Extra large cutting mats
 

Hi all

I would like to have a big cutting table custom made of solid wood. I am trying to decide on the size based on what size cutting mat I can get for it. The one I already have is the Olfs with three sections connected but I want a bigger one.
My question is if any of you have a big table like that what kind of mat are you using? does olfa carry bigger than the one I have? is there any other manufacturers that you used and recommend?
I googled and got many options but need feedback about the quality please.

Thanks

Here's a link to a very large Martelli mat. I don't own one, but have heard nothing but great reviews about them. They are pricey, but I hear that they are worth it.

http://www.martellicatalog.com/mm5/m...egory_Code=MAT

Martelli products are awesome! http://www.martellicatalog.com/mm5/m...egory_Code=MAT I got the largest mat for Christmas and love love love it! Also got the cutters but it isn't necessary to use theirs.
The mat fits onto a 6' table from Costco or Sams Club and I have it elevated to waist high (I am 6' tall so it is a bit tall for my hieght emparied friends). They frequently offer coupons in their newsletters (sign up for REDLINE DIRECT as it gives wonderful savings...

Thank you ladies for the link, but they only carry one size which is 30x60 )-:
The one I already have is 36x72 and I am looking for bigger size.

I agree. Get the larger Martelli mat. It will really last.

I have the 24" x 18" as my cutting table isn't all that big, just big enough to do the job.

I was disappointed when I bought a new Olfa mat a little over a year ago. They are not made as well as when I had their three section mat. I have two Omnigrid mats and I keep them attached with duck tape on the back. It works for trimming borders but I still end up doing most of my cutting on a standard 24"x36"

Here is a great site. I've ordered from them. I believe they will custom cut matts for you.

http://www.cutting-mats.net/rotary-c...FUhgMgodpGQAJQ

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 cant remember where i got mine.. i found it online and it shipped from Germany- crazy i know.. but i love it.. .. I have the 36x68 grid by Sew-Fit and the 28x51 grid by Sew-fit ...

They are made out of something, and the guy at the quilt show said you can iron on their large mats. i am looking forward to buying one next year. They looked really nice

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.

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.

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.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I really wanted to get some feedback from people who actually used a cutting mat other than Olfa since they don't have a bigger size than mine. It is just a cutting mat but I don't want to spend $$$ on a mat that won't last more than couple of years. I have had my biggest olfa for about three years and it is like new but the shifting of the 3 pieces and the cutter going in between is just driving me nuts. Still my reason for buying a bigger one is because I am ordering a custom made cutting table and want to order the mat first so the table is exactly the same size.
Thank you all again. You have been great ;-)

I have a mat from cuttingmats.net someone listed above. I have had it for a year and so far I love it. I think mine is 36x48. I have some counters that a store ordered and never picked up. They are both 2x4. I put them back to back so I have a 4x4 cutting area. I love it. There are shelves with sliding doors on one side and open shelves on the other. It is the perfect height for cutting. Make sure you put storage underneath since you will have more room to store your stash.

The big mats are great, but new ones are sure pricey. You might check on Ebay for a used one at a fraction of the price. Personally, I have an old, old one that I bought about 25 years ago. It doesn't mend itself, but it's big and has accurate measurements.

I often wish I had a bigger mat when I am trimming my edges to get ready for binding. It seems like too much trouble to take it all to the kitchen on my island, and have to keep moving the mat, so I just do it in sections. I always wonder if I'm getting it as straight as it can be, though.

Years ago I purchased the large folding cutting table, I believe from Joanns I also purchased the cutting mat for it that covered the whole table. I will confess that piecing is not my favorite thing. Most of my quilts are for Linus and are made from lengths of fabric layered with batting and flannel for the backs. I use kid friendly fabrics, birth the sandwich and machine quilt them with decorative thread. At this point the Joann's table is piled at least three feet high with fabric and containers of fabric. When I do any cutting I use a smaller mat and the top of my ironing set up. I made that out of a rolling kitchen island that I made a ironing board top for out of plywood that I padded and covered with ironing board fabric. It is a great height for working with fabrics and ironing. In the room where I do my actual sewing I have an old chest of drawers where I keep a cutting board and an small ironing matt handy on top to do any last minute cutting or pressing. The drawers come in handy for sewing and quilting stuff. I hung those wire racks meant to hold kitchen foil and wax paper on each side. They work great for housing my rolls of stabilizers etc. and even my little travel iron and spray bottle. If I ever get that space tidy and figure out how to post pictures I will post some of each of my spaces. I forgot to mention that the majority of quilts that I hand quilt are either white on white, what I call "cheaters" which are lengths of fabric preprinted to look like a pieced quilt, or tops for someone else or some organization.

Tuesday Morning
 

Around Christmas I saw really large cutting mats at Tuesday Moring for around $25.00 the Mat was 36 x72 unbelievable size and price!!

I bought an Alvin cutting mat online last year for $175 with free shipping. It must be 40 something by close to 70 inches long. I LOVE it. Yes it was a little stinky when it first arrived, but I cleaned it with diluted white vinegar and sat it in the sun one afternoon to air out. It is fine now. It took a few days to completely flatten out because it was shipped lightly rolled and arrive in just few days. DH used my hairdryer to warm it then laid some heavy books on it. Worked perfectly. I sure wish I could remember where I ordered it, but a QB search might work. I think I got the info here. I am very satisfied with it and highly recommend how easily the cutter works on it.

I have a Craft Tex mat that is 36 x 59 that I purchased at Jo Ann's on sale for $39.99. I have a table that is 35 inches tall and 37 x 60 . It use to be my husbands table when he repaired T.V. 's. I just had him put a new piece of plywood on top and placed mat on top. Mat covers table and I like the height when cutting. I don't have to bend down so much. I really love my set-up.

Mine is from Alvin, love it!

Faten, I was lucky enough a few years ago to win a large cutting mat. It is 40 x 45. My DH got tired of seeing me crawl around on the floor to use it and made me a nice table top to fit it. The nice thing is that he made it in two parts and the larger part folds down out of the way. The mat is by Kangaroo Kabinets and I am very pleased with it. I think they make sewing room cabinets etc. They may have larger ones, too but you would have to check with them. Let us know what you decide and share a picture, too. :-)

I have a cutting table that is big enough to cut clothing patterns with the wings (extensions) up. I use TWO of the 30 x 60 mats, and it works just fine.

I have a 36"x59" mat from Jo Ann's at home and have 2 of the same at my mom's house to cover dad's pool table when we have a cutting party! Every so often I have to wash them to get the fuzzies off from the fleece we cut but other than that they have been great cutting mats!

http://www.cutting-mats.net/cutting-mats1.html

http://www.lovetoquilt.com/longarm_q...s/mega_mat.htm

http://www.cutting-mats.net/cutting-mats-1032.html

http://www.quilting-tidbits.com/cutting-tools.html

http://www.victoriantextiles.com.au/...y:Cutting+Mats

http://www.gwjcompany.com/index.php?...products_id=64