Cutting & Measuring
Cutting Mat
A cutting mat is a sacrificial surface. Its soft PVC closes behind the blade so the same line can be cut again and again without a groove, and the printed grid lets you square a piece without measuring it separately. Without one, a rotary cutter blunts in a single session and the table underneath is ruined.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Sizes | A4 to A0, common A3 and A2 |
| Material | Self-healing PVC |
| Grid | Printed, usually 1 cm and 1 in |
| Angles | 45 and 60 degree lines |
| Thickness | 2 - 3 mm |
| Colour | Usually green or grey |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Healing | Closes after the blade passes |
| Life | Years of hobby use |
| Care | Keep flat, away from heat |
| Cleaning | Wipe, never soak |
| Grid use | Align the grain, not just the edge |
| Storage | Flat, never rolled |
Safety
The mat itself is safe, but it exists to make a sharp blade safe to use. Keep it flat and uncluttered so the blade never rides over a pin or a stray tool, and keep it away from heat, which warps it and leaves the blade nothing to bite into.
What it is for
A self-healing mat that protects the table and the blade, printed with a grid for squaring up.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Rotate the mat periodically so you are not always cutting the same groove.
- Align the fabric grain with the grid, not just the selvedge with the edge.
- Keep it flat; a warped mat lets the blade wander.
- Never iron on it — heat destroys the self-healing surface.
Related tools
Fabric Shears
Bent-handle shears that keep the fabric flat on the table while the blade cuts. The tool a tailor buys once and keeps for thirty years.
Rotary Cutter
A rolling circular blade that cuts multiple layers at once and needs a mat underneath. Fast, accurate, and unforgiving of fingers.
Quilting Ruler
A thick acrylic ruler with a printed grid and angle lines, used as the guide for a rotary cutter.