Do any of you use a revolving rotary cutting mat? I would be interested in knowing if you like them; what size is best and any other opinions involving this item. They seem to be expensive but it looks like they would be very useful. I would appreciate any and all comments. Thank you. Dixie in AL

I recently bought the 14" Fiskars one. I like it. I really wanted the Olfa, but not at $75! Even with a coupon it is expensive. I paid about $16 on sale. I figured that if/when the mat goes, I'll cut an Olfa to fit and glue it on. :)

I have a 12 x 12 rotating cutting mat. I really like it for cutting and squaring up blocks smaller than 12". It sure is nice not having to pick up my block, turning it around and cutting the other two sides. Best buy I found was at Joann's with a 40-50% off coupon. Can never have too many cutting mats.

Which brand is it?

I am buying a new and larger cutting mat. One corner of my old mat is not as worn as the rest. I will cut it and use it as a rotating mat. It will spin freely laying on top of my new on. :wink: It would also spin freely on my sewing table, or any other surface. I will cut a smaller one out of the other corner, so that I have different sizes for different projects.

I have the 12 x 12 Fiskars. I really like it. Saves me alot of time when I do square in a squares. I think I paid $35 about a year ago at our LQS.

I have the 12x12 Olfa rotating mat and it is great for squaring up. Also, I think Olfa is worth the extra money...as it is self healing and I feel easier on the rotary cutter.

I have the Brooklyn Revolver for a long time. Is round and that limits the size of the blocks you can cut, but when it is a gift you don't complaint, just appreciate it. I have periods when I use it all the time and then other times when I don't even know where it is. It spins real nice and you can turn it upside down and is a small ironing surface.

In my thrift store travels, I found a lazy susan from an old entertainment center, all of fifty cents. It is big enough to hold my 12x16 mat. I really think it makes squaring blocks up faster for me.

If you have an old piece of plywood around, a new quality lazy susan could be screwed to the bottom at a considerable savings over the fancy ones.

LOVE mine! Got it 40% off at Hancock's and just love it.

Oh gosh, I just got one and I love it!!

I have the Fiskars and hate it. The top part does not lay flat so it doesn't ride on the center circle on the bottom portion. (I'm not describing this well) It doesn't rotate, it just slides off.

I have a 12x12 Olfa rotating mat. I put it on my Xmas list a couple years ago. I love it for when I am making flying geese blocks and squaring up blocks, especially. The BOM I am doing this year has bunches of little template pieces...it is nice when I am cutting them out, as well. I know they are pricey but once you have used one, you will be very glad you have it!

I used mine all day, today. Love it. I am working on 12.5 blocks. my mat is 18x18.

Edited to say that mine was a gift. I hesitated to buy it for myself, but I don't know why. It is very useful to me.

I have the Brooklyn Revolver and I like it, but as Maride said it's round which limits the size block you can cut.

I would like to get the large Olfa sometime, but just haven't seen it at the right price yet.

I am going to check them out - you all make it sound so wonderful.

I have the 12x12 square one; got it at Michaels with 50%coupon; it's also sold at Joann's.
It's annoying, it does not turn easily and on my cramped/cluttered cutting table it's always bumping into something.
I have an enormous stationary cutting board (about 36"x24") that I've had for 20+ years and use for strips.
The rotating cutting board that I found and love is an 8" round one...The pieces I cut are rarely larger than 3"x6" which fit.
It turns easily and smoothly. It can be had from Come Quilt with Me, a mailorder vendor in Brooklyn, NYC. Pat Yamin, the owner, also sells very good templates which can be used for hand or machine piecing. Google the name and you'll get to her on-line catalogue.

I have one and used to significantly use it. When I got my Short Cut ruler, I really stopped use the other. I use the Short Cut in one direction and pick it up and use it in the other.

I really appreciate everyone's response. I have a birthday coming in a few weeks. Think I will start dropping some hints about this. If all else fails I will have to look for a coupon and buy it for myself. But, as the old hair coloring commercial said "I'm worth it!" Dixie in AL

Have the 12 inch Fiscars, and love it. Great when Paper Piecing

I have a Lazy Susan in the basement. My Mom got me going on the lazy susan as opposed to the revolving rotary cutting thing! Same thing I think, does the same thing just a little different. I think my mother thinks she invented the idea of the lazy susan. I'm not going to tell her that there are other people out there that thought the same thing. Edie

The only suggestion I have is to make sure to check to see if the surface is stable when cutting, the experience I have had with some is that they rock when trying to cut. I mostly use my olfa cutting mat, it does not turn, but it's oh so easy and quick when cutting fabric.

I have a 12 x 18 amazing turnables that I like. I think it's made by Elna, but not sure. It's large enough that you can fold your 44" wide fabric in 3rd and have plenty of room to cut it. It works great with a 12 inch ruler also. It comes with a nice mat and it's very sturdy. I saw one on ebay for about $60.
If a person can find an old TV turn table or lazy susan at a G. Sale, it would probably work.

I just love mine I have used it so much that it has large groves in it dh told me to go buy a new one but just going to replace the top.I have had mine for about 4 years.It is nice to sit at the coffee table watch tv and cut my pieces of fabric.

I have the Olfa, 18x18 and I love it. Got it a Paducah last year. Will buy a bigger one this year. Sure beats turning the blocks by hand.

I have the Olfa one. It's nice if I can remember to use it.

any brand can have that problem...a friend and I each purchased the same brand at almost the same time (we were shopping unattended! who knew we could get into such trouble!) and one of ours works fine and one doesn't...so whatever you purchase, check it out at the store for smoothness to avoid the hassle of having to return it.

Also, these need a very flat surface on which to rest in order to move smoothly..the folding plastic table that I occasionally use as a cutting surface is not totally flat, and the rotating function id not efficient on the table..

I have the 12 inch Fiscars and it sits next to my sewing machine and works great when I'm working on smaller pieces, especially when getting the little 'dog ears' cut off.

I have the 12 in Olfa and it is great.

What a awesome idea, I will have to keep my eyes open. Thanks for the tip.

It is great for trimming, but I could not justify the cost, so I used a 50% off coupon from JoAnns and bought the smaller one (not the really tiny ones) of Olfa and found a lazy susan for 90 cents at the thrift store--took the top off and cut a piece of plywood square and cut the matt and attached it to the top and the turner to the bottom. I just used lots of double stick taple. It works great for a fraction of the cost.

before you purchase a new top, see if you can reverse the one you have. The back side will not have the lines on it, but the surface should be usable for cutting...

I have 3, the 17, the 14, and the 8 inch, I believe it is, I love all of them, they each have there place. I purchased mine with coupons from JoAnns.

My niece bought one and she thought it was a waste of money. But I have not personally used one.

I love mine and use it most of the time Olfa is expensive but worth the price

My husband made a 18" square one for me that works great. Base is a turntable like you use in dish cabinet topped with a thin sheet of fiberboard and then a cutting mat.

Thank you for all for all of the feedback. I have also considered purchasing a revolving rotary cutting mat. So far increasing my stash always wins when deciding whether to buy one or not. I'll be keeping my eyes open for a lazy susan.

I have a 12" Olfa and love it. Someday I'd like to get the larger version. At one time I also did the lazy Susan trick. Had one that was past its prime and also had a cutting mat that had cracked. I cut the mat (square) and glued it to the lazy Susan. Worked fine. Good luck with whatever you decide, IMO you'll like using one.

It's an OLFA!

I have the 14' Olfa revolving rotary cutting mat! It's wonderful - especially when squaring up blocks, you no longer have to pick up the block and turn it to cut each side. I found mine on sale at a Corning outlet (go figure)!