If you’re a quilter, sewer, designer, art designer, photo cropper, or craft enthusiast, you will agree with us when we say that self-healing cutting mat is the unsung hero of a quality craft or design project.
This mat provides an excellent work surface that yields quality results while preventing your cutting tools (blades) from dulling quickly and protecting your furniture or work surface from damage.
Top 5 Self-Healing Cutting Mats:- OLFA Self-Healing Rotary Mat
- Fiskars Rotating Mat
- OLFA Folding Cutting Mat
- Dahle 36x48 Large Cutting Mat
In this post, we have gathered the best self-healing cutting mats for sewing, quilting, and other crafting projects and explore their durability, quality, and ease of use to help you make the right choice.
Not interested in reading the whole review? Check the list of the top products below, as well as their top features and benefits.
- Easy to read measuring grids on both sides
- High quality, smooth cutting surface
- Long-lasting durability
- Durable and accurate
- Large size for all your cutting
- Protects work surface and lengthens blade life
- Mat surface built to last longer than others
- More accurate cutting
- Cutting star or triangle shapes are easy
- Shields working surfaces
- Suitable for storage and travel
- Heat-welded three-layer construction for long life
- Large size 36x48-in, extremely durable
- Screened inch, metric, and angled guides
- Versatile use of both sides of the mat
- Portable cutting & pressing station
- Folds easily in half with handles for carrying it
- Gridded mat plus a non-stick pressing surface
- Ideal for cutting paper on any surface
- 3 mm thick mat
- Dual-sided usage of either black or green mat surface
- Non-slip bottom for stability while cutting
- A one-inch grid for accurate cutting
- Protects work surfaces from cuts and scratches
- Double-sided mat with inches and centimeters
- Pre-printed grid & angle guide for designs
- 100% Moneyback Guarantee
Best Self-Healing Cutting Mat Reviews of 2024
#1 – Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
- Durable and affordable
- Bias lines and measuring grid on both sides
- Lifetime warranty
- From our survey, some customers complained of its harsh chemical smell
Feature Highlights
If you’re looking for the best self-healing cutting mat for home sewers and quilters or a top-notch self-healing rotary cutting mat for your craft projects, then this Fiskars self-healing cutting mat might be perfect for you.
The mat is very easy to use, comes with clear marking on a neat and easily noticeable surface and measures 24″ x 36″ which is large enough to provide plenty of space for your cutting needs.
The cutting mat is double-sided with accurate measuring grids on both sides for metrics, Inch, and angular measurements to give you a mistake-free cutting.
This Fiskars self-healing cutting mat is durable; its double-sided feature allows you to switch to the other side when the first side starts becoming wary – thus providing you with two mats for the price of one.
Its accurate angular measurements of 60, 45, and 30 degrees with the Inch and metric measurements are very helpful when cutting dozens of DIY crafts or cards of the same size and make the creation of star and triangle shapes a pleasure.
It lies flat on the table for a safe and accurate cutting task and comes with a lifetime warranty, which makes it one of the best self-healing rotary cutting mats on the market today.
Product Details:
- Extra-large surface provides enough space for your cutting needs
- Double-sided with easy-to-read measuring grid for double usage
- Accurate 60, 45, and 30-degree bias lines make creating star and triangle shapes a pleasure
- Size: 24″ x 36″ (also available in 12″ x 18″ and 18″ x 24″)
- Color: Grey
- Thickness: 1/8″
- Warranty: Lifetime
This Fiskars self-healing cutting mat is durable and has a large space that provides legendary cutting performance for sewing and quilting projects.
If you want a reliable self-healing cutting mat to save your surface, cut larger sizes of craft and enjoy precise measuring then this is it.
#2 – OLFA Self-Healing Rotary Mat
- Affordable, durable, and easy to read
- Measuring grid on both sides
- Accurate and easy to use
- Bad chemical smell
Feature Highlights
If you are looking for a durable self-healing rotary mat that is great for quilting, sewing, cutting out patterns, rotary cutting, general crafting, scrapbooking, and more, then, the Olfa self-healing rotary mat might just be what you need.
This Olfa cutting mat features a triple-layered heat welding technique for durability, which makes it one of the best quality self-healing rotary cutting mats on the market today.
It measures 24 x 36 inches, which is wide enough to let you do all your cutting tasks for DIY sewing and quilting tasks with ease.
