- I'd like to thank Skillshare for sponsoring this video.
A self-healing cutting mat works hand in hand
with a rotary cutter and a thick-edge ruler
to give you the straightest cuts.
But what does self-healing really mean?
Which is the best to buy?
And how do you clean a self-healing cutting mat
of all those bits of fluff?
Well there's a lot more options for cutting mats
than you think there are, and whether you use them
for quilting, for sewing, for crafts, or any other hobbies,
with a couple of tips and tricks,
they will last you a long time.
And stay to the end
where I have a really cool, free cleaning hack.
So stick with me and I'll show you how to do it.
(lively music)
Hi there, I'm Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts.
I give you tips, tricks and strategies
to help you make the quilt that you want to make.
And if you like what you see,
please hit that subscribe button.
And this week, I was so amazed and so happy.
I reached 300,000 subscribers.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your support.
I know some of you have been with me from the beginning,
and it's been a really fun ride.
A self-healing cutting mat
is a critical part of cutting straight.
They are also one of the more expensive tools
that you will buy for your sewing space,
so you want to buy the right one for your needs
and then care for it properly to protect your investment.
What is a self-healing mat?
Self-healing is a marketing term.
It means, if you slice it with a blade,
the surface is not damaged,
and it was first used to describe these PVC cutting mats.
Green used to be the most common colour,
but now and can find them in all sorts of colours,
depending on the brand.
The surface is soft, and they normally come
with measurement marks, and they are available
in two thicknesses, 1.5 millimetre and 3 millimetre.
There are other types of cutting mats
that now use the term self-healing,
but they're not covered by this video.
There is the polypropylene ecomats.
These are meant to be recycled.
Then there is the white translucent,
hard surface polyethylene mats.
This type has also been labelled Pinnable.
They normally come with markings,
and these are the big ones that cover big surfaces.
Then there is the soft surface polyurethane mats.
It's not very common in the craft and hobby area
because it's clear; it doesn't have any markings.
There are other mats, like silicon,
wood and adhesive cutting mats,
but these are not designed to be used with rotary cutters.
Do you really need a cutting mat?
If you are going to be using a rotary cutter,
yes, you do.
Not only do you want to protect your countertop or table
from the blade, you also want to protect your blades
from your countertop
so that they will remain sharp as long as possible.
And the markings on the mat
make cutting and trimming so much easier.
What size do you need to purchase?
Well this is a balance of the size of your sewing space,
what you're cutting, do you need to store your mat,
and what you can afford.
So how big is your cutting station?
You don't want a cutting mat that hangs over the edge.
It will lead to inaccuracies in your cutting
and possible accidents.
If you are cutting fabric,
you will need to be able to cut half a bolt.
In quilting, that means a cutting mat
that's at least 24 inches wide.
But if you also sew garments or work with other fabrics,
how big are those bolts?
And you'll want one that you can cut
on both sides of the cutting mat,
so when you cut batting, minky
or another fabric with a lot of fibres,
you can cut on the side without the markings.
And if your sewing space is not permanent,
the PVC mats need to be stored flat, either flat
on the floor or flat against the wall, with no bowing.
When I made my small space sewing hack, I made a pocket
for my 18-by-24 board and hung it on the back of the rack,
and I stored it against the wall.
If you think this setup might work in your small space,
I'll leave a link to this video in the notes below.
You also will find mats that have a cutout for hanging,
and some styles of mat are foldable.
And of course, the last consideration is price.
What can you afford?
This is an item that you might start off
with the best one that you can afford
and save up for the forever mat.
You can make all your beginner mistakes on the first one,
and then when you upgrade,
the old one can be used in your traveler's kit.
And don't forget to use those big box store coupons.
Does thickness matter?
The self-healing mats
come in 1.5 millimetre and 3 millimetre.
The three-millimeter's often called professional,
as it can absorb deeper cuts,
which is great for X-acto or utility knives.
If you are using a rotary cutter
and you're practising good form, a 1.5mm is fine.
I've had my 1.5mm, 24"-by-36" mat
for over eight years, and it is still going strong.
Good form not only makes your cutting mat last longer,
it will keep your blade sharp.
I've showed you how to use good form in my video,
"How To Cut Straight" and "10 Cutting Mistakes",
and I'll leave a link to those two videos
in the notes below.
You also need to consider the finish of your cutting mat.
Some are three layers and some are five.
The original PVC mats had a hard PVC middle
with a layer of soft PVC on the top and bottom.
