Tme for a new cutting mat.. Which one ???
 

After almost 20 plus years I have decided to replace my really old worn out cutting mat. (gasp!) Was in JA's yesterday to see what they had. Each manufacturer has its own color, substance material and price! So there about 8 to choose from...Where to begin? I have used the 24x36 green Olfa mat for years. Any body want to chime in here with pros and cons for any mats..... ? Hard surface vs self healing ? any info will be helpful.. Thanks in advance !! I also wonder about buying thru web sites that send in the mail... don't they get bent????

I like the Olfa mats. Last year that is what I wanted for Christmas, and my DH ordered them on-line. The box they came in was huge, so the mats shipped flat. (My DH just wrapped the box they came in.) I have used the same Olfa mat for close to 30 years, so hope the same quality remain. Also, I am used to the green color so decided to stick with it.

Definitely, get a self-healing mat. Your blades will last much longer, as will the mat.

I love love love my Martelli cutting mat. I bought it online, and they mailed it in a huge flat cardboard box. One of the reasons I bought it is that you can leave it in a hot car, and it doesn't warp (I haven't tested this, but it's one of their claims). It can also be rolled for storage (although I store mine flat). It has a purple side and a yellow side, so if it's hard to see your fabric you can flip it over and work on the other side with good visibility.

You can see more about the Martelli mats here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo3F8NQlN74

I love the Olfa mats, also!

I have Olfa mats and like them, but sometimes the green color matches the fabric too closely. I recently bought one of these mats - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1. It was shipped flat, so no worries there. The two sides are both useful, with pink and blue so you can always get something that doesn't match the fabric you're cutting, and it's extra thick. The only downside is that the size is not what you expect - the grid is only 23x35, not 24x36 as advertised. I just have to remember when measuring yardage against it that I'm measuring 35" at a time, not 36".

The first mat I bought was grey with orange lines, Fiskar's I think. I had difficulty seeing those lines.

I would say Olfa too. i have two but one is from 1991 and I"m still using it.

I am an Olfa snob. Nothing else for me. ;)

I've only used Olfa's as well but honestly have no reason to go elsewhere. I have several in different sizes and am happy with them all.

I use the 24x36 Olfa mat on the un-gridded side. I have my old whitish-grey Fiskars mat underneath it with enough of the measurements showing that I can quickly estimate with it.

A lot of folks complain about the chemical odor that they detect (China's factories are notorious for that) when shipped in a box and sat for awhile. For that reason, I bought mine at JA, chose one from the back of the rack , figuring it had been there airing out the longest. Gave it a sniff test and wasn't overpowered by it. It's been fine in my house.

I have no intention of using the same mat for 20 years. I have every brand of mat except the Quilter's Select one. I have the Omnigrid no line 36" mat on my cutting table, made for Fons and Porter. It's been an excellent one. I have Olfa, Fiskars, June Taylor, Polar, Sullivan's, and a few drafting cutting mats. A few I forgot the name. All work fine. Hard surface mats, the rotary blade roll on top, the self healing, the blade has to cut the mat for it to heal. I buy a mat when I see one on clearance. I have two or three big ones behind the bookcase for future use.

I have Alvin, green one side, black one side; Grace, gray, marked on both sides, and my newest - a 36"x48"Dahle, blue with marking just on one side. I use them all and they work fine. I shop price, which is probably why I don't have an Olfa or a Martelli.

I have two Olfa and like them both. I first bought a white one with blue lines, don't know the brand but it didn't hold up. After cutting on same line for a while, It started chipping off. I've had my big Olfa for probably 20 years and still good.

Self healing mat for sure. I have a Martelli which I bought last year on sale. It is holding up well but I cannot get used to the inch lines that are two colors, just get confused. Don't like it as well as Olfa.

I recently purchased an Alex Anderson Quilter's select mat because I needed a new one at camp and it was on sale at my LQS. it was still expensive and worth every penny.....I love it! My cuts are easier, with less skips and the mat doesn't slip. Am hoping for another sale so I can have one at home.

I have an Olfa 24"X36" and a Martelli 30"X60". I like both of them for different reasons. But if I could only choose one I would choose the Martelli. I like the Martelli because it is big enough to lay out a lap size quilt and square it up easily after quilting. I don't usually have to move the quilt at all because the mat is long enough. I also like that I can flip over the mat if my blocks are near the same color as the mat. For example, I have a hard time seeing white on the yellow side, so I will just turn it over to the purple side. Likewise, it is hard to square up purple blocks on the purple side. If you are interested in the Martelli wait until the redline sale when you can get it 50% off.

I have a pink Fiskars 24X36 Inch Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat. I purchased it from Jo-Ann's with a 60% coupon. They have other colors on Amazon. It's dual sided and more than meets my needs.

I have a rotating self-healing mat and really liked how my blades seemed to cut better on it so went looking for a 4' x 8' self healing for my cutting table. This one has markings on both sides, one side is green, the other side is black. I made my cutting table to fit it as I couldn't find one to fit the table I had at the time. Haven't looked back since and I think my blades last longer on it too. Bought it online but can't remember where as it was a couple years ago.

