I couldn't resist. After being so disappointed at the Joann's I went to on Friday, I ventured out to another one only to find everything on my list and on sale. The 25% coupon helped me save over 50% on the final bill; about $80.00. But, I made an impulse purchase and picked up their 36 x 60 cutting matt. Now I wonder if it was wise. Do they really help? Any pointers regarding them? Or should I come to my senses and return it?

The big ones are great. Protect table really well, especially when pinning stuff. I get a new one every couple of years when the cutting grooves get too deep. ALWAYS watch for sales on those. However, Omnigrid green cutting mats are a bit harder surface and don't groove as easily.

I have one that came with my Horn table but haven't used it yet. I do not have another table to put it on at this time so it is under the futon in my sewing space.
Janet

The only down side is having a big enough place to keep it out all the time!

Be sure to be careful when storing if not laying on a table all the time. They are best stored laying flat. Do not store near heat or sunlight. Check out the package or website for additional information if you have any questions or doubts.

Pam M

I would love a super big mat! I cut better when there is only one fold in the fabric.

In reference to the 'bigger mats' - I can say its great to have a larger work surface for many reasons. I do love my 'white' mat.. ( same color as the one you got from joannes). I have a 28x51 from the sew-fit company and its pliable and a really nice thickness, lil thicker than the joannes one... seems like I can never have enough space when working on a project so the bigger mats come in handy for me..

However Im curious if anyone has bought one of these from Joannes and either love it or hate it.. Im very hard on mats so I need to replace mine but cant seem to find a local store that carries the SEW-FIT brand that im use too.. Opinions anyone??

[quote}Be sure to be careful when storing if not laying on a table all the time. They are best stored laying flat. Do not store near heat or sunlight. Check out the package or website for additional information if you have any questions or doubts. Pam M[/quote]

I really messed one up by sliding it behind a hutch to store it, and did not notice it was NOT flat. BIG mistake!

I used a big mat like that when I worked at the quilt shop. We measured fabric on it. I had a hard time getting used to a smaller mat when I was at home. I was spoiled by the size of it.

Super big mats good for super big table. Had one and cut it down since didn't have super big table. Needs to be stored flat to release the curl.

I have several cutting mats in diffenent sizes. I also have a cutting table that has two sides that drop down and is out of the way when not being used. I taped the largest mat to one side so it's always avaiable and doesn't need to be stored. Works great!

I have a larger one and I slide it under a bed or sofa depending if I am working upstairs or in the dining room.

I love mine, I have the cutting table from Joanns too and it's at the right height. It's great!

I love my matt ! and use it on my coctail table ( bigger than a coffee table) for storage.. flat and druable for grandchildren to run their cars around on .

yes on teh pinning too ! nice to have hard no scar/mark surfacet to use safety pins for pinning.

would not be something I would give up on a list of what can you do without now that you have.

nice post !

If you have a space to leave it set up, then I'd keep it. If you have to store it between uses, I'd return it.

I love my big cutting mat. I wore mine out and pulled out the smaller one to get me through till I could get a new one at a good price. So I got one at the Jo Anns sale. Once you get used to a big cutting surface you will not want to work on anything smaller.
FYI - My old mat , still had some useful areas on the sides., so I cut that area off and made a few 6X8 inch mats for cutting and trimming really small stuff , so I do not wear out the middle quite so fast on my new mat.

I love my big mat. I use it all the time. Right now it is on my dining room table because I am renovating my sewing space to include a designated cutting table. I have stored it behind my hutch and it has been fine for years. My hutch sits very close to the wall, so there is not problem with bending. However, if that ever happens, I would put it out in the hot sun for a short time to weight it down with something heavy to straigten it out again. This has worked for me in the past on another mat.

Thanks for all the great input. It's making me take a hard look at what I have and where. Would love to figure out a way to have it available all the time and not have a lot of other stuff on it.

i have a big one and can't image not having it. i use it it all the time along with my rotating cutting mat.

I love mine. I can cut from both sides of my cutting table and it so much easier to square my tops with the big mat. You done good!

I love mine!! I use it on the island in the kitchen, perfect fit!! If you have a place that it will fit, you will love it too :!:
I really use my small rotating mat too, a bit pricey, but I really like it for squaring up blocks, or doing stuff right by my machine.

I have the 18"x24" and I'm always wishing I had a bigger one.

I think I have every size cutting mat, but I only use my large one. I will take a smaller one to workshops, but the bigger one is the best.

I really like the big mat. If you order online at JoAnn's.com....you can use the box it came in to store it. I have mine in the original box standing behind my bedroom door and it is in perfect shape after a couple of years.

I have the big one - I like it but its just a tad bigger than my table (I have table that flips down on side with drawers. Bought table treally cheap - 30 dollars.) My husband had built me a table top height one table but it didnt have drawers. Wish I would have kept it instead of giving to my daughter lol. The other table I have to stand to cut. Thinking about just trimming a hair off both end. Its too long widthwise.

if my cutting table was 36x60 I'd for sure have one, mine is 24x36, covers the cutting surface perfectly, I love it!

I would love to have that large of mat and going to save up for one because my mat has had a lot of use and showing it.

If I had the space i would get one. right now my big mat is 24x36. It fits nicely on my folding table(24x48).

The bigger the better I think.

You can store it easy. Hang it in the closet using the skirt/pants clip hanger.

You also don't want your mats to freeze (ask me how I know this) LOL. It can easily become brittle and shatter like a window pane.Omnigrid will NOT replace them if this happens. :lol:
:XD:

I actually have 2 large mats [bought on sale years ago] for squaring up quilts. I only use them on the bigger projects. I store them under my bed so they won't warp or look unsightly. I have flat tile flooring in the bedroom./ Actually, that is also where I store my big roll of batting too.

I use my 17" x 24" mat on top of my cutting table for most everything except the big stuff, as it is the right height for me.

ali

My cutting mat story. My daughter and I were moving her 13 hours away. My Bernina was in the van and my cutting mat was in the back of her firebird. We were very excited because we were going to make curtains and placemats etc for her new apartment. By the time we got there, the cutting matt had molded its self around the contours of her back hatch. Needless to say- we had to buy a new one. We still got the curtains and all done. The cutting matt was never the same so i told her to keep it and cut it up for smaller projects. I love a large cutting matt. They are the best if you have the room

I keep mine on the cutting table all the time. great buy!

I have the same mat from JoAnn's and have been using it for years. It stays on my cutting table all the time, so no issues with storage. LOVE IT!

If you have the space to put it KEEP IT!!! You won't be sorry.

DH got me the large white one from Joanns for Christmas 2 years ago. I love it! He also found me a wonderful cutting table from Joanns that has sides that fold down to store. The cutting mat fits perfectly on that. Don't know how I would square up quilts without it. Can't leave it up all the time :( so store it flat behind the piano.

I store mine under the sofa...oh wait, I have 3 of them...
one is behind the sewing room door hung from a nail on the wall so it will not warp, and one is mounted on a board and edged with a tiny wood trim to keep me from cutting off of it..I use this one when do shows and have to cut ultrasuede!

I have a large mat and I had my husband drill 2 holes in the very top and a couple of screws in the wall and I hang mine

I have a large mat and I had my husband drill 2 holes in the very top and a couple of screws in the wall and I hang mine