Olfa cutting mat
 

My sister had just bought a big Olfa mat, when she passed away, I got it. It's been in the cardboard box it came in for the past 2 years. Started using it a couple of days ago, changed my blades three times and it keeps skipping threads when I cut. Can this be the mat?

It should be a nick in your blade......so try cutting on another mat to confirm. If blade fine, see if your mat has truely flattened. Being rolled in a box for 2 years may need time to unwind and lay flat.

you can soak the mat flat if necessary. usually done after many cuts done on it. I have really had mine for twenty years or more, still fine. check the blade.

The three blades I changed were all from different packages. The mat was flat all the time, not rolled. It has hardly been used. I've had a Fiskars for years, but have used it for cutting fleece blankets for the church. Will probably have to get that out again.

Does the soaking make it a little softer?

I think the point Jane was making is that after its been rolled for 2 years, while you might think it's flat it might not be laying completely flat.

Like nativetexan, I've had mine several for more than 20 years and they are all fine to cut on.

It was never rolled, laid flat all the time in a flat box made just for a mat. Or does rolled have another meaning.

I've never had that problem with any of my Olfa mats. By any chance, might you have two blades stuck together when you are putting them in to your cutter?

Could it be your table? It's easy to check...take your 24" ruler and stand
it on its side so it's perpendicular to the table and see if there is a gap
(usually in the middle). It there's no gap, do the same thing with the mat
on the table.

It could be that it needs it's moisture rejuvenated. Here is the link to soak your mat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cyd4jJTmek

Try flipping the mat over and cut on the side without the lines. See if that makes a difference.
Nothing is more frustrating than having a tool "misbehave"!

https://www.olfa.com/media/video/qui...-Use-Care.html
said to keep it supple. they hand out this info at quilt shows so lots of quilters take care of their mats this way.