I have both June Tailor and Fiskers and I definitely prefer the Fiskers. The June Tailor mats are not self healing.

Amma where did you see it for that price? I could use a new mat.

Terryl--amazon.com has great prices.

I have 2 Olfa mats and a very large, gray June Tailor mat. I really like the Olfa's, but the June Tailor is hard, slippery and dulls my cutter blades quickly.

Thanks Karla

I also love my Alvins. Here is one for a good price but I don't know how much it would cost to ship http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supply/...ing-mats-x.asp

Try wrapping the mat in newspaper for a few days, like you put into a freezer to remove the odor. Hop that works.

amazon was $23 thanks though Quilter 1234

I was just checking too! I am placing my order for an Alvin today!

I bought the large pink mat at JoAnn's (it was marketed as a Cancer support item).
After getting it home I noticed that it "smelled" really bad.
After 2 weeks the smell never went away so I took it back to the store and the clerk and I noticed that the sticker on it said something (can't remember wording) that was totally opposite of what a cancer support item would say - it had some kind of warning on it.
The clerk and I were both shocked and I just went back and got the old faithful green mat.
Karen

I like my Fiskars mat

I have both brands and believe me. the Olfa is worth the price. If you have a Hobby Lobby they have a 40% off coupon occasionally and they carry Olfa products. They have a web site. Google them.

Mine are all Fiskars, I've had a couple with the smell, but I've swiped it with vinegar a few times then washed it in the bathtub with warm soapy water before I used it. Seemed to work.

Handcocks have all of thier notions wall 50%off Sat. plus if you go to thier web site and print the 11% coupon you can use it too thats 66% off.

Amma - where did you find an Alvin at that price?

Go to Salem website....They are a bit expensive...but, what a difference. I have had one for two yrs now and it is as good as when I bought it!

I have one too and I love it.

Mine are olfa and love them!!! I've never had another brand though.

I haven't read everyone's posts, so if this has been covered I apologize ahead of time. When I was at Staples I saw an Ofla mat in the scrap booking supply's for $10.00. I bought it for the girl that I mentor. We liked it! It's stiffer than the Ofla's I bought at Handcock's. I don't think it will warp like the others.

I prefer the Olfa, it lasts much longer, so I think I am saving in the long run

I have a large June Tailor mat. It doesn't self-heal and is showing its age - approx 10 years old. I want/neeed a new mat but cannot deal with the scent that comes with the new one. I also have a small carry Dritz that I like very much and didn't seem to have the smell associated with the larger ones. Will now look for an Alvin mat. DDs said they's buy me a new one for my birthday and our wedding anniversary present all rolled together. I may buy one for myself before then if the JT gets any worse. That mat has fibers coming out of the board from the cutting lines and whoever heard of a 23X35" mat vs a 24X36? That's just silly but I never noticed til I's had it for several years. Silly of me!

just don't buy a white one ! they dull your blades fast.
people buy them to cover a whole table, but you will hate it.

I have never heard of the 'Alvin', but I am eager to look for one. The only requirement I have (other than color :-) is that it be SELF-HEALING! These last longer and don't 'wear out' like the hard ones do. They are also nicer to cut on because the rotary cutter sinks in and doesn't slide around on the surface. I use a June Tailor mat (on the back of a pressing surface) at workshops now and then and am reminded of how awful it is.

i have the blue one that is self healing and i love it !! it is going on its 4 th year now

I have an old grey one and an ugly green one. They both mend when I use the rotary cutter so be sure to find one that closes up after cutting. Yes the colors are awful. I really want to get a larger mat, but it's not a priority as of now.

I use cutting mats by Omnigrid. I also have a 12.5x 12.5 Martha Stewart mat (for scrapbooking) that I have not had any problems with.

I have had both the Fiskers and Olfa, I say had because I gave away the Fiskers to a new quilter because I thought it dulled my blades quicker than my Olfa. My sister has a June Taylor that she got at Wal-Mart and she told me to stay away from them that they dull your blades quickly. By the way, I also have both the Fiskers and Olfa blades and think the Olfa combination of cutting mat and blades last longer than the Fiskers combo. I definitely can go longer between blade changes with the Olfa.

My green one got warped in a move, I had a second one megamat do not like it at all. Fabric gets caught when I cut, to the point of having to pull material out and reset after each cut. A sewing shop sold it to me when I first started. Sure be glad when I have extra $$$$ to replace my warped one.

yes, re: the white one. That is what mine is STAY away

go to hobby lobby and in the art sec. they have heavy cutting mats that are only $9.00 plus chane for a 18/24 mat with the 40% off coupon.they are very nice dj

Doesn't anyone else use the Omnigrid?

Me Too!

Our local Walmart carried the Fiskars in the 24 X 36 size for the same price as an 18 X 24 Olfa costs.

I just found my smaller Dritz mat and did some cutting on it. What a difference from my June Tailor mat. I will definitely buy an Alvin from Amazon and replace the JT mat. Cutting was so much simpler with the Dritz than on the JT mat. Perhaps this will improve my quilting as well. :)

I really like Olfa mats (and cutters!)...to my knowledge, June Tailor mats aren't self healing, Olfas are.

I recently bought an Alvin mat, it is the best! Good price also.

Now have a couple Alvin mats and like them very much - bought a small one to start and then a 24 x 36. My last Olfa mat got named 'the skunk' because it smelled so bad. Got the Alvin mats on line but can't remember the site - google Alvin mats Mary