The Cutting Mats

As you all know I have three worktables in my studio. The largest has a top 50" wide by 39" tall. I have a clear cutting mat that measures 36" x 48" that is attached to the top. The table is at an angle so five foot tall me can easily cut a length of fabric accurately and without straining my back. Since I use the padded mat on the floor, the angle needs to be adjusted. The back needs to come up. It isn't an easy thing to do, so I will wrestle with it another time. The other alternative is the front needs to come down, but too far down means I have to bend too far down, and that isn't any good either.

To keep the pin tin from sliding off (the table is at an angle, remember), I use one of my big clamps and a piece of plexiglass as a moveable "table ledge."

I use the big table for cutting big pieces and all strips. There is plenty of room to work. It is also handy for attaching binding to a quilt, and lining up long rows of blocks for pinning. There is a rolling stool underneath, but I use it only rarely.

I told you last week that my replacement mat had arrived. I have put it away. I'll bring it out when I need it. The pieces of the original mat have been lying on the studio floor for weeks, and I have been walking on top of them, hardly a good (or safe) thing. But I couldn't resolve that issue until I cleaned the studio.

 In the meantime, I planned to use the other piece on my small work table. I use the small work table to cut small things, or to work on my laptop, or draw out a design, or pin lots of small things together. The small work table is where I can sit to work. I never thought of how dirty that mat was until I cleaned the studio and cleared off the table. Yikes!

The new mats are 1/4" thick, and it took me a hell of a while to cut the excess off so it would fit on my smaller table. This is 29-1/2" x 42" inches. I have adhered it to the table with double-sided tape, and as you can see I stuck on one of the 40" stick on rulers. I use this table to cut small items, but not big WOF strips, so there is no risk of cutting this measuring tape.

I also applied a 24" tape to the edge of my sewing table. I used to keep a separate mat on this table, and it kept sliding around. I used the mat I bought as a "test" for this table. While I am sewing, it is nice to just pick up a rotary cutter and make a slice, if I need to.

Now all three work tables are covered with nice clean white cutting mats. Woo. Hoo!