Thread: Light Colored Cutting Mat Suggestions

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.

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.

Here's a pink one. https://www.amazon.com/American-Craf...50114890&psc=1

Olfa is good enough for me.

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 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.

Originally Posted by dunster

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

This is also the one I bought. Love it.

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.

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!

I like the Quilter's Select mat and rulers.