The gridlines have clear angle markings of 30°, 45°, and 60° for precision cutting for delicate tasks like making accurate bias strips, cutting squares and triangles, while its solid side is for general cutting.
This large rotary cutting mat is 1.55 mm thick to protect your work surface and give you a smooth worktable while lengthening the life of your rotary blades.
It also has double sides, which means you are paying for one mat but getting two, thus, giving you a good bargain for your money.
Product Details:
- Broad cutting surface that lets you do all your work efficiently and accurately
- Double-sided usage with a measuring grid that is easy to read
- The grid lines of 60°, 45°, and 30° to enable you to do tricky tasks easily
- Size: 24″ x 36″ (also available in 6″ x 8″, 12″ x 18″, and 18″ x 24″)
- Color: Green
- Thickness: 1.55 mm
- Warranty: Lifetime
If accuracy, ease of use, and durability are all you need in a self-healing cutting mat, then this Olfa self-healing rotary mat will serve you well. It is highly recommended!
#3 – Fiskars Self Healing Rotating Cutting Mat
- It is portable
- Ideal for DIY Quilting
- Lifetime Warranty
- One-sided mat
Feature Highlights
The Fiskars rotating self-healing cutting mat is excellent for cutting out fabric squares and will enable you to square off large quilting blocks up to 12 to 12.5 inches faster and in a more convenient way. You could also cut out applique pieces by applying the rotating cutting mat.
This mat is safe and easy to use and makes your cuts more accurate since you move the mat instead of the fabric you are cutting—the mat measures 14 inches x 14 inches, which is just adequate for your quilting projects.
What’s more, is that the mat’s surface is built to last longer than others.
This top-rated rotating cutting mat includes a self-healing mat with an easy-to-read measuring grid and bias lines that make the precise cutting of shapes simple.
The accurate measurement of angular lines of 30°, 45°, and 60° makes cutting star or triangle shapes easy and more accurate; this made it one of the best cutting mats for quilting and all your DIY crafting projects.
The mat comes in grey color and with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty out of the box.
Product Details:
- The mat rotates to let you cut squares of fabric at easier angles
- Single-sided mat with easy-to-read measuring grid
- 30°, 45°, & 60° bias lines help you to make triangle and star shapes easily
- Size: 14″ x 14″ (also available on 8″ x 8″)
- Color: Grey
- Warranty: Lifetime
Although the Fiskars rotating cutting mat is one-sided, it is easy to use and will enable you to cut fabrics more precisely. This product will be a good buy as it also offers a lifetime warranty, which shows its manufacturer’s trust in its ability and durability.
#4 – OLFA Self Healing Folding Cutting Mat
- Foldable
- Easy to transport
- Precise and easy to read measurement markings
- Just a one-sided mat
Feature Highlights
Looking for an attractive and durable cutting mat that is convenient to carry and use?
If yes, then the OLFA folding cutting mat has all these attributes and more, which is why it ranks among the best portable folding cutting mats in the market today.
The mat comes with a very smooth surface in lush green color with the printed measurements and grids in yellow, making it easy to read and use.
It is 2.5 mm thick and built with heat-welded three-layer construction technology for amazing durability, improved cutting, and to protect your work surfaces.
It features a 17-inch x 24-inch size, wide enough to provide you with a durable cutting surface for your sewing, quilting, and crafting tasks.
Also, its self-healing capacity enables it to reseal surface cuts to prolong the life of your cutting blades.
You can travel to quilting classes and retreats with this mat as it folds in half for convenient travel or storage.
Despite being folded, it will provide precise measurements for all your cutting tasks, which makes it a reliable folding cutting mat for sewing and tackling other crafting projects.
This mat has an additional size of 12 x 17 inches design, and it is easy to clean just by soaking it in water.
Product Details:
- Compact foldable mat for easy storage
- Protects surfaces and it is easy to read the markings near the gridlines in yellow
- 30°, 45° bias lines help you to make triangle and star shapes easily
- Size: 17″ x 24″ (also available in 12″ x 17″)
- Color: Green
- Thickness: 2.5mm
- Warranty: Lifetime
OLFA Folding Cutting Mat is durable, folds in half for easy transportation or storage, self-heals, protects your cutting blades and work surfaces and is convenient for your quilt class or retreats. What more would you require from a convenient and durable cutting mat?