The surface is smooth with a rubber-like feel
and gets rougher with use,
which provides a bit of grip for your rotary blade.
Five layer-PVC has an additional, very thin hard layer
of PVC on the outside, making it much smoother.
You might find that your rulers, fabric
and rotary cutters have less friction, but the hard layer
keeps the matte firmer with less distortion.
What markings do you need?
There are so many different marking patterns
because there's so many professions and crafts
that use self-healing cutting mats.
For quilters, not only do you need a grid that is marked
in inches, you'll also want the incremental markings
of a half-inch, 1/4" and the 1/8".
You'll also want a 45-degree line,
plus a 30- and a 60-degree.
There are mats with circles and hexagons,
but they're not very valuable for quilters,
as fabric is opaque.
And there are brands that have these squares,
which are useful for squaring up blocks.
How do you make your mat last?
First, keep it away from heat.
That includes, but is not limited to, sunlight,
radiators and heat vents, your coffee mug, your computer,
your wool ironing mat and iron, your glue gun,
and simply leaving it in a hot car.
Always use a sharp blade.
When you use a dull blade, you force it down
farther into the mat, leaving a bigger slice out of the mat
and maybe even damaging the core.
It's better to change that $2 blade than that $80 mat.
Do not cut over the same path over and over again.
You'll often see this problem at quilt shops
where they're constantly cutting
on the half-yard mark and the one-yard mark.
So when you're cutting, try to use different lines
with every project, and cut your batting and fleece
on the back of your mat, so when you clean up your mat,
the added friction is not chipping off the measurements.
And keep it clean and maintained,
but we'll get into how to do that in the last step.
Before I get to the last two points,
let me tell you about Skillshare.
Skillshare can help you make 2022
a year of learning, growth and connection.
Skillshare is an online learning community
with thousands of inspiring classes
for anyone who loves learning new skills.
You can find classes that match your goals and interests,
like photography, illustration, graphic design, and more.
Skillshare is also a great resource for freelancers
and entrepreneurs that want to learn new skills
to support your growing side hustle.
You know that I've enjoyed Skillshare membership
for several years.
Well now, I have a book idea and I'm turning to Skillshare
for help in how to make it a reality.
They are a great way to unwind, learn and relax
while you're doing your 30-minute sewing,
making dinner or doing the laundry.
All classes are ad free so that you can stay in the zone
while you're exploring new skills.
New premium classes are launched every week,
so there's always something new to discover.
The first 1,000 people to use this link in the description
will get a one-month free trial of Skillshare.
Can a warped mat be repaired? Sort of.
The measurement markings can never be relied on again,
but if you have the patience and you have the space,
you can mostly flatten it.
Cover your mat completely with books or a piece of wood
and stack weights on top of this.
You are looking for a lot of weight here,
the higher the better,
and leave it for two to three weeks.
And yes, I did say weeks.
But just because a cutting board is damaged in one place
doesn't mean it's a total write-off.
You can cut the board down and use a smaller piece.
How do you clean and maintain your mat?
On a weekly basis, remove the trapped fibres in your mat.
Use a lint brush or a ball of masking tape
to remove all the large surface fibres.
Then use this hack. Take a piece of packaging foam.
This is just a piece that I upcycled
from a electronics purchase.
It's very firm and it has these big bubbles.
Just use a circular motion and clear it often.
Some say to use a white eraser,
but I find my hack uses a lot less elbow grease.
It doesn't produce those rubber bits,
and best of all it's free.
And the more frequent you do it,
the less you have to do.
Then spritz your mat with water, give it a gentle wipe,
and the next time, flip it over and do the other side.
There will be a time when your cutting mat
needs more cleaning, and it's easiest to do this in a tub.
Let your board soak for about 20 to 30 minutes
to soften the trapped fibres.
Take your seat cover and just kneel on it.
It's been sitting for about 15 minutes,
and you can see the fibres that have already come off.
Use a soft cleaning brush and a detergent
with no conditioners, like Dove or Palmolive,
and wash your mat down.
If you have any greasy stains,
use a 50-50 vinegar/water solution.
Then lay it on a towel to dry, but not in the sunlight.
You may see little pockets of fibres.
Take the time to get them out now
while the fibres are still soft.
Accuracy in your piecing relies on the trifecta
of accurate cutting, straight sewing
and a really good ironing technique,
and a good, well-maintained cutting mat
is an important part of that foundation.
I'll leave a link here to the cutting straight playlist.
Take care and I'll see you next time.
(screen pops)