Self-Healing Olfa Rotary Cutting Mat – A Must for This Sewer
Written: Apr 11 '05 (Updated Apr 12 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: self-healing cutting mat with grid lines and measurements
Cons: must store flat or could warp
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line thinks all sewing tools should be this easy to use.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Olfa Rotary Cutter Mat RM-CG |
When I first learned to quilt over twenty years ago, I was taught using traditional methods ... creating pattern pieces, tracing the shapes onto fabric and cutting out those shapes with scissors. Cut out enough pattern pieces, and very sore fingers result! Imagine my delight when I saw my first rotary cutter and the Olfa Rotary Cutting Mat (Model # RM-CG). I bought the 18" x 12" Olfa mat and have never looked back.
What is an Olfa Mat?
An Olfa cutting mat is a flat green “rubberized” mat. The mats come in different sizes and are only 1.5mm thick. These mats are double-sided, meaning both sides of the mat can be used. There are yellow grid lines on one side, while the other side of the mat is a solid green color.
To use the mat, lay it on a solid flat surface such as a table. Place the fabric on the mat, and using a rotary cutter, cut the fabric. (In case you are not familiar with rotary cutters, they resemble a round razor blade attached to a handle.)
A great feature of these mats is that they are “self-healing”. That means when the rotary cutter blade slices into the mat, after the blade is removed, the two sides of the mat join together and heal. The mat remains smooth and ready for the next cutting project.
Olfa recommends the use of a rotary cutting mat with a rotary cutter in order to protect the rotary cutter blade. This keeps the rotary cutter blade in good condition for a longer period of time.
Note that on the mat it says, “Caution: This mat is designed for use with Olfa Rotary Cutters and Blades only. Knives with a fixed blade may damage this mat.”
My Experiences
I purchased my first 18" x 12" Olfa mat about twenty years ago. At that time the mats were a solid green color on both sides. That mat lasted me for years. I liked it so much, that I purchased several other Olfa cutting mats in different sizes.
Recently I retired my original 18" x 12" Olfa mat and purchased a new one (with the yellow grid lines on one side and a solid green color on the other side). The first mat can still be used ... that’s how durable they are. However, as the result of a whirlwind cutting project, I sliced the mat many times in the same location, moving the cutter rapidly. This caused small pieces of the mat to “chip” from one side. I guess twenty years of consistent use took their toll. This is the only Olfa mat I have owned that has ever had this chipping problem.
Time for a new mat! I traveled to my local craft store with a 50% off coupon clutched in my hand. The mats were stacked flat on a shelf with no protective packaging. Just the mat with a price sticker attached to it.
Once home, I noticed the mat had a slight odor to it. The odor didn’t bother me and it disappeared after a few days. The smell reminded me of that “plastic/rubber” scent sometimes associated with plastic goods. Strange that I didn’t notice the odor in the store.
I mostly cut on the solid green side of the mat. However, the grid lines on the other side have proven useful. The yellow lines form 1" squares across the entire surface of the mat, except where a large square of cautionary instructions and UPC code is placed. There are also vertical lines and arcs with helpful degree notations (90-degrees, 60-degrees, 45-degrees, 30-degrees). There are also two sets of diagonal lines. One set of lines is 1" apart and the other set is 2" apart. Around the four outside edges of the mat are measurement markings, also in yellow.
I use three different size Olfa rotary cutter blades on the mat (18mm, 28mm, 45mm). The 18mm blade is small and I usually use it to cut one or two layers of fabric. The 28mm and 45mm blades see a lot more use on this mat. Since I quilt, I primarily use these mats to cut 100% cotton fabrics. I have also cut other fabrics on this mat, such as silk, lame, brocade, home decorating fabrics and, on occasion, paper.
Since fabrics usually measure between 35" to 60" wide, and the cutting mat is only 18" wide, I fold the fabrics in half or in quarters and cut through the multiple layers. Works great! The rotary cutter blade bites into the mat, giving me a clean fabric cut.
This is one of the smaller cutting mats that Olfa offers. I trim quilt blocks on it and also do a lot of fabric cutting such as cutting fabric strips for quilting projects. This mat also is handy to keep near my sewing machine as it doesn't take up much room.
You are probably wondering if the mats always look new. The answer is no. Eventually constant rotary blade cutting will leave marks on the mat. This is especially noticeable on the green colored side, probably since I use this side the most. Even though the mat has marks on it, the mat works great.
Care & Mat Cleaning
It is amazing how the sliced mat edges merge together to again form a whole cutting mat surface. When I used my original Olfa cutting mat, I was cutting fabric that left a lot of fabric lint on the mat. As the cut edges merged together, self-healing, those lint bits became caught in the healed mat. Ever since then, I make sure to run my hand over the cutting mat to brush any stray pieces of lint and fabric from the surface.
The manufacturer also suggests using different parts of the mat when cutting. This is to prevent “excessive wear” (Hmmmm .... wish they had that warning on my first mat!)
I have only had to clean the mat once when something sticky spilled on it. Okay, I admit it! It was ice cream, but I wasn’t sewing when I ate it. I wet a paper towel with water and wiped the mat clean. On the mat, the cleaning instructions read: “Use lukewarm water with a mild detergent.” In case you are wondering, I have never used soap on my Olfa mats.
To store the mat, lay it somewhere flat. Placing it on a shelf or table works well. If no flat horizontal surface is available, then you can store the mat vertically – as long as the mat does not sag. If the mat is stored in a bent position, it may warp.
Do not keep the mat anywhere that is too hot or too cold. I have heard horror stories from some friends who left their Olfa mats exposed to direct sun. Likewise, keep the mat away from a hot iron. Heat/cold can warp or crack the mat.
Other Uses for the Olfa Mat
As you can imagine, I mostly use my Olfa mat for cutting. However, when I retired my original Olfa cutting mat, I discovered it made excellent protection for my Quilter’s Dream sewing table. The cats enjoy jumping onto the sewing table so that they can look out a nearby window. Even though the Quilter’s Dream table is constructed from scratch resistant material, I worried that repeated exposure to cat claws when they jumped onto the table might eventually cause damage.
On a whim, I placed the Olfa mat in the area where the cats always jump onto the table. Now when they hop onto the table, the mat absorbs the impact of their jump as well as providing protection against their claws. The mat is pretty good about staying in position, too. It may slip an inch after repeated jumping but that’s all. The cats don’t mind the mat being there either. So even after twenty years of cutting use, the mat is still helpful.
Purchasing
I bought my Olfa cutting mat at A.C. Moore. The mat retailed for about $14.99, and with the 50% off coupon only cost me $7.50. Joann Fabric also sells the 18" x 12" size matt for $14.99. If you are on Joann’s mailing list, they frequently mail coupons good for 40% off one item. Their website often offers discounts on Olfa products.
Summary
I love my Olfa cutting mat. I would not hesitate to buy another Olfa mat in this size or any other size. The mats have proven durable and are a must for this quilter. I highly recommend them.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Olfa North America
33 South 6th Street
Terre Haute, IN47807
Toll-free Phone: 800-962-OLFA
Please read my other reviews:
Olfa 18mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa Rotary Cutter Replacement Wheels – all sizes
Olfa 4-pack Mini Weights with Organizer
Olfa Weights
Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table
Horn of America Sewing Chair
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Ott Lite Flex-Arm Plus True Color Lamp
Keepsake Quilting Online Store
Joann .com Fabric & Craft Store
Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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