The newest addition to my quilting room is this little cutting mat:
This was one of the items in the #SewSampler box I won last month. To be honest, I didn’t think I would find much use for it. I thought it was too small, and I have two tables in my room that each have a large 24″ x 36″ mat on them. I also have a 24″x 18″ size that hangs in the closet and doesn’t get used much.
But boy, was I wrong. (Some days it’s hard, but I can admit when I am wrong… 😉
This mat fits on the extension table for my sewing machine. Measuring 9″ x 6″, it is a great size for trimming small blocks like HSTs. It’s also perfect for paper piecing projects.
When I’m not using it, I can slide it under the extension table and it is out of my way.
I am finding this to be a valuable tool and I’m glad it was in the box. I never would have bought it for myself, and now I’m so happy to have it. I think it is definitely one of those things that you don’t know you need until you use it!
Do you have a tool you can’t live without?
I have a mat that size that I bought for sew days at my LQS but it does come in handy when trimming small blocks by my machine. I love the color of yours!
Isn’t it fun when you find something you can use and didn’t know you needed it?
Hmm…maybe I better get mine out of the box asap. I am missing out on using it.
I love my rotating mat. I treated myself when on a row by row trip with a friend.
I have a very small one too, I find it handy to put in my sewing box if I’m going anywhere and don’t need a big one. I have rotating mat, a gift which is lovely but I find the blue colour difficult to work on. I haven’t used a pink one, it looks so cute.
How cool that it tucks perfectly out of the way and fits right on top of the extension table, too. I’ve been using my wooden seam roller a lot more recently. It’s interesting how tool use evolves over time.
I was gifted a small mat and have never used it. I am going to pull it out and use it just as you are showing. My next project is paper pieced so this was very timely. Thanks for sharing!
A plastic 6.5″ x 2.5 “ruler that is clear, the grid lines are in red. It’s very thin and very flexible.
My favorite tool for trimming HST’s is a rotating cutting mat. Love it!!
One of the items that came in an earlier Sew Sampler box was Sew Easy Tweezers. I didn’t think I’d use it much either, but now I can’t work without it. 🙂