Blue vs green
 

Not sure if there's a thread on this....just sharing my experience. First off, I have a titanium rotary cutter. Did not intend to buy one, discovered when I got home that it required titanium blades. But I LOVE this cutter. I always use the green mats for cutting fabrics. Last week I got a great deal (60% off) on a cutting mat/ironing board thing...not sure what it's called.... The mat on it is blue.....let me tell you, the blue mats do NOT allow you to cut good. It's NOT the blade. It kept skipping sections as if the blade had a ding in it. I got out my green mat and the blade cuts just fine, thank you. SO.....if anyone asks, green mat...always buy a green mat!!!!!!!:o

Thanks for the heads up!

thanks for sharing your experience

I don't think it's the colour...it's whether it's self-healing or not. I'm going to order an
X-Acto self-healing cutting mat (grey) because I just discovered that cutting dark
fabric on my green/black mat is almost impossible.

i think you will find that most of the combination ironing/cutting mats will create this same problem. I have had a June Tailor one for close to 20 years, and find that it works best for pressing, but for cutting small pieces at the machine, I lay a small self-healing cutting mat on it, seems that rotary blades skitter on it and create the same problems you describe. I think it is a combination of what the cutting surface is made of and too much padding for the ironing surface. I have seen people using the combination ones that are hinged like a book, and they have no problem.

Two years ago, I bought the Fiskars mats that are pale green on one side and yellow on the other because I had so much trouble seeing to cut on the darker olfa ones.

My perfect color would be dark gray for light colors and lt. green or yellow for dark colors.
Mine id the yellow one side and lt. green for other, self-healing.

I agree. My friend gave me some plastic mat from JAF. YUCK. I prefer the Omingrid mats that are sold only online at JAF. I wait until there is free whipping. They seem to last long than the thinner green mats.

I have a blue mat that I picked up to take to classes and on vacation, I think it's Dritz brand. It's not quite as thick and soft as the large Alvin mat I have on my cutting table but it works just fine. I haven't had any skipping problems with it. I probably would rather have another Alvin mat but I didn't think about the class I signed up for and realized I needed a smaller mat when it was too late to wait for one to be shipped.

I use standard Olfa blades in my cutters.

Free whipping?? What kind of place is the Joann's in your town? LMAO!! 50 shades of grey fabric...

(Sorry, I know that's just a typo, but it hit my funny bone and I couldn't resist!)

If your mat doesn't have lines on the back, try cutting with that side. If your cutter works fine, it is the lines on the mat that are your problem. I remember someone (either F&P or Jenny Doan) talking about this on one of their shows or tutorials. I have a couple dark blue mats and purple mats that are 12x18 and a larger (18x24) mat that is yellow on one side and lavender on the other and don't have any problem with any of them. I tried a friend's green mat, but for some reason, I had problems "seeing" with the mat. Maybe it was the yellow lines. I know I can't use Olfa rulers because of the yellow markings.

Well, I just re-read your original post and it sounds like one of those June Tailor's pressing mat on one side and cutting mat on the other. I bought one of those years ago with a gray mat and never had a problem. I just won one of the new, blue ones, but haven't used it yet. I'll have to try it out and see if I have a problem.

This is why I have an assortment of mats. Each one has a purpose. I seriously doubt the cutter knows if the blade is titanium or not. If the hole fits the cutter it will work.

Any of my mats seem adequate when my blade is nice and sharp.

As long as the mat is not all cut up. No mat will last forever if it is used a lot. Just take a look at some of the LQS cutting mats - there are grooves that almost go through to the back of the mat where they cut often.

I don't think she really meant that the color matters. Just that the brand that makes green mats makes better mats than the brand that makes blue mats. My mat is purple.

"Not sure if there's a thread on this....just sharing my experience. First off, I have a titanium rotary cutter. Did not intend to buy one, discovered when I got home that it required titanium blades. But I LOVE this cutter."

