cutting mat on plywood (SQ episode 2/28/2008)

It sounds like a great idea. It would save all sorts of problems with mats going wavy or bendy. You could store them in more positions. I'd like to store mine stood on its side but it tends to sag over time, so I have to store it flat. Glued to plywood I would stand it on end with no worries. And you would have more freedom of surfaces to use it on. I use mine on an extendable table, and I always have to check that I haven't accidentally laid it across the join in the table, as it causes a noticable "kink" through the cutting mat. If it was glued to plywood I could lay it where I wanted.

Melanie: All good points. I wonder about the weight though. What other material would serve same purpose, and be light weight?

PAT, awake too early >> On Simply Quilts today (2/28/2008), Alex was

I have some super spray adhesive, and a mat I never use, that was given to me. I will try to do this today, and report back.

John

Thanks John. I'd love to be able to store mine on edge, too, so I'll be most interested to see how it works. . In message , John writes

Cool! I'm eagerly awaiting your report! What I found on the marthastewart website said was to use 3/4" plywood. She cut her plywood down to the exact size of the mat, but Alex Anderson had her wood slightly larger than the mat. Both of them put a handle on the side so it would be portable.

-- Anita --

On my recent flight to California, they had in-flight TV and I had my own screen in the seat back in front of me. I was pleasantly surprised when they showed episodes of DIY and one of them was a Simply Quilts show. How I miss them!

Wow! 3/4" ply? I know 1/4" ply would probably warp, but ... ...? Tell us which you use please, John. . In message , Irrational Number writes

1/4 inch plywood isn't too bad... especially if you are talking a small - medium mat. Alex recommended contact cement. I would also add felt to the bottom so the plywood could be used on any surface without worry of scratching the surface you place it on.

Howdy!

I've been sliding the cutting mats in-between a large cupboard and the wall, for years. The medium and medium-large mats are just fine, no warping... so far. It's a tight space, no room for the mat to flop or fold; the mat slips behind the large cupboard (on edge) and disappears. Now if I could just train it to wipe the dust off the baseboard back there... . ;-)

R/Sandy

LOL! I agree, Sandy!

But, what a good idea. i wonder if it would work on a warped one? i have an old Olfa with a corner that is bent. hmmmmm. the felt idea seems good too. gotta try this with my little cutting board.

amy in CNY

Ah-ha! I'll see if I can get them behind the bookcases (no cupboard on a wall unfortunately). Great idea, Sandy. . In message , Sandy Ellison writes

But but...if you do that then you only have one side to cut on! Depending on what I'm doing sometimes I use the other side... (and for storage I just slide it under the couch near my sewing table).

Allis> On Simply Quilts today (2/28/2008), Alex was

Of course you use the other side ... you paid for it too! PAT, applauding the voice of practicality, in VA/USA

Howdy!

There's a large, "stair-step" cupboard/chest against one wall in the dining room (my favorite sewing place), not fancy but similar in size & profile to this:

...the larger mat lives behind it; the medium-size mat slips easilybehind the 4'-tall old barbershop cabinet, snug up against the wall.Each of these cabinets/cupboards is a substantial wooden piece w/ lots &lots of doors and drawers. I love it! ;-D R/Sandy -- creative solutions ... or "whatever works!"

That's beautiful, Sandy. I've never seen anything like it. I'm going to see what I can arrange, in my little room! Thanks for the picture - it'll stick in my mind. . In message , Sandy Ellison writes

That stair step piece is a classic of Oriental design. I have seen many of Chinese and Japanese origin. They might not hold a lot of things, but what they do hold, they do with style. There is a type of nest of boxes that is Japanese. I love those and have considered making a set, one of these days; whenever that is.

John

Omnigrid makes a portable workstation. It opens like a book and one side is cutting board, the other pressing board, and it has handles for easy carrying. Debra in VA See my quilts at:

Please don't do what my friend did. She got distracted and cut her fabric on the pressing surface. Good bye pressing surface, but the cutting surface was still fine. Donna in Bellevue

I've been debating that, too. I also found an online place that sells a cutting mat brand Alvin and I considered getting a small one that fits on a clipboard... I have the 7x7 Omnigrid one... I just have to decide what size to get.

I want something that fits in my laptop bag that is now my quilting bag. The 12x18 would not fit, even though that's the size I want!

-- Anita --