Tools Of The Trade – Part 2
By brenda | November 28, 2008
Continuing our look at tools of the trade, we will now look at cutting mats, quilter’s rulers, and scissors. There are a variety of available tools in this area at your disposal, so your choices can be quite varied. I’ve decided, at this time, to introduce the bare necessities. The only tool beyond the basics that I’ll be showing today is the rotating bottom cutting mat.
Cutting Mats – Your Rotary Cutter’s Best Friend
You will definitely need to purchase a good quality cutting mat. They come in different sizes. You will want to purchase one that is about 36″ wide. This will permit you a good amount of space to cut without it being too big.
In the above picture, there is a picture of my main cutting mat on the bottom and on top, a neat, nice to have cutting mat that has a rotating bottom. I’ve also shown a rubber blue mat that I cut to put under the rotating cutting mat to stop it from slipping on the surface it is put.
Your cutting mat should be self-healing. This basically means that it will heal after a cut. Do note that with repeated use you will start to cut grooves in the mat, but don’t worry, you should get at least several years of use. In my project to make the eighty quilts for charity, I’ve finally cut through my mat.
You must make sure to keep your cutting mat away from sources of heat, which includes direct sunlight. You will ruin your cutting mat if it is keep in a hot car in the summertime or if you try to iron on it. I have discovered that the mat is ruined almost immediately with an iron on it because the mat will swell and will leave a hump in it when it cools.
Your mat will need to have a grid on it to help you cut your blocks accurately. There is a new addition to the cutting mat realm. It is a cutting mat that is about 12″ square and it has a carousel mounted to the bottom of it. It’s a great addition to your collection when working on individual quilting blocks.
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