#5 -Dahle Vantage Self Healing Cutting Mat
- Very durable
- Dual-sided with inch, metric and angular measurements
- 5-layer PVC construction for superior self-healing
- Many different sizes for various projects
- The mat is heavy
Feature Highlights
The Dahle Vantage Self-Healing 5-Layer Cutting Mat is another reliable and durable self-healing cutting mat that is perfect for sewing, rotary cutting, drawing, and cropping photos and other crafting tasks.
The Dahle self healing cutting mat offers five layers of PVC construction. The 1/8″ thick PVC construction provides exceptionally durable protection over your work surfaces and gives your cutting tools a more extended life.
This professional-grade cutting mat is double-sided and comes with screened inches, metric, and angled alignment guides of 45° and 60° for the accuracy of your cutting projects.
The mat is a versatile and perfect work tool for Art Professionals, Architects, and Photographers.
The Dahle Vantage mat comes in 5 different sizes to fit various quilting and crafts projects. If you want to buy a large self healing cutting mat that you can use as a table top for your cutting table, the 36″ x 48″ size will be a great choice.
It is available in three colors: black, clear, and blue, with a screened ruler dimensions of 34 x 46 for sizing your work.
The manufacturer offers a 90-day limited warranty for defects in manufacturing, materials, and assembly.
Product Details:
- Screened ruler for easy sizing
- Dual-sided usage, and work surface and tools protection
- The 60 and 45 degrees, bias lines to align your work precisely
- Size: 36″ x 48″ (also available in 9″ x 12″, 12″ x 18″, 18″ x 24″ and 24″ x 36″)
- Color: Black (also available in Blue and Clear)
- Thickness: 3mm
- Warranty: 90-days
The extra large self-healing cutting mat Dahle Vantage provides a good value with its versatility, superior durability, precise measurement markings, and double-sided features. This made it the best self-healing cutting mat for quilters, crafters, DIYers, and professionals.
#6 – Omnigrid Fold-Away Portable Cutting/Pressing Mat
- Fold-away portable space-saving mat
- Durable and affordable
- Clear easy to read grid lines
- From our survey, some customers complained that it is heavy.
Feature Highlights
If you need an affordable cutting mat for your quilting and sewing tasks, then you could consider the Omnigrid Fold-Away Cutting Mat.
This cutting mat from Omnigrid is not only a cutting workstation but also a portable pressing station for sewing tasks.
The mats measure 12 x 18 inches and come with visible grid lines in yellow markings that make it easy to read. You can use its other side (the non-stick ironing surface) for trimming and pressing foundation blocks and cutting templates.
Due to its usefulness, this mat has become one of the best fold-away cutting mats for quilters in the market as of today.
The protected ironing surface on the other side allows you to do away with ironing boards as the ironing surface is 13″W x 19″H and 3/8″ thick, so you do not have to worry about damaging the surface you placed it on.
The space-saving Fold Away mat is safe to use, and the flat two separate surfaces combined open measurement is 26-1/2 x 19 inches.
Besides, this Omnigrid cutting mat is ideal for quilting classes as it folds easily for travel and storage and comes with a Velcro closure to keep it securely shut when it is not in use.
Product Details:
- The combined measuring surface is wide enough to do your quilting and pressing side by side.
- Double-sided usage with clear yellow markings to guide you
- The grid lines help you to align your work more accurately
- Size: 12″ x 18″
- Color: Green
- Thickness: 1/4″
The Omnigrid fold-away cutting mat is a durable and portable cutting/pressing workstation. Apart from its weight (3 lbs.), this cutting mat is a great and valuable space saver that is affordable and easy to transport and store.
#7 – Alvin Professional Self Healing Cutting Mat
- Durable and affordable
- Double-sided mat and usage
- Clear and visible grid lines
- It has only metric markings
Feature Highlights
Alvin Professional Self-healing Cutting Mat is an inexpensive cutting mat that is geared towards professional crafters, architects and DIY enthusiasts.
This professional self-healing cutting mat is 12 inches wide x 18 inches long and features a non-stick surface that makes it perfect for your cutting needs.
The mat is dual-sided and comes in green and black color to enable you to differentiate between the mat and the item you are cutting if they are of the same colors.
The mat’s self-healing technology and its 3 mm thickness help to protect your furniture and other work surfaces from damage and prevent your blade from getting dull too quickly.
