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Member since 10/31/13
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Posted on: 7/14/15 8:48 AM ET
I'd really love to get a plastic/self-healing cutting mat, but my budget is limited. What is the smallest size that I could get away with for cutting out apparel patterns? 36" x 48"? 40" x 60"?
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- Libby with a "y" not an "ie"
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Member since 2/19/04
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Posted on: 7/14/15 9:14 AM ET
In reply to LizJ58
Get the largest one you can afford. If it's not big enough for a pattern piece to fit on, you will have to slide it around under your fabric and that's just a pain and causes mistakes.
  
Member since 11/28/13
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Posted on: 7/14/15 9:30 AM ET
I agree, buy the largest one you can afford. I have a large one (don't recall the dimensions) and a couple of small ones that I use if I'm cutting out something small like cuffs. I can also use a small mat to cut necklines and armscyes while cutting the straighter lines with shears. I'm not worried about the fabric slipping because I always carefully pin the fabric.
  
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Posted on: 7/14/15 9:33 AM ET
So, it sounds like it's more about fitting most of your pattern pieces, than being the entire width and length of the fabric. So, do you cut around the piece first, and then trim with the rotary cutter?
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- Libby with a "y" not an "ie"
(People who know Richmond will get this!)
Visit my blog - http://www.creativecurvychic.com
"Sewing is not a hobby, it's a journey."

  
Member since 4/21/08
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Posted on: 7/14/15 10:48 AM ET
In reply to LizJ58
Do you have Tuesday Morning stores in your area? They periodically carry large white mats for around $35. Don't know the quality but they are the larger size that would be good for clothing layout.
  
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Posted on: 7/14/15 10:48 AM ET
In reply to LizJ58
Quote:
So, it sounds like it's more about fitting most of your pattern pieces, than being the entire width and length of the fabric.

Well, no, that's not what we said. Obviously, if you can fit your entire width and length of fabric on the cutting surface, that would be ideal, but not realistic. Unless you have a 10 foot long cutting surface. If you can't fit a pant leg on the cutting surface, you will have to move something around.

Quote:
So, do you cut around the piece first, and then trim with the rotary cutter?


Not sure I understand this question. When you say "cut around the piece," do you mean cut out the pattern paper piece, or rough cut around the pattern paper with the fabric?

I generally have made adjustments to my pattern pieces, so the paper is already cut to the right size.

I have been doing this so long and in so many different ways. When I first started using a rotary cutter to cut garment patterns, many vendors would tell you that rotary cutters were only for quilts - that you couldn't use them for garment sewing. Pssht. There wasn't too much information about technique so I tried different things and used what worked best for me.

My point is that there are no rules. You just do what works best for you. Try different things and find a happy place. I wouldn't even think about using scissors for cutting out a garment pattern now.
  
Member since 1/8/13
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Posted on: 7/14/15 11:00 AM ET
In reply to LizJ58
I have two 24"X36" mats that I lay together to form a 36"X49" mat (extra inch accounts for the extra around the edges). I have these on top of my Joann's cutting table. They do hang off the short edge just a bit which is annoying but it works.

The two mats together are large enough to lay out my bodice pieces. I'll cut with my rotary cutter then remove everything and move the fabric up to cover the mats again to do the sleeves, facing, etc. That size is big enough for one pants piece, then I shift again and cut the other but I'm short. It does mean a little extra time lining up the grain, but my cutting table isn't big enough to lay everything out on anyway.

I agree to get the biggest you can afford, but I wouldn't go smaller than 36"X48". I'd say the longer the better. Ideally, I'd want one the same dimensions as my table.
-- Edited on 7/14/15 at 11:02 AM --
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Fabric sewn in 2016 - 66.5 yds
  
Member since 3/8/11
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Posted on: 7/14/15 11:01 AM ET
In reply to LizJ58
You know what stinks? JoAnn had a 60% off notion wall coupon that expired on the 11th.

There are 50% off coupons right now.
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Diane L Wilson
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Member since 5/22/06
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Posted on: 7/14/15 11:39 AM ET
In reply to LizJ58
I agree with others above. Buying the largest cutting mat you can will be one of those sewing expenses you'll never regret. Perhaps take a little time to save a little more before buying it.

At one time, I had a 24" x 36" green gridded Olfa self-healing mat that I had bought nearly 30 years earlier. I loved it but eventually found it too small when I moved away from sewing my children's clothes and began sewing my own clothes again. So I tried the newer, larger gridded 3-piece 35" x 72" Olfa self-healing mat that I was happy to buy with a 50% off coupon at JoAnn. But I simply couldn't stand the toxic smell of the new one. No matter how I cleaned it per Olfa company recommendations, that smell wouldn't go away. They are apparently made with different materials now. So I returned it and did some research both here and other places online.

I learned about the Sewing Emporium mats in a discussion thread on PR and went to see them at a local sewing/quilting expo. I ended up buying their white gridded smooth non-healing mat that is 40" x 72", the full size of my cutting table. They make them in all sizes, though. They even custom make them to whatever size you need. Mine is one of their standard sizes. They ship if you can't pick one up at the store or a show. It's been a great purchase and worth the cost. And there's no smell whatsoever!

Edited to fix a typo.

-- Edited on 7/14/15 at 11:51 AM --
  
Member since 12/28/04
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Posted on: 7/14/15 1:02 PM ET
In reply to LizJ58
No, to me it's about fitting most of my fabric on the mat. Especially with knits since you don't want them hanging off the edge. I have the largest mat available, 4' x 8' I think and it's on a table that's 5'x8'. I love it, it makes cutting easier and I don't have to move anything. I can lay out 60" wide fabric in a single lay if I need to, I just use a scissors for the part that overhangs the mat. Or if well pinned I move it to the mat at the end. Save up your money and shop around since the prices do vary and there are sales.
I do not have the green Olfa mat and I don't remember where I bought it, but it was online. There is no name on it. It's not self healing but it is pinnable and I have found that to be fine. I had the last one for years before I got a larger table and bought this mat.
-- Edited on 7/14/15 at 1:07 PM --
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