One more thumbs up for the Alvin mat!!:thumbup:

I just ordered one at a quilt expo. The mat I have is decent, (Big Mat) but due to the inch layout, I can't use it where I want it. I have trouble with certain colors on the Olfa and the yellow lines.

How do you clean the Martelli? The salesmen were fairly new and didn't know. I've got 505 on the Big Mat, tried rubbing alcohol, and the lines started coming off. The Olfa will scrub, but if you cut batting, you have a mess. They salesmen did mention Windex. I don't pick the mat up from the table. So coffee stains, 505, ink, cat hair and other cat deposits get all over it. The deposits get cleaned up as soon as I see them, coffee and other stains not so much.
I mark Mat Board for pics on the table - however I keep an old large Olfa to cut the mat board on in a different room.

They are behind in shipping, so I won't get it for a month. Switching colors might help with seeing a few fabrics.

Thanks

I turn my mat over to cut batting on the back side. A find grit sandpaper takes the batting threads out of the mat in one swipe.

I have two Sew/Fit cutting mats that my Mother and I ordered from Clotilde, I think. The reason for my foggy memory(other than age) is that we bought them more than 20 years ago. They are the pinnable, self healing. Other than brief periods of her illness, they have been well used. Now showing some grooving, but still in good shape. Have a few other brands....I think they are under bed in guest room.

OH MY..I ck'd that site and it froze my computer--tho't I'd never get it closed. I hate it when web sites do that--not very often, but sometimes I have to restart to get it gone. Expensive mat at $159...I have one, but I bought mine at an estate sale for $60 and it covers my entire cutting table. I think it was used for making draperies--so big I had to cut it to fit. But I still use a 24x36 on top of that. It just seemed to be awfully hard & I was afraid it was dulling my rotary blades. Really nice for laying on the lines tho.