durable than rayon and shinier than cotton. (although i do sometimes use cotton thread to embroider when i want less shine.)