I am wondering is there a way to refresh your mat? I am having trouble cutting. I have changed the blade, and it helps some but it is like there is a spot on the blade that don't cut. I am wondering if it is the mat. I have used it for years. I mean used it! I love to quilt, so it is new put away. It lays on top of my Big Board at all times.
I thought I read once that you lay then flat in the bath tub and I don't know what you did next. I would like to find a way to keep using it. I have been told to flip it over. But then you loose the markings.
That was discussed a couple of week ago over on the Quilting Board. The person posting said to soak in lukewarm water and white vinegar for a 30 or so minutes, and then dry flat on towels or sheeting, keeping it out of the sun. Someone else said after they did this they also scrubbed the mat with a gentle brush to remove any residual fibers that might be stuck in the mat. Apparently that method works well on all but the older Fiscars mats. But not sure how old.
Here is the link to the thread discussing this. http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/refreshing-cutting-mat-t210862.html
The other thing is to turn the mat over. You won't have the grid, but I tend not to use it very much anyway.
I read on the internet somewhere that a quilter was telling how you should wash it in the bathtub and it will be like new. I guess they do get dry and brittle after some time. And this makes them supple again.
I never thought of washing my mat great idea. AS for the rotary cutter miss cuts I've experienced that too mostly when I have too many layers I'm trying to cut through.
Quilting My Rainbow
Is, i was told, awhile back, that if you are cutting a bunch of layers at once, it works much better with a 60mm ruler. If someone here can tell us if that is true, just speak up now.
The 60mm works better for multiple layers for me.
Mineral Wells, West Virginia