Alvin self-healing cutting mat comes with grid lines of 45- and 60-degree angles for more accurate and precise cutting.
The white color marking on the mat is visible on either side of the mat, this made it easy to read and use.
Product Details:
- Non-stick measuring surface
- Double-sided usage with bright white markings to guide you
- 45° & 60° bias lines for aligning your work more accurately
- Size: 12″ x 18″
- Color: Black and Green
- Thickness: 3 mm
The Alvin professional self healing cutting mat is affordable and will give you the best value for money. The mat performs well for cutting and excellently protects working surfaces.
#8 – X-ACTO Self-Healing Cutting Mat
- Affordable with an adequate cutting area
- Self-healing mat withstands sharp X-Acto knives repeatedly
- Clear light blue markings of the grid lines on a grey background
- From our survey, some users complained that the size is not as described
Feature Highlights
The X-ACTO self-healing cutting mat is another perfect mat for craft cutting and scrapbooking. The mat features an 18 x 24 inches size and has a real measuring area of 16″ x 22″ with a 1″ margin on all the edges of the mat.
This mat is available in translucent white and opaque grey colors, and the space it provides is ample enough to handle most of your cutting tasks without any difficulty.
This translucent cutting mat features a one-inch grid pattern that lets you line up and measure materials to make accurate cuts.
The gray translucent with the grid markings and numbers are very easy to read and does not strain the eyes.
Its non-slip bottom keeps cutting area steady during the whole period of craft cutting or designing thus, saving you a lot of time for other tasks.
Product Details:
- Non-slip bottom keeps cutting area steady throughout cutting sessions
- A one-inch grid pattern to line up materials for accurate measurement
- Visible light blue markings for precise reading and cutting
- Size: 18″ x 24″
- Color: Grey and White
- Thickness: 1/2″
The X-Acto Self-Healing Cutting Mat is ideal for crafting, scrapbooking, and all types of hobbies. It is affordable, durable, and features a non-stick bottom, which is a plus.
#9 – ARTEZA Self-Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
- Double-sided mat for dual usage
- Durable and long-lasting
- Made from Eco-friendly material- that is non-toxic
- Some users complained of a minor chemical smell coming from the mat
- It has only inch markings
Feature Highlights
If you need an affordable, high-quality, and easy-to-use cutting mat that can tackle any cutting task, look no further than the ARTEZA self-healing rotary cutting mat.
With this mat, you can cut an array of fabrics for sewing, arts and crafts, school, and work projects, that is why it qualifies as one of the top self-healing cutting mats for fabrics.
The mat features a 24″ x 36″ inches size and is triply layered for toughness (3 mm thick). It comes with metric and angular gridlines (75°, 60°, 45°, 30°, and 15°) to make measurements, and cutting more accurate.
Apart from tackling cutting tasks, the mat is also ideal for tracing, sewing, folding, gift wrapping, and creating custom designs, this makes it a multipurpose cutting mat for crafters.
Besides, it is easy to clean and roll up for easy storage and transport.
The material used for manufacturing this non-warped cutting mat is Eco-Friendly; thus, making it a non-toxic cutting mat.
The surface is non-glare and easy to read, and as a quilter, you can use it in all types of lighting conditions, its non-slip surface keeps items firm while you cut.
Product Details:
- Non-glare surface makes markings easy to read while the non-slip surface keeps items firm while you cut.
- Triple-layered for durability to protect your knives and work surfaces
- 75° 60° 45° 30° and 15° angular markings for accurate measurement and cutting.
- Size: 24″ x 36″ (also available in 12″ x 18″ and 18″ x 24″)
- Color: Grey and White
- Thickness: 3 mm
- Warranty: 100% Moneyback Guarantee
ARTEZA self-healing rotary cutting mat is versatile, durable, and affordable, non-toxic, offers dual usage, and has more angular measurements guide. In essence, these make it a good value for your money.
#10 – Savina Foldaway Cutting and Pressing Mat
- Constructed with durable A-grade PVC material
- Smooth Surface Ironing pad
- Foldable feature with tabbed closure and carrying handles
- From our survey, some users complained that the carrying handles make your cutting and pressing surfaces uneven.
Feature Highlights
The Savina Foldaway Cutting and Pressing Mat is a portable quilter’s workstation that is perfect for sewing, embroidering and DIY crafts.
