I am thinking of buying a rotating cutting mat. Joann's has a 50% off coupon I could use. I would appreciate your comments on the Olfa 12x12 for roughly $23.00, the Olfa17x17 for $40.00 or the Fiskars 14x14 for $25.00 after using the coupon. Would love to hear from anyone using either of these mats. I am going to use it for quilting.

Thanks
Linda

I would suggest going much bigger unless you already have a big one.

Do you think the 14x14 rotating mat would be big enough?

The 17x17 rotary mat is the largest that is made. I have both of the Olfas. If you can only get one I would go with the 17x17. They are good mats. I had a Fiskars non-rotating mat. It was my first cutting mat and it didn't last very long. I've never used their rotating one but if you can afford the larger one I would go with that.

If you only do small pieces like applique or something like that then 14x14 is a good compromise. I would just get the larger one because you know that you'll be covered no matter what you want to work on.

I have the 12x12. I wish I would have bought the larger one.

Me too!

I have the Olfa 17x17, really comes in handy.

Fiskers mats do not have a long life, I'd stick with the Olfa. I have both the small and large rotating mats, I use the large one constantly. I use the small one too, but when you are dealing with large and small size pieces, the large mat works for both.

Also, when using the rotating mat, I put a piece of non skid shelf liner under it so it doesn't slide around when I'm cutting.

The other options include:

Just plain 'ol putting a smaller mat on top of a larger mat ... the smaller mat will turn easily enough.

I still use my Brooklyn Revolver from years ago.

ali

get the bigger Olfa mat..the Fiskars are not the best...

I bought the 12 inch, then later the larger one. I tend to forget i have them but when i do, i use them and love having them.

OK I'm a newbie. Rotating Mat? Please explain.

olfa definately will last the longest. I have several, but the one I seem to use the most is one I picked up at a tag sale, olfa something like 26 x 35. It is the best!

I have the larger one, I think bigger is better. Nancy's notions have a special with both sizes for a pretty good combined price.

I like the smaller one by Olfa. Of course I use it mostly for paper piecing.

I would get the largest mat you can afford that fits your
space you will be using to cut your fabrics. Add a rotating mat when you have extra money. Love the rotating mat.

I have all 3 and always end up using the Olfa mats. I don't like the finish on the Fiskar mat.

me too!

I have the fiskars rotating one, it actually works fine for me...I do wish the rotating ones were even bigger than the 17" one, like my regular mats, I have 2 of the 24x36 ones, so am kinda spoiled to them...but when I am heading to my quilt guild, the fiskars works fine...and I have had no problems with it staying on the base when rotating it...
Good luck,
Kif

I think the Olfa brand holds up well.

I have a 14x14 rotating mat, got it thinking I would use it a lot but I don't. I find I am usually needing to cut large pieces, strips, or, real small pieces and either use my lg ruller and mat or my small 5x10 mat and small rulers. For me it was a waste of money.

I bought the Fiskars 14x14 mat and it's been fine. I do prefer Olfa, but just could not justify the price of the 17x17, and the 12x12 is too small for me. It's been a good compromise. I figure if it doesn't last, I'll glue an Olfa mat onto it to get a little more mileage out of it.

Me, too! Does anybody else have trouble getting it to rotate? Mine is awfully hard to turn........Thanks

I have had the 17x17 for several years now and it still works great. It's big enough for cutting four layers of fabric (44 inches folded twice lengthwise) and small enough to keep within arm's length near the sewing machine. I love it and would not go smaller. I also have larger non-rotating mats, but don't use them as often.

The biggest one will always have you covered. Someday when you least expect it, you'll be sorry if you don't.

Olfa is excellent quality self healing mat.
In this case big is better.

Biggest u can!

The bigger the better! i bought the 'WONDERFUL' Martelli's Quilter's Edition Mat this last year. It is 36"x 24" It is also one of the only truly accurate mats around. it is yellow on one side and lavendar on the other side. It also doesn't buckle the way some of the others do.

Over the years I have bought many mats. If you are just starting to quilt, buy the biggest one you can afford, no matter what the brand. Quilt fabric is 44" wide, and folded selvege to selvage is 22"..........You don't want anything smaller than 22 or 24 inches wide.

I find my matt is never big enough - so I would go with the bigger one. Good luck.

99 percent of the time I use olfa 18 x 24 self healing cutting matt with a 6 1/2 x 24 inch acrylic ruler. Would not buy anything smaller.

I purchased the Fiskar 14 x 14" and wonder what I ever did without it so long. Great for squaring up and cutting quilt pieces. Buy it. You'll not be sorry.

I hadn't heard of a rotating mat until last July! I got the Fiskars 14x14 and love it. Bigger could be better but I'm working primarily on 6 inch blocks so it's perfect. I do cut my strips on a larger mat but for getting all the way around a template without standing on my head, the rotating mat is better than sliced bread!

Agree! Get the largest one you can afford and have space for. Then you can pick up a smaller one for classes later.

I have the Salem rotating mat, 14 x 14. I bought it at a quilt show and I use it for squaring up blocks. I really like it. It is the Salem Manufacturing Co., Salem,
Georgia.

I have the olfa 17X17 and love it. Use it all the time.

I have the Olfa 12x12. I don't use it a lot, but it is good for squaring up half-square triangles.

I have always used Fiskar. It is what I got when I started quilting years ago. My Fiskar have actually held up better than my friend's Olfa have. I do use my large one the most, because it stays on my cutting table at home, but if you need to take one to class or whatever you also will use the smaller one. I would get whatever you can afford. The brand is up to you.

Olfa is my brand of choice, bigger one will save you more money and will let you use it for more projects.

I have the same problem with both of mine. They don't turn and come apart. Anyone know how to fix this problem?