Blog — cutting mat

Do you have a small sewing space? Or maybe your only cutting mat is a teeny-tiny one and you’re wondering how on earth you’re supposed to cut big pieces of fabric on it?

Even I sometimes work in a small space when filming videos for my Quilt With Kim YouTube channel, so I know exactly how tricky it feels at first. But don’t worry; with a few simple tricks, you can cut big fabric pieces on a small mat with confidence.

If you’re new to quilting, you’ll quickly learn that your cutting mat, rotary cutter, and quilting ruler are the three tools you’ll reach for the most. But here’s the thing: there are so many different cutting mats out there that choosing one can feel ultra confusing. So, let me save you the guesswork.

This blog comes from a brilliant question by one of my YouTube subscribers, Denise. She asked:

“Why can’t I just use the lines on my cutting mat for measuring? They’re there for a reason, right?”

It’s a great question, and one lots of quilters wonder about when they start. The short answer is: cutting mats are for cutting on, not for measuring with.

Let me explain why.

I reached out to the very top, the folks at Olfa Japan, where high quality mats are made, to get the lowdown. By the way, their advice applies whether you’re using an Olfa or any other brand of cutting mat.

So if your cutting mat is starting to look a little tired or you’re not quite sure how to help it last, don’t worry - I’ve got you covered.