The mat features a size of 18 x 12 inches and comes with highly accurate grid lines for block planning and cutting with precise measurement. It comes with markings on both surfaces; to make your craft projects more manageable and less taxing.
This inexpensive folding cutting mat features a durable A-Grade PVC Material construction and three layers of self-healing compound that automatically reseal after you cut it.
It stays flat on your work surface and displays inches of measurement and many pattern marking guides for quick measuring and line-up.
The other side of the mat features a non-stick pressing pad, which is great for ironing, for pressing fabrics such as quilt blocks, clothing pieces, or embroidery, and prevents any damage to the surface beneath due to its high-density material construction.
The mat comes in a gift-ready box created by SAVINA, ready for gifting to anyone you choose. It is also perfect for traveling as it has a foldable feature with tabbed closure and carrying handles.
Product Details:
- Cutting mat with pattern marking and shaping guide and a measuring grid in centimeters and inches on both surfaces
- Dual usage with accurate gridlines for block planning and a non-stick pressing surface
- Does not damage the surface beneath as you press with the ironing pad
- Size: 18″ x 12″
- Color: Green and White
- Thickness: 3 mm
- Warranty: 90 days
The Savina Foldaway Cutting and Pressing Mat is a handy, inexpensive dual-usage mat with a pad for ironing, embroidery, or DIY quilting and cutting. It folds well for easy transport and storage; this makes it one of the best foldable cutting mats for travel.
#11 – American Crafts Pink Self-Healing Cutting Mat
- Durable material
- Double-sided for dual usage
- Beautiful pink color
- From our survey, some users complained that it contains a harmful chemical
Feature Highlights
American Crafts self-healing cutting mat is a durable, double-sided mat that is perfect for your crafting activities. It is large (18 x 24 in size) and comes in a stylish pink color that is hard to miss on your worktable.
This pink cutting mat is built with durable premium-quality material to enable it to maintain its self-healing capability each time you use it.
The ultra-thick surface prevents blades from cutting through the mat and prolongs its life. The mat comes with clear marking and gridlines in white on a pink background, which stands out and makes cutting, measuring things, and drawing straight lines extremely easy and accurate.
This flexible cutting mat for crafts is acid-free and made of archival-quality material to prevent staining and deterioration over time.
It is versatile, has a total cutting surface of 17 by 23 inches, and will make your scrapbooking simpler and more well-organized.
Product Details:
- Cutting mat with a measuring guide grid in centimeters and inches
- Dual usage with accurate gridlines for drawing straight lines easily
- Displays inches measurement and gridlines in white color
- Size: 18″ x 24″
- Color: Pink
- Thickness: 0.1″
This double-sided cutting mat from American Crafts is versatile, durable, and perfect for your crafting projects. It is also stylish and easy to use – a more why we recommend it.
#12 – Crafty World Self Healing Cutting Mat
- Strong and durable - lasts 10x longer than ordinary cutting mats
- Double-sided and dual-usage
- Non-slip base to save time
- From our survey, some users complained of a slight chemical smell and advised that you should clean the mat with vinegar and water before use.
Feature Highlights
If you are looking for an ideal quilting cutting board for your rotary cutter, then you should consider getting a Crafty World Self-Healing Cutting Mat.
It measures 12 x 18 inches and comes with a perfect sewing fabric cutting board that doesn’t slip when you are using it.
The mat features the highest quality materials and standards with grids printed on both sides to double its life and prolong its usability. It lasts 10x more than regular cutting mats, which makes it a reliable self-healing cutting mat for quilting.
Since both sides have gridlines, you can use both for cutting, crafting, and lining tasks, thus, giving you two mats for the price of one.
The mat is 3mm thick to protect your work surface; its visible grid line is available in centimeters, inches, and angles (30, 45, and 60 degrees) to help you tackle your crafting tasks more precisely.
It has a contemporary green color, a non-slip base, and comes in three different sizes.
Product Details:
- Clear and visible grid lines
- Dual usage with accurate gridlines for drawing straight lines easily
- Bias lines of 30, 45, and 60 degrees enable you to do more detailed and precise cutting or craft projects.
- Size: 12″ x 18″ (also available in 9″ x 12″, 18″ x 24″ and 24″ x 36″)
- Color: Green
- Thickness: 3 mm
- Warranty: Lifetime
The Crafty World Self-Healing Cutting Mat is versatile, flexible, and has a non-slip base with easy to read grid for more accurate cutting. We recommend it for all crafters, quilters, and hobbyists.
