I am looking for a light colored cutting mat. I find I am having trouble seeing dark fabrics on my dark green Olfa. I prefer a 24x36 but would settle for an 18x24. Would also like the same durability as the Olfa's.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
I am looking for a light colored cutting mat. I find I am having trouble seeing dark fabrics on my dark green Olfa. I prefer a 24x36 but would settle for an 18x24. Would also like the same durability as the Olfa's.
As I have grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake.
I like Quilter's Select mats. Light gray on one side and dark gray on the other. Both sides have easy to see lines. I bought a small one and liked it so much I bought the biggest size one.
I believe giving what I can will never cause me to be in need.
Being cheap is not a badge of honor.
My heroes are working people, paying their own way, taking care of their children and being decent human beings.
I have a Fiskars cutting mat that is light yellow on one side & light green on the other. I like the color but it didn't hold up like my Olfa did. It started to "peel" in a few places. When I can't stand the peeling anymore I will go back & buy an Olfa again.
Martelli is purple on one side and yellow on the other.
Here's a pink one. https://www.amazon.com/American-Craf...50114890&psc=1
I promise not to buy any more fabric until I see something I really like. Or it's on sale. Or I think it might match something.
Olfa is good enough for me.
Another Phyllis
This life is the only one you get - enjoy it before you lose it.
I bought this one and have been very happy. Blue on one side, pink on the other. The only problem is that the numbers only go to 23 and 35, not 24 and 36. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have this aqua mat in 24 x 36 size and also the 18x24 size.
https://www.joann.com/fiskars-24x36-...2Bmats&start=1
Sometimes I change mat when cutting fabrics depending on colors.
Just bought a Martelli and it is yellpw and purple on the other, Smoothest cuts I have ever made, almost don't think it has cut.
I have vision issues myself. Here's a couple of tricks to help use that Olfa, first off you shouldn't be using the lines on the mat for your cutting, it will wear out the mat faster. If you can't ignore them, use the unmarked back and learn to use your rulers, there are tutorials on line or books/magazines that explain it better than I can -- a picture is worth a 1000 words! A 12.5" square will cut widths up to that with your fabric folded in fourths (will work on standard width fabric). If you need a longer length than that or are cutting borders from length of fabric, you might need two rulers.
For right handed people and a single ruler: Typically your cut edge will be on the left. Simply move your ruler to the desired width and cut, your left hand holding down the ruler securely. I fan out my fingers so have about 8 inches or so of contact. There are various methods and products to make your rulers less slippery. For me, I cut long cuts (width of fabric) while standing. Short cuts I can usually do sitting.
For right handed people and two rulers: Your cut edge will be on the right. Using the longer ruler measure the width you want, then square up your other ruler on the left side, hold securely with your left hand and move the right ruler out of the way, and cut. I often use two rulers even on narrower widths, just works well for me.
To see better all you need is a piece of paper, an old envelope or what ever. For an Olfa mat, white typing paper is great. Just slip a piece in under your cut edge and use that to see the difference between the fabric and the mat, it will also help make the lines on the ruler easier to see. It doesn't need to go in far, but if you cut some of it, no biggie. If you are using white fabric on a white mat, a colored piece of paper is perfect.
Hope that helps, I remember one particular quilt I cut before I figured out using the piece of paper, it was exactly Olfa green sashing and gave me all sorts of problems. Necessity was the mother of cheap invention that time and I've been using this trick to help me for a long time now.
Last edited by Iceblossom; 12-06-2018 at 08:56 AM.
I have used the for Olfa for years and much preferred it; until I purchased a Go Cutter. The deal came with a pale green cutting mat, which I find much easier to read, not the marks on the mat, but the lines on my rulers.
I'm really liking the Riley Blake (Lori Holt) cutting mats. They're two-sided, with different colors on each side. https://www.fatquartershop.com/lori-...g-mat-set-of-3 They cut without dulling my blade like the white ones. And they're self-healing like the good old Olfas.
Annette in Utah
I'm going to be the odd man out here, about 7 years ago I picked up the 24 x 36 that Walmart sells I thought for less than half of the price of an Olfa mat I would give it a try I really like it and I even encouraged my sister to get one as well!
Maria
Always be true to yourself!
I just got a quilt select to use with Deb tucker rulers. I have a Martelli mat but both sides have marking and I was having trouble lining up the Tucker rulers ...those lines kept getting in the way. Contacted Deb tucker to see what see used in her videos, mats with no marking...and got the 18 x 26 to use. The Martelli is a great mat but to match up any color with ruler lines, the plain white of the quilt select is better, imo.
I like the Quilter's Select mat and rulers.
Pat
Pfaff 7510, Viking Mega Quilter, Viking Quilt Designer II, Singer Treadle
http://craftypat.blogspot.com/
I have one made by US Art Supply that is pink on one side and blue on the other. I don't know how well it will hold up long term as I don't use it a lot. But it cuts well and is self-healing. Larger ones are available. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1