I didn't realize there were titanium cutters. I've been using the titanium blades in my usual cutter with no problems.

I laughed too, then laughed at myself for laughing at that! Go figure!

I use a large yellow mat and have a smaller green one. Also have a yellow rotating one. Don't know all the brands. I do have 2 June Tailor's that I travel with. Don't have any problems with any of them unless the blade is dull…
I started out with a Fiskar's cutter way back and have a hard time trying to switch to others as I have used other ones at our retreats...

My rotary cutter is an ergonomic one.....by Olfa. And it will NOT take a regular blade. :) I have to get titanium....believe me, I tried to use the cheaper ones. :)

Brand new....never used mat.....rotary cutter will NOT cut fabric well. It does cut, but skips.....beats me why, just does it. :)

I have the Martelli mat which is lavender on one side and yellow on the other. Allows me to cut any color of fabric easily. Have some other mats, green and gray, which are used in traveling. My husband loves the large grey Fiskars mat for paper and for cutting old t shirts into rags.

Try a different blade or cutter?

I have had a brand new olfa blade skip - always at the same intervsl - so I decided it was a defective blade.

I'm very glad to know this. I was contemplating one of the combo boards, but it sounds like I just need to get a portable ironing board to take to retreats. I love my green cutting mats - I have all sizes for different cutting needs. Thanks again, Susan

Did try a new blade.......still was skipping. Don't have an extra cutter (in an RV...some things just can't be taking up space). :) :) I will continue to try....especially good when going to retreats or to quilt groups in RV parks. :) :)

I've never heard of a special titanium only cutter but in regards to the talk about mats I think that quality brands always pay whether in a mat or a sewing machine.

Mine is pink on one side and blue on the other. Mine is a self healing matt made for artists, same as quilting ones, but much cheaper. The hard ones are awful, even though I used one for years until I just recently bought a new good one. My pieces match now! My test for a good matt, knock on it, if it sounds hollow, keep shopping, if it sounds like a dull thud, buy it!

Jim has bought me two blue ones over the years because it is my favorite color. I will have to let him know about this, should we ever need another one.

I got a good chuckling out of this too!!

Thank you so much for your input on this matter. I've been using a blue mat. I couldn't figure out if it was my rotary cutter or me but it kept skipping like you said. Had no idea it would be the mat. What a relief, kept changing blades, only helped a little.

I have several of the June Taylor combo mat and and iron pad and love it it is all I ever take to retreats because then I can sit at by table and do all the little stuff with out getting up all the time. I do cut at the cutting stations and iron at the iron stations for big sections but love the mat for small things.

Good to know when the time comes to replace my rotary mat. Also, nice to know about the titanium blades, will have to check them out.

I also had trouble with the combo mat. Now have an 18 x 24 Alvin in my sewing room for cutting & use the combo for pressing smaller pieces until I can find something different.

I've got a blue june Taylor mat had about five years or more, love it

LOL my thoughts on the whipping too! Glad others make typos too!!!

Oh, Sewnoma, your comment made me laugh until my sides hurt and tears of laughter were running down my cheeks. Thanks! I needed that, LOL! And, I too, knew it was just a typo, but you turned my giggle box over!!!

Thanks for the info.

I hate it when they charge for whipping ;)

Thank you for the mistake of buying the titanium cutter, I've been looking at it and but is pricey so was hoping to hear if it was worth it!! I just bought a Rowena Iron with the generator, it makes ironing a 100 times easier plus just took a class & the lady teaching said to put a fluffy white towel on the ironing board and your pieces don't distort or move! What a great hint it has been especially for triangles and bias cuts

I bought a Rowenta about 15 yrs ago before my quilting life began.....it burned up after a few uses (about 2 yrs after buying). Swore I'd never buy another one. Bought an iron at garage sale for $10......later realized it was a Rowenta. And I LOVE it! Will have to look up the "generator" thing?????? I'll try that fluffy white towel trick. :)