OOOPs... my blades were also already 50% off, I also bought a June Taylor Ironing/Blocking board...that is what I used my coupon for :oops: I had also checked out the June Taylor mat and disliked it very much...sorry June :-( LOL

I think that i will go with a olfa for one of the other self healing mats. I don't want to have to go and get another one in a couple of months because it is all tore up. a waste of money that would be.

Olfa self-healing is the only mat I would ever buy. I also seldom use the mat's measuring lines but cut everything using two rulers--one for cutting with blade and another to slide up/down fabric securing my specific measurement before cutting. I changed to this way of cutting when I asked my fellow seasoned-quilters why my quilts were always 1/4+ off at one end. Their comment was that the lines on any mat after long usage will begin to spread. Sure enough--now my quilts are just about perfect bottom, top and middle.

Make sure it says self-healing. Whichever brand you get, get up close and personal with your nose and smell it. If it has an awful odor, leave it behind.

Go with self healing. You will love it.

I just got a new mat. I had been using my same one for 20 years. I had a white one (Dritz, I think), it was sort of bumpy on the unlined side, and smooth on the lined side. I always used the bummpy side, it seemed more self healing. I have read that the white ones are hard on your blades, I never noticed that but I didn't have anything to compare it to. I got my new one at Alvin's, someone on this board recommended them. I love it. It is thicker than the typical "quilting" mats, and a really nice surface. I also splurged and got a bigger size, 24"x36". It got here really fast, and was cheaper than any I've looked at in the shops, even with shipping. I also, recently bought bed risers to raise my cutting table up, WOW, what a difference!!

What is a self healing cuttin g mat? I have never heard of these

the self healing mats are the kinda rubbery mats.
Roselady what is Alvins? what is the web addy?

Don't bother getting a cutting mat at a "sewing" store - go to the art supply stores - buy a self healing mat made for architects or designers - they come in various sizes - mine is 48 x 36 with ruler markings - works great for all sizes of material, I can measure off and square off all of my fabrics. I leave it on a table that I only use for cutting or checking sizes of my squares

Definitely a self-healing mat.