If you want to use rotary cutters on your quilts, you will need special mats to prevent damage to your blade and work surface. There are a few things you need to consider before buying rotary cutting mats. Some of
these things include surface, size, and thickness. This article will give you a few tips for buying rotary cutting mats.
Surface
One of the first things you need to consider when buying rotary cutting mats is their surface. You will have to choose between a hard or soft surface. Rotary cutting mats with a hard surface are more rigid, so the blade won't actually cut into it. Soft surfaces offer more flexibility. When the blade leaves behind small nicks and scratches, they will soon disappear as soft surfaces are described as self-healing.
Size
One of the next things you need to think about when buying rotary cutting mats is their size. In most cases, you will need to buy the largest mat that can fit your work area. You should look to buy rotary cutting mats that measure at least 24 inches. Larger mats will enable you to cut strips from your fabric much easier.
Thickness
You will also have to think about the thickness of the rotary cutting mats. Most mats are either two or three millimeters thick. Two millimeter rotary cutting mats will get cut more easily than the three millimeter variety. Most professionals use mats with a thickness of three millimeters.
Grid
One of the next things you need to look for in rotary cutting mats is a grid. This grid will help you to align your fabric properly. You should look for rotary cutting mats that have grid lines on all four sides. It's also a good idea to make sure that all of the lines should also be marked with numbers.
Color
One of the final things you need to think about when buying rotary cutting mats is their color. Some mats are designed to be reversible. These rotary cutting mats will have a light color on one side and a dark color on the other. This will give the option of choosing the best color to contrast with the color of the fabric that you're working with.
These are a few tips for buying rotary cutting mats. Hard surfaces will resist nicks and scratches because they are more rigid. You should look to buy larger rotary cutting mats so that you can cut strips from your fabric easily.
