I just purchased a 5x3 table mat from Joanns at their opening.
It says it is a cutting mat...but no info on self healing...etc.
Does anyone have one from there and is it a good one and are you happy with it.
I can return it and am waiting to cut on it until I hear from someone who might know.
Our store is new and NONE of the clerks knew anything about anything...barly knew how to cut fabric.
Thanks,
Susan.
But I am glad to have the store here.

If it is the white one, I have it. I like it a lot. It covers my whole table. Hope this helps.

What color is it? Sometimes that's an indication. Also, does it feel like plastic or like hard rubber? The self healing ones feel like hard rubber and are usually gray or green but I have a couple that are pink and yellow. The non healing ones are usually white or purple but I suppose they could also be other colors. The non healing ones will last quite awhile as long as you don't press too hard. Keep a sharp blade and only press hard enough to cut through the fabric. But, of course, that's with any of them even the self healing.

This issue was recently discussed in another topic....
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-65541-1.htm

Personally I would only have the green Olfa cutting mats in my shop and my home studio.
They do not dull the blades.
They do self heal.
They are restorable (see posts for info)
They are were the originals; the rest are copies/knock-offs and haven't necessarily improved on the Olfas.

Jan in VA

The color of the mat is a frosted white. I have the olfa's but liked the size of it.
But the price..not too bad on sale.
But if it won't work...will return.
Thanks,

If it is hard plastic then its not self healing. If it feels rubbery it is self healing.

I only use the plasic non self healing mats!

I have a mat that is frosted white that I bought from salem. It is non-healing and I have been using it for over two years. It is still in really good shape and I plan to just turn it over when this side gets unusable. However, I prefer Olfa mats but had this one custom cut for my drafting table.

I have one of the big white mats, and have used it for years. Works great! I also use the green Olfa mats too.
You got a decent price, and can't hurt to give it a try!

I have several mats, green ones, one that is double sided and marked pink one side blue the other, says it is self healing, and of course the new Alto's mat that I love.

I have a large white one from JoAnn Fabrics and I don't cut on it. Mine is not self healing, so I use it on my table to protect it. I use my green Olfa mats to cut.

I have a 36"x24" gray June Tailor mat that I've had for at least 7 or 8 years. It doesn't have any marks on it at all. I'm not sure if it's self-healing but it's great. I got it at Joann's when I lived in TX.

I don't think the white ones are self healing but they are extremely durable so the "healing" part doesn't really apply to them. I have had a Fiskars gray one and a June Taylor gray one that are thin & slightly gummy feeling like the green Olfa's but they are not durable nor self healing and will get damaged easily if one of my heavy handed kids cuts on them. I use the June Tailor one while sitting down so it's still ok but the Fiskars one was my first cutting mat and the kids ruined it. No worries, though because I very quickly replaced it with a larger self-healing Olfa mat.

Long story short--no, the white ones from Joann's aren't self-healing but they don't need to be because they are made out of something that is harder to cut through anyway.

I called Joann's today and they said it was not self healing.
It was to cover a table they sell and shouldn't be used with a rotary cutter.
Guess I will take it back.
Any other thoughts?

If it was a good price then use it for rotary cutting. I haven't seen any mats sold for table tops at JoAnns that can't be used for rotary cutting even if it's not self healing.

I have one & I cut on it. It isn't self-healing though. When I got mine a couple years ago, it was 50% off so you can't beat the price. Also one of the LQS has one & they cut their fabric on it.

I mostly agree with you. Until last month I agreed 100%, but I recently discovered the Clover mat. It heals quickly and I never see a mark on it. And I cut a lot!!!!

I have had this frosted white one for 12 years. At first I did cut on it. Then I noticed it is hard on my Rotary Blades. And it sure does not heal. Sooo I bit the bullet & ordered from Olfa the really large one. It covers the entire top of my table.Around 70 inches long. It comes in 3 pieces but the clips got in my way. We decided to glue the mat to the table top. I do clean it good often, so hopefully it will last. When cutting small pieces I use the lg Olfa Mat that I bought @ JoAnn's on top of the table.

I have had the frosted white one from Joann's for 6 or 7 years and it is not self-healing but is just now beginning to show wear--I just don't cut in the same spot all the time. I have used it almost everyday during that time so if you got it 40% or 50% off you should keep it. Mine took a while to flatten out since they come rolled but a hair dryer and heavy book will help. :)

Several years ago I bought that big table Jo-Ann's sells, and that big white mat with black markings on it, to cover that table. They sold the two as a set TO BE USED AS A CUTTING TABLE!!
So I'm not sure why they would tell y ou it was not for rotary cutters, that's what people use nowadays.
And, the table and the mat are still going strong over here!