Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Wool Pressing mat-review

A few weeks ago I was given a wool pressing mat from Precision Quilting to try out and do a review on.  The first time I ever heard of and saw a wool pressing mat was last spring at the AQS Paducah quilt show.  I really didn't know what the fuss was all about and so many were buying them.  But as time passed I kept seeing and hearing all these good things.


So you can imagine how excited I was to receive this 100% wool mat from Jon at Precision Quilting. These mats are made using premium wool from New Zealand and are 1/2" thick.  I have been using it to make these crazy tree runners.  You can see there are many seams.  And look how flat my block is!

There are several good points to these mats.  One is that your fabric doesn't slide around like on a regular ironing surface.  The other they help to make your block flat.  That happens because the wool kind of reflects the heat back up toward your block so it is like it is heating both sides of the block at the same time, therefore helping it to be flatter.  But the heat does not go through the bottom of the mat, therefore you can put it on any surface.  You can even pin into the mat if you need to block a small project.

I like that the mats are totally portable.  I can't wait to try it out in the camper next year since I won't have to be careful of heat going through it while pressing my fabric/blocks.

There seem to be a few different brands on the market.  Some I hear have quite an odor at first.  This one that I was given does not.  It comes sealed in a clear plastic, when I opened it I did not smell a thing, still haven't.  I really am enjoying using it.  Thanks Jon!

Linking with Linky Tuesday Wednesday Wait Loss, Let's Bee Social, WIPand Mid Week Makers.


14 comments:

  1. This is good to know. I've seen these in the quilt shops, but they are a bit pricey. Now that I know they are good, I might have to consider getting one. Thanks!

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  2. That's good to know! I wonder if anyone makes a wool ironing board cover. =)

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  3. I agree that these really do make your block flatter, and I love that they come in varying sizes. I am hoping I get one for Christmas :-)

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  4. I love my wool pressing mat. The smell comes and goes, as does water marks. It's my favorite notion in the studio. Great block, btw!

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  5. I'm eyeing one of these too. I'd like to know what the downsides are, if any? I've heard odor, but I can live with wool. I'm figuring I shouldn't spray starch directly on a block while on the mat. Anything else?

    Thanks for linking this to Wednesday Wait Loss!

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  6. thanks for the review!
    I too have heard about them!
    thanks too for linking up!

    brooke@sillymamaquilts.com

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  7. Hi Vicki! I have been seeing a lot about these mats, and was wondering if I need to get one. Too bad they weren't in vogue when I visited New Zealand. But I wasn't really into quilting then! Thanks for the review. Happy Happy Wednesday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  8. I've been thinking about getting one of these, and your review might just push me over the edge! My tabletop ironing board is heavy and I lift it up onto the bed to use it, then take it down to use the cutting mat. Back and forth, back and forth. Something light would be a better option! So you think I could put it right on my cutting mat and the heat wouldn't go through?

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  9. I got a wool mat months ago and love it. I bought another small one for taking to class, but I butt it up against the larger mat to give me more mat surface. Now my ironing cover won't wear out because I use the wool mat. I got the larger one on Amazon for way less than other places and the small one is from Quilt in A Day, their brand which is less money too.

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  10. Thank you so much for the helpful tutorial. I've had my eye on these but haven't been convinced and just like Louise, you may have tipped the scales for me. Also, my ironing board is getting beat up and not as effective as before. Maybe this will be a gift to myself. You are so lucky to get one to try out and now we can all reap the benefits too!

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  11. That mat sounds quite intriguing. I like the idea of heat being reflected back, as my pressing board tends to absorb, heating whatever it sits on. I'll have to check out these mats - thanks for the info!

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  12. I have heard all kinds of good things about the wool mats. Will definitely have to checkthem out.

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  13. Thanks for sharing the info Vicki, sounds like it would be great to use!

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