#13 – ZERRO Self-Healing Cutting Mat For Crafts
- Double-sided mat for dual usage
- Accurate cutting with precise alignment
- Resealable Mat and protection for work surface
- From our survey, some users complained that it is not suitable for cutting polyester lining
Feature Highlights
ZERRO Self-Healing Cutting Mat is a professional double-sided non-slip rotary cutting mat for scrapbooking, quilting, and sewing.
This durable self-healing cutting mat measures 24 x 36 inches, which is large enough for all your quilting projects and can serve as an excellent gift for hobbyists and crafters.
ZERRO manufactured this 3-millimeter-thick green cutting mat from the highest quality materials for quality and durability. The mat comes with 1/8″ marks for precise alignment as well as 30°, 45°, and 60° guides to enable you to line up accurately.
Its dual grids (double-sided feature) allow you to use one surface and change to the other when one side is full of cuts.
The mat has a pre-printed 1/2-inch grid to enable you to get the sizes of paper for your craft accurately.
With this mat, you have a 100 percent unconditional guarantee for a lifetime from the manufacturer and swift customer services, which means that you’re going for nothing short of quality.
Product Details:
- Clear grid lines and pre-printed ½” grid for picking the correct paper size
- Dual usage to prolong the usability and life of the mat
- Bias lines of 30, 45, and 60 degrees for precise alignment on your cutting tasks.
- Size: 24″ x 36 ” (also available in 24″ x 18″, 18″ x 12″, 12″ x 9″ and 18″ x 24″)
- Color: Green
- Thickness: 3 mm
- Warranty: Lifetime
ZERRO Self-Healing Cutting Mat is perfect for completing small, medium to large projects. It is double-sided, gives you accurate cutting, and offers a lifetime warranty and prompt customer support.
#14 – US Art Supply Professional Cutting Mat 24″ x 36″
- Dual-sided usage to prolong the usability and life of the mat
- Professional quality mat with a non-slip backing
- Available in different sizes, up to 40
- From our survey, some users claimed that the mat does not lay flat, and its size is smaller than they advertised.
Feature Highlights
If you’re looking for a good cheap self-healing cutting mat that is suitable for scrapbooking, quilting, sewing, and other art and craft projects, then the Professional Cutting Mat from US Art Supply might be all you need.
The mat measures 24 x 36 inches and comes with a double-sided, durable 5-Ply self-healing premium construction that will protect your work surfaces and not dull your blades.
It is easy to use and comes with a non-slip, non-glare surface that will let you use the mat without wasting your time.
The mat also has 1/2″ grid with 1/8″ marks for precise alignment and 15, 30, 45, 60, 75- and 90-degree angular measurements for cutting diagonals and making precise angular measurements.
The mat is suitable for rotary blades and utility blades and offers professional quality with a full 10-year replacement warranty.
It is also available in extra-large sizes 40″ x 60″ and 40″ x 80″ which would be perfect for you if all you want is a large cutting mat for sewing tables so that you can cut long patterns easily without moving the fabric.
Product Details:
- Double-sided mat with visible grid markings on each side.
- The 1/2″ grid with 1/8″ marks are there for precise alignment
- Bias lines of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 angle guides for accurate cutting.
- Size: 24″ x 36″ (also available in 40″x80″, 40″x60″, 36″x48″, 18″x24″, 12″x18″ and 9″x12″)
- Color: Green, blue, and black
- Thickness: 3 mm
- Warranty: 10 years
US Art Supply Professional Cutting Mat is a quality reversible extra durable 1/8-inch-thick mat with 5-layer premium construction, built to withstand rotary blades and utility blades. It performs well and offers a full replacement 10-year warranty, which removes doubt about the product.
Self-healing Cutting Mat Buyer's Guide and FAQs
What is a Self-healing Cutting Mat?
“Self-healing” cutting mats are manufactured from tiny pieces of materials pressed together to produce a hard-cutting surface.
When you use a rotary cutter to cut material on the mat, the blade goes between the small pieces of the mat material and separates them without cutting into the mat’s surface as a whole unit.
After making the cut, the area closes back together, and hence the term “self-healing”.
What are Self-healing Cutting Mats Made of?
Most self-healing mats have a solid plastic core with various layers of other plastic materials. This solid polyethylene plastic usually contains a tiny soft layer of vinyl on the surface of the mat.