I use the Alto Quick Cut system, so for me it's important how the measurements are printed. I like the numbers to include quarter inch and eighth inch measurements, if possible, and for the numbers to printed at the outer edge of the lines so I can set my ruler against the lines but still see the numbers to measure, if that makes sense. Not all mats are laid out the same.

Olfa is my vote as well. I purchased a Fiskars mat once, and the off-gas smell was horrible! It never went away and ended up in the trash. My Olfa mat is 24 years old and still looks new.

I like Olfa mats. I have the 24 X 36 on my work station. I have a rotating one and a smaller one that I take when I go somewhere else to quilt. I do have one that is hard surface but I really do not like it because blades wear out sooner and the mat scars from the cutting and is rough to the touch. I have it in the camper to use when we travel by camper. I am replacing it with on Olfa folding mat that I ordered from MSQC a couple of days ago.

I too have several brands and my favorite is the Salem brand. Had s big one purchased years ago. Purchased a small and medium size one at Houston Quilt fest last month.

Enjoy the contrast of the light mat against my fabrics - find it more inviting to use for some reason.

I use Alvin mats, purchased from Amazon. I think they're just as good as (and VERY similar to) an Olfa mat, but less expensive.

Don't forget to hydrate your mat periodically! Take it into the shower with you! Mine is too big to fit into my tub, so I lay warm damp cloths over it a few times a year to rehydrate it. That will help keep your mat pliant and self-healing longer.

I love my green Olfa mats, wouldn't us any other. Both of them did have a strong chemical/rubber smell at first, but I just slid them under the couch for a few weeks and it dissipated before I started using them.

I got one that is light blue on one side and pink on the other. Can't remember the brand. It really isn't working for me as the blue fabrics blend too much with the mat and they are really hard to align for cutting. Going back to the old green Olfa mat.

Have tried the Friskars and the Olfa. Much prefer the Olfa!!! Self healing always

I like my Fiskars. I keep mine in the box it came in in my van. My long rulers are in the same box. Since I change my rotary cutter blades at the first sign of dulling, my mats last a long time. I frequently have two sewing days a week outside my own sewing room, so keeping a mat in my vehicle is very convenient.

I have both Olfa and Fiskars...I use my Olfa mostly. You can usually get them on sale somewhere. I have recently watched YouTube videos on Martelli but if price is no object, I would consider one.

I have used the Big Mat for 4 years now (obtained as a special at a quilt expo). A little pricey but there is a warranty for 5 years and you can order from several sizes. The website is www.sewingemporium.com. The rotary cutting blades last longer.

I've had two of the hard white mats. Don't get one. They are not self-healing and don't last very long. I got them because they fit the top of my cutting table. The next one I get will be self-healing. I really want the Martelli mat but it's out of my price range right now.

I use Olfa and Martelli cutting mats and like them both.
Although I detest the Martelli ergo cutters, they do make a great mat.
I like the feel of how my Olfa rotary cutter glides across the Martelli mat.

If I could only have ONE mat, I'd probably choose the Martelli.

I was also in the need of a new cutting mat. I went through all of the recommendations here, and this is the one I settled on for two reasons. After looking all of them over, this is the only one I saw that has the inch markings with numbers going both directions. I am left handed so this works beautifully for me. I always had to take a black marker and write my own numbers in. Second; the increment marks go all the way across the mat, not just at each side. I love that feature. Otherwise, it is the same quality; self healing as the Olef and other brands. It was only about 10 dollars more than a few of the others, but not more than all of the other brands. I do have to pay for shipping, but saves me a trip across the city to JoAnns, or other fabric stores. Thanks for all of your information here, and especially Terry in the ADK where ever that is. ha.

I got an "Olfa like" mat on Amazon that was sold under drafting tools and found exactly the same one under sewing supplies, but for double the price! Bonus, it is double sided. They had a green/black one or a pink/blue available. I chose the pink/blue for me.

I bought the Martelli mat when it was half off last week. Also bought another rotary cutter and a double pack of blades. All at big discounts. Love them all. Won't go back to the fiskars or olfa mars or cutters. I have had them all. This one fits my big koala cabinet on the big table that I can lift up or leave down if not needed. I also bought the round swivel mat and round ironing mat at half off. I got on their email list and they sent me an email when the big sale was on

I'm a fan of the Martelli mats & cutters. Tried a cutter at a quilt shop, came home & signed up for the Red Line Direct sales. You only get an email when a sale is coming, not daily or weekly. Very happy with my purchases.

Olfa gets my vote. :)

Wow ! Thanks for all the input on cutting mats. Several brands I had not even heard of but am going to do a little research on the Martelli. My mat is shot but I guess I COULD turn it over and get another 20 plus years out of it. lol ! but I DO use the lines for cutting. sooo. The other thing I could do is just start cutting in a different spot. Lots of options... I just wanted to thank all of you who chimed in to help me... got lots of good advice (as usual) ! you guys are the BEST......

[h=2]Pink Double-Sided Self-Healing Cutting Mat, 18" x 24" from Walmart. Also have it larger size. That is the one recommended for me on here and is the one I ordered this week. $18.+[/h]

I've never heard about hydrating your mats. How often, long and with anything other than water?