Pat Sloan's I Love To Make Quilts

Do you want to see why I love these... wool mats!

Next week our new Block Wednesday sew along starts.

Today I want to show you one of my favorite tools. I've been using the wool pressing mats for a few years and they are amazing for pressing my quilt blocks. 

I did a video below, and then listed the features I love after it. 

It's exciting to find a tool that works and you love. These wool pressing mats have been used in the sewing industry for many  years. My sewing friends use them a lot.  Now we have sizes made for how we quilters work! 

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The Features 

• 100% New Zealand wool
• 1/2" thick, so it blocks the heat from coming all the way through. It can be used on table tops. In my workshop the other day the ladies used them for all the patchwork right on the table. 
• A Very dense firm mat which I feel makes my blocks very crisp. I don't like a soft ironing surface
• You can pin into the mat, even block an item like embroidery or patchwork if it's not perfect (wink!)
• The wool material keeps your patchwork firm so it won't slip.
• Since it is wool, it does have a wool smell. I found after just a few days it was gone.  It will have a wool smell when you use steam. This does not bother me as I came from garment making and sewed with wool all the time.  

Buy a Wool pressing mats in 4 sizes 9 x 9, 14 x 14, 17 x 17 & 17 x 24 

I'm using my Oliso Iron .. CLICK to see my Video & FREE SHIPPING + a 20% Discount 

CLICK for CLOSED Caption option at Youtube

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Did you know you need to clean your rotary cutter when you change the blade?

FIRST...

Did you miss my announcement of the next Block Wednesday?

CLICK HERE for Winter Fun! Details

You can either call this a public service announcement or 'Reality Quilting'.. either way.. I'm about to show you real life happening right in my studio.. are you ready?.. it might get a little.. scary....  But.. it's necessary...

Sometimes we just do NOT take the time to be sure our tools are in the best condition. You are cutting with your blade that you KNOW is dull, it is hard to push, it must have a nick because you are cutting places it missed, and you .. just.. keep .. using it... 

DISCLAIMER -- names have been changed to protect the innocent.... I believe Sofia did this.. right here in my studio.. let's see what happened... 

After numerous times of the blade not cutting all the places I ... I mean..Sofia decided to take a look.. maybe change that blade even!

Being a very careful quilter she has a container of OLD blades and NEW blades clearly marked.  

This Olfa rotary cutter is BRILLIANT as it takes all the guesswork and frustration out of changing the blade. 

1. Turn it over and slide down that yellow part so the screw holding the blade on is now free
2. let the blade with the cover drop to the table and then turn it over
3. OH MY... horror!! 
4. There is a THREAD MAT in those grooves
5. I needed.. I mean... Sofia needed to get a needle to pry all the dust out

Next you will dump off the old blade and put a new one on that cover

BUT.. be sure you clean the crud off there too!!  

ewwwwww this is a dirty job!

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Now the BRILLIANT part continues!

Just lay the handle on top of the blade and cover, the screw goes back into place

Slide the yellow holder UP to hold in the screw

You are ready to rock and roll!!! New Blade, Clean Rotary cutter!

How often do you find yourself doing the same thing as Sofia and I? 

Now do yourself a huge favor and buy one

• Purple ones HERE, Aqua HERE, more sizes HERE. They may have a slightly different blade changing
• New blades, of course! Get those HERE!
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