Quiltingboard Forums - Extra large cutting mats

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I have a Beba. I LOVE it. It's not the green "self healing" mat, it's the translucent mat. After using both types, I like this one better.

They have all kinds of sizes.

I found mine while shopping at the Paducah quilt show three or four years ago (the year of the flood). My mat is still in wonderful shape.

http://www.shop.bebasboutique.com/Cu...3.htm?page=all

I love my Martelli mats. I have 3 of the 30x60 and have covered my pong-pong table with them. I also put the ping pong table on bed risers to get it to a good height for me. I have 2 of their other smaller mats that fit on my craft table.
Get on their mailing list. The send out discount coupons throughout the year, ranging from 15% to 25% to the rare 50%. The are pricey but worth the cost. They won't curl or warp and you can even iron them.

I've seen the Martelli mats, but they are so expensive... what makes them so great??
cindy

I used to have a few big mats and found that I only cut on a certain are of them. When they wore out I replaced them with smaller more portable ones that could be used in several areas and also flipped over. I like my 28 x 18" mats the best. I also have a smaller one near my sewing machine.

The standard 24in works fine for me.
But also have a turning mat that I use a lot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SueSew (Post 6546710)

I don't have long enough arms to cut more than 24-30" vertically at the most. And if I am cutting for a big piece of fabric - say a one block wonder - I just move it along the board. when I trim a sandwiched quilt, I put two boards together and move slowly along the 72".

For me that would be like making my 48"x72" kitchen island a big wooden chopping board . I can only chop one batch of veggies at a time so the 24"x56" cutting board countertop with the built-in veggie sink is more than enough.

I guess I just miss the point. What should I be doing with all that board?

I'm kind of with you. My arms are only so long. That said, it might be nice to just move my ruler/cutting along the mat as I go. I have a roughly 3' x 4' cutting mat at one end of my table. I'll stack yardage to the right of my cutting mat to cut larger widths but if I have a long strip that I need to make subcuts, I'll flip that piece of fabric 90 degrees and cut along the width of my mat vs the length.

Try Alvin mats, I have a small one and love it.
Alvin Professional Self Healing Cutting Mats

Alvin Professional Self Healing Cutting Mats

Check out www.sewingemporium.com The largest BIG MAT they have is 48 by 98 inches and they also do custom orders. There is even a 5-year warranty.

I LOVE mine...and it is very kind to rotary cutting blades. The blades don't have to be replaced as often.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cindynvb (Post 6547834)

I've seen the Martelli mats, but they are so expensive... what makes them so great??
cindy

Santa brought me a Martelli mat. I'll let you know in a couple of months. So far: it's a cutting mat. I am not overly impressed, but I haven't had to buy a new mat for a long time, so can't compare it to a current mat of a different brand. I don't want to iron on it as others have suggested.

I also like the Alvin mats. They are reversible, which gets twice the life out of them. They go up to 4 x 8' -- 48 x 96".
http://www.cutting-mats.net/self-hea...een-black.html
I use both a 24 x 36" and 18 x 24" and after two years of intensive cutting, some with a dull blade, I see no wear on them at all. I purchased mine from Amazon.