Using a cutting mat for quilting - a Beginners guide.
The importance of a cutting mat in quilting
The cutting mat is one of the top 5 tools you need for quilting, and here is why:-
They protect your surfaces. Never use a rotary cutter on a table or countertop.
Quilting requires precise cuts, they allow for accurate clean cuts to your fabric with metric and imperial markings on the cutting mat to guide you.
Most cutting mats have self healing properties with a gel membrane made of layers of PVC, Vinyl or synthetic rubber. When you cut your fabric the rotary cutter blade slices into those layers and then close back together after the blade is removed - Hence the term self healing.
types of cutting mat
There are a whole range of cutting mats available for you to choose from:-
Various size options
Rotating cutting mats
Different thicknesses, 3 mm or 1.5 mm.
choosing the right mat
When it comes to choosing the right mat for you, have a think about what you are going to use your cutting mat for.
If you are going to be cutting large pieces of fabric then get a larger mat that will be able to accommodate the size of your fabric and your ruler. If you are cutting fabric from the bolt then a 23 x 17 inch cutting mat would be a good fit.
If you are going to be doing lots of fussy cutting, or cutting and trimming small pieces of fabric, then a rotating cutting mat would be good for you.
Are you going to be going to classes and workshops, then a smaller more portable cutting mat might be best.
You will also need to think about space and where you will be using it. Never have a cutting mat hanging off the edge of a worktop as this is dangerous to cut on and will also make your cuts inaccurate.
How to use your cutting mat
Most cutting mats are double sided and have cutting lines on both sides. (apart from the rotating cutting mat). You will normally find metric on one side and imperial measurements on the other side of the mat. It is entirely up to you on which side you use and are comfortable with.
I like to use imperial, and then turn over my mat and use that for cutting things that are more fibrous like wadding or batting.
You will find that there are lines at either one inch or one centimetre increments both horizontally and vertically, depending on whether your mat is imperial or metric. This creates a grid of evenly spaced lines for you to line up your fabric and use for cutting. Down the side and across the top of the mat you will see numbers, these serve as measurement guides for your cutting.
There are then angle lines. These are diagonal lines that intersect the grid lines. On most cutting mats you will see that there are 45 degree lines and 60 degree lines. These are good for cutting triangles, diamonds and other shapes.
A lot of cutting mats have centre markings as well. These help if you want to trim a block, or cut a piece of fabric for a fussy cutting project.
Maintenance and care of your cutting mat
It is important to look after your cutting mat. Here are some tips on how to look after your mat.
Store your mat on a flat surface or hang against a flat surface. A lot of cutting mats have a hole for you to hang it from a hook.
Keep your mat away from hot objects. Don’t use an ironing mat on top of your cutting mat - it will warp it.
Clean with alchohol free baby wipes to remove any fibres from the mat. Or you can use warm soapy water and gently scrub it to get any remaining fibres out.
Keep out of direct sunlight, this again may warp your cutting mat.
Try not to cut in the same place each time, as over time a groove will appear in your cutting mat, and this won’t be able to self heal.
Don’t use a blunt blade in your rotary cutter, this will only damage your mat.
There are lots of options and brands available, so have a think about what you are going to use your cutting mat for, and you may even want to buy more than one.
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