Uses For Old Cutting Mats

As a new quilter i was over attached to the lovely lines on the mat.

Uses for old cutting mats.

The only things i use the lines on the mat for are for lining the fabric up straight. A cutting mat should be made of self healing plastic which prolongs the life and improves the quality of the mat itself. High quality self healing cutting mats last longer than other. Using a clean unmarked surface will double the life of your mat and your blades.

I have used my cutting mat on the dining room table and when not in use i slide it between the table top and the pad no one even knows it s there. When your mat becomes nicked and worn in the area you use for cutting flip it around and use the opposite side or end. If i was not saving my old one for odd uses i would have to toss it in the trash. No one seems to want to recycle hard plastics.

Cutting mats eventually i wore out a cutting mat. For quilting and craft projects the use of a rotary cutter can make cutting pattern pieces faster and improve accuracy in measuring. To avoid excessive wear don t cut repeatedly in the exact same spot. You can t use a rotary cutter however without a cutting mat to guide your cutting lines and protect your work surface.

It s also nice to do your pinning and marking on a mat. Other uses for cutting mats. A cutting mat is a must for an avid craft lover or sewer. Since recently moving have misplaced a plastic cutting board.

Cutting mats are placed under the fabric to avoid damaging your work surface while quilting rulers can help you cut straight as well as provide precise measurements. Mats provide a sturdy surface for cutting fabrics and craft materials while protecting the table they rest on. I use my mat for lots of different things. Rotary cutters provide unbeatable cutting versatility and are best used in tandem with a cutting mat and a ruler.

When the place mat becomes too used just toss and get another. Absolutely i would use the other side before cutting it up. All the measuring is done with the ruler anyway. Went to the dollar store and purchased a plastic place mat not the kind that has foam on the back side and i use this place mat for any cutting of vegetables meats etc.