Cutting mat -- which is the best?

[stitchwishes]

Oh long story, but I had to return my Sullivan's cutting edge mat and the shop is out of stock so I got a refund. I got to lay it out but not cut on it. Loved one side being orange, the other red. I use the markings very little, but I liked how visible they are. Since I can't find it at the same price now, I thought I'd check other options like the Gingher mat. I just really don't want dark green and I want double sided. Sullivan's never responded to two emails I sent asking about the mat, so I'm a little turned off by that.

I'm wondering what others are using and what they love/ hate about their mat.

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Martelli's, yellow and purple! I likey, likey!

[bubba]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Yep....what she said!!!! I have had mine almost two years and you'd never know it. However, wait till they have a 50% sale again unless you are made of $$$!

[auntiemern]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Martelli's are very expensive. I have both Olfa and Fiskars self healing mats. My 24 x 36 is a Fiskars. I use it almost daily, and it is still as good as the day I bought it. Unless you are a professional quilter...and just have an unlimited supply of money, the Fiskars or Olfa mats will do a great job for you.

[stitchwishes]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Yeah, I'm going to need a few thousand dollars to get what I want at Martelli, lol! I know they just had a half off sale but I think even at that it's still overkill $$ for me since I'm just learning to quilt. I do value great tools though and while I love a great bargain, cheap tools can be so frustrating.

Even M* is out of stock, I'm having trouble finding mats at all or prices are high so I guess I'll have to wait. Hope I don't spend my mat money on fabric meantime, haha!

[lapeoples]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

I got an email from Martelli saying there would be another red line sale next week.

[bubba]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

I got an email from Martelli saying there would be another red line sale next week.

They have one almost every month. It's always something different.

[Iris Girl]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

I have Olfa mats one is 25 years old . Markings are wearing but it still works like new. Also have a fiskars rotating mat .

[buckeyequilter]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

I have a large Martelli, got it 1/2 off, to cover my table. Then I have a couple of 24 x 36, light green Fiskars. Those light green mats are easy to read. Whatever you get make sure it's self healing, they seem to last longer.

[Midge]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Joann's often has sales or coupons that you can use to lower the cost. I know it's a bite when you'd rather be buying fabrics. My 24X36 was around $40 at a discount craft store chain local to me here in Ohio that holds a yearly extra deep discount sale. So you can whittle down the cost if you comparison shop and can wait for a sale or coupon. It's Omnigrid brand. Works great. Mat care is important, too!

[lmanna]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Martelli's without a doubt.

[stitchwishes]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Does anyone have a Gingher mat? It looks good but I see mixed reviews. Then again I see mixed reviews on most mats. It's pretty blue on one side, pale green on the other, and has squares similar to the Martelli.

My old mat has had it, and I've been hating it more and more since I had to return my new one. Last night I found the Havel's mat they use on Quilty on sale for $16 and snatched one up. The markings look good, and it's raspberry. It's not very big but that price is right to hold me over, and maybe I can bring it to classes and use it in lieu of a rotating mat until I can justify the Martelli.

The 24 x 36 I had to return fit my table perfectly and I couldn't get over how fantastic a large mat is. Even M* is out of stock on that, and what I can find are prices higher than before so maybe it's the wrong time of year to shop. The Sullivan's I got was about $32 and free shipping, I'm looking for that kind of deal again. I'm putting that Martelli mat on my list for when I get my sewing room moved!

[auntiemern]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

This is a link to Amazon for the one you took back. Amazon.com: Sullivans The Cutting Edge 24-Inch-by-37-Inch Cutting Mat

[stitchwishes]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Than you, yeah, the couple I've found in stock are priced higher than what I paid. At this price I want to look at more mats. I picked the Sullivan's because of the price, plus I liked the color and markings. Prices were probably down right before inventory for tax time. I may have to make my frugal self give in, I really liked that mat. I'll see if the Havel's mat tides me over while I'm being cheap and indecisive.

I've now seen OLFA purple mats! Very cute, but not available in the USA and I'm not paying crazy shipping.

[lapeoples]

Re: Cutting mat -- which is the best?

Here's a code for 25% off at Martelli's -
AC1501. Martelli Catalog