When you remove the blade from the cut, the vinyl layer will appear to heal itself.
What Size Cutting Mat Do I Need?
The size of the cutting mat you need depends on the type of work you do and the cutting space you have.
While some sewers like to have a designated cutting space as part of their work area, others prefer to cover their entire workspace so that they can cut anywhere.
Remember, most quilting materials are 45 inches wide, so having at least a 24-inch mat is good so that you can cut the folded fabrics without stopping and adjusting their position.
However, we recommend 24-inch-wide mat at least and larger mat sizes (such as Dahle Vantage 36″ x 48″ Cutting Mat or US Art Supply 40″ x 80″ Mat) to accommodate both large and small cutting tasks that you may have.
Where to Buy a Self-healing Cutting Mat?
The best place to get a self-healing mat will be directly from the manufacturer’s website.
However, you can also get these mats from popular retail online shops like Amazon.com, Walmart.com, eBay.com, and from a host of other online shops that sell arts and craft materials.
Which are the Best Self-healing Cutting Mat Brands?
There are many brands of self-healing mats, but we will list a few reliable brands that offer some of the best self-healing mats on the market today. They include:
- Fiskars: Founded in 1649, Fiskars has grown to be a top living and functional product company, which is a remarkable portfolio. It promotes self-expression and achievement by focusing on innovative, easy-to-use tools that make crafting, cooking, and gardening more enjoyable.
- Dahle is a reliable company that focuses on creating innovative products for professionals to make work-life tasks easier, safer, and more efficient.
- OLFA is a Japanese brand founded in 1656 and focuses on the manufacture of utility knives, snap-off blades, rotary cutters, and other innovative tools that make its customers’ life easier. Their line of cutting mats is also durable and reliable.
- Omnigrid is a family of cutting and measuring products. The brand provides quilters, sewers, and avid DIYers with unraveled accuracy and quality with their line of innovative and easy to use products.
- Alvin has been a reliable drawing supply and drafting tool choice for professionals for over half a century. Founded in 1950, they have continued to produce quality tools that help bridge the gap between innovations and ideas at a fair price to its customers.
How to Clean a Self-healing Cutting Mat?
To clean your cutting mat, scrub gently to remove any loose threads that get caught on its surface.
Then soak the mat in a bathtub or large container that will keep your mat flat. Add a solution of ¼ cup white vinegar for every gallon of cool water and allow it to remain there for 15 to 20 minutes. Ensure that the water is cool because warm or hot water will make the mat twist.
Add a little drop of dishwashing soap and scrub the mat surface gently with a soft brush. That will remove any straggler fiber that is trapped in the cut on your mat’s surface and prevent it from self-healing.
After cleaning, dry the mat with a towel or place it on a flat surface and air dry it.
Can You Iron on Self-healing Cutting Mat?
No! Do not iron on your mat or place hot beverages on the surface.
Also, you must not leave it in a hot car, near a hot surface (a heater or such), or in open sunlight. The heat will make the mat twist or bend.
However, you know that some fabric cutting mats come with ironing pads or boards, so be conscious of the type of mat you have and act appropriately.
How to Repair a Self-healing Cutting Mat?
Most self-healing cutting mat makers insist you cannot repair one when it spoils.
But you can rehydrate or moisturize it when you see there is no moisture on it. A dry mat could develop cut marks.
To moisturize it, soak the mat in fresh water at room temperature for one hour. Then bring it out and allow it to dry, and your mat will be as good as new.
Repairing a warped mat is simple. Do not allow it to twist or bend at all. For you to achieve that goal, follow the rules below.
- Lay the mat flat, do not lay it on its edge. You can place flat objects like books on it to even it out.
- Never iron the mat
- Do not pour food or drink on it
- Do not set hot food or drink on it
- Do not place it near a heat vent
- To store it, keep it flat below the bed or sofa or on your worktable.
Conclusion
We hope these self-healing cutting mat reviews have shown you an array of the best self-healing cutting mats for sewing, quilting, arts and crafts projects that are available in the market today.
While there are other self-healing mats on the market, we recommend the products mentioned above for architects, quilters, sewers, and crafters due to their ease of use, durability, accuracy, and performance.
Now that we’ve furnished you with the features, strengths, and weaknesses of the best self-healing mat on the market today, it’s high time you considered your options and selected one that meets your specific needs.
