help - my cutting mat got all wavy during our move - is there a way to get it back into a flat surface or do I bite the bullet & ante up for a new one?

Since you have nothing to lose I heated mine with a hair dryer and put it between 2 heavy flat surfaces. It distorted the cutting lines but I was able to use the mat.
Later I cut it up and use it for smaller items that need to be squared up. Hope this helps.

If you are in a hot sunny climate- try putting it outside in the sun laying flat

I would heat it up with hair dryer, then I would slide it between the mattress and box spring on my bed for a day or two.

I had the same problem. After talking with a number of So I figured I had nothing to lose...I put mine out on the back deck in FULL sun and it flattened out like new... no distortion or anything... ( this was in the summer in central MN) so it wasn't like TX heat... so give it a try....

Wish I had this advice before I recently forked out for a new one! My large mat also got distorted with my move back to the US and pondered what to do when Joann's had them on sale-so I just bought one-but at least it was on sale! I still have the old one so I will try these suggestions to see if I can save it.

Wow, I'm glad someone posted this. My mat got bent a little bit about a week ago and have debating whether or not to just buy a new one. Now I'll be trying this...as soon as we get some good sun. I'm hoping for an indian summer really soon!!!! We just got some snow a couple days ago.

Unfortunately we just had 3 days of nearly 100 degree weather which would have been perfect to lay the mat out, but its cooler today but still sunny so I think I;ll try it anyway. I doubt it will be getting hot again now that it is winter.

I hope it stays nice and warm. Friend & I are going to Oceanside the 15th to see her sister who also is a quilter. Going to the Sugarplum Craft show while we are there. Also she has a bunch of quilt shops to visit. Yipee!!!

Good advice. I need it too. And bluteddi, I love your avatar!

Thanks for all your suggestions - since I'm in Maine & 'the frost is on the pumpkins' with daytime temps in the 40's I think I'll get out the hair dryer & 'sleep on it' for a few days.

Let us know how it works OK?

I ended cutting mine up for use in different places. Woody cut me a pressboard for my lap and I covered it with fleece, then put a piece of the cut up mat on it and use it on days I can't get up to the cutting table so I will have something to cut small items on. In a way, took lemmons and made lemmonade! I also put a piece under my sewing machine for paper piecing!

t

Sounds like a winner to me!!! I have friends in Maine. W Gardiner and Waterville. My FIL lived in Bangar, Lincoln and Old Town.

Wish I too knew about this hine
t. Mine got distorted in the Atlanta sun when I bought it there after some time. I didnt know what to do. Ended buying another one. But still I have kept the distorted one.

I like the hair dryer and sleeping on it. Very funny.

I like the hair dryer and sleeping on it. Very funny.

oops hit the send twice.

i have also read to put in the bathtub in hot water for a while then lay flat with something heavy to cover it

I have had this same problem and I used the hair dryer and put the mat under something heavy for four days and you know, it did not work for me. I would just bit the bullet and get another with a coupon if you can.

Quilt baby.

I think I would get my Joanns half price coupon and get new one no fun if have to fight with tools,

If you can't get it flat it will make great templates for patterns. I went to a place mat class for a one piece place mate and the teacher made her pattern from a used cutting mat. She makes lots of place mats.

I took one of my old ones and cut into a circle. I found a wood Lazy Susan at the thrift and made me a rotating mat. Works just as good as the expensive ones.

I'm interested in the answer to this one. I or I should say my DH left my mat on a table on our patio in 118* weather and it is now frilly also. I have tried everthing I can think of to flatten it to no avail. I bit the bullet and got a cheap one waiting for a 50% off sale at Joann's. Maybe a Christmas gift from my DH.
I had a lot of trouble cutting on the frilly one. Waiting for your ideas. MNM

MNM, If it is "frilly" or "Rufflely" I think it is to late. Just my opinion.

Boy! you got that right but I do like the idea of using it for templates. Thanks all. MNM

Good information, just when I need it.

I put my distorted cutting mat in my stove oven on about 150-200 degrees, and it turned out like brand new. i left it in the stove about 20 min. may take longer for yours.

I don't think my 59 x 42 mat will fit in mine. LOL

Same with me, but if you need new ones Hancocks of Paducah had the best price by far. Just got my new ones yesterday

Check out a video by Alex Anderson on how to uncurl a cutting mat. I do believe her method does work....only I just don't remember where I saw it...maybe in "Tips".....

My mat got distorted sometime back when I accidentally left it in the back of the car on afternoon. Boy was I cross with myself. Anyway I have tried everything to take the kink (wave) out of one side of it to no avail. Even heated it and left real heavy weights on it but it just wont straighten. Guess I am up for a new mat eventually int he mean time I am still using it.

When the cutting mats first came out, we all learned the hard way that you can’t keep your mats in a sunny window or the car because it would warp. Mine warped as I was traveling to an out-of-town class, what a disappointment!

Since only half the mat was really bad, I cut the mat in half and use the good side by my sewing machine at home. The warped side I turned it into a small cutting mat on one side and an ironing board one the other by gluing the mat down on a piece of plywood with some really strong glue. I keep this with my traveling sewing machine. I made it over twenty years ago now and it is still in use. I like mine way better than the commercial ones out there.

I also had two pieces of plywood cut a little bit bigger than my large cutting mat for when I want to take a larger mat to class. I bought four EXTRA LARGE black binder clips and put one on each side of the two pieces of wood (with the cutting mat in between the boards). I’ve kept this board in my car during the hottest summer days and it hasn’t warped yet. The boards keep it flat and safe no matter how hot it gets in the car.

Well, it is considerable cooler today, and in the low 70's-high 60's next week. Hope it stays clear, though! Where is the Sugarplum Craft show held?

That is such a neat idea Mac, would never have thought of it myself. Thanks for sharing it. Now I just need to remember to buy some plywood next time I am in town. :lol:

Salem mats seem to be the best. I paid a lot of money 30 years ago for mine, and it is still going strong - never out of shape and is self - healing. It is thicker than the other mats and red and white in colour. I have other mats that have been given to me - not as good.

I put my mat out in the sun and it straightened out just fine...BUT I live in Arizona!!!! BTW, don't throw away your ruined mats. Cut them up to use as bag bottoms in purses.

I put an old mat in the back of my SUV for quilt camp, but when we got there I didn't need to use it so it stayed in the car for 4 days. Well, needless to say it was hopelessly curled. When I got home & was unloading stuff I just threw that mat out on the patio thinking I would worry with it later. Was I surprised to find it was nice & flat the next day. I still can't figure out why it curled in the heat of the car & uncurled in the heat of the patio. Go figure!

I went out and bought a new one when this happened to me. Now I know better.

What did you cut the mat with?