I have been having problems with cutting lately, feeling like my blades just weren't very sharp even when brand new.  Then I decided to try turning my cutting mat over.  geesh!  It was so smooth and easy to cut, didn't have to press down hard at all!  Duh, now I wonder if I should go back through my old blade container and try some of those again.  It is the little things....

Good thought.  I may have to try that.

Yea, a worn at really is hard on your blades!  I’ve worn out several mats.  At work we go through them like crazy!

In the process of purging and cleaning my sewing room, I scrubbed the top of my large cutting mat, let it dry, then flipped it over.  I have not flipped it back and like you said, it's like cutting thru butter!!  However, I do struggle with the measurements being backwards.  Have you had that problem?

Mary in Michigan

I don't typically use the measurements on my cutting mat though I do sometimes use just the straight lines.  Mine doesn't have any lines on the back at all and it feels kind of weird.

Mine is plain too, but I can see thru it (it's white) and see the backwards numbers and the lines.  So I can use the lines, but I have to train myself not to use the numbers - I already cut a few things wrong last week.  I will admit that I also cannot do paper piecing - that whole back to front flip thing is not something my mind can get around!

Mary

Brilliant!  Thanks for the recommendation!!

Mary, I would like to offer a suggestion based on years (decades) of experience of rotary cutting.

Those white mats are death to rotary cutting blades for the kind of work that quilters do. I read this in a magazine article long ago that the white cutting mats are designed for dress makers to use for their fashion work because they are pinnable; pattern pieces can be pinned in place, etc.

Of course I do not have that magazine article on hand but there was a series of articles printed over the span of a year about threads, needles, scissors, cutters, etc. and ratings were given for various topics like mats and cutters, etc.

A rotary cutting mat is a self-healing mat and the white mats are not sold as self-healing.

I have one of those white ones and I do agree with Judy in Ohio.  I had a lot of problems getting clean cuts even though I had purchased it at a quilt show.  I still use it when I have something big (it's 72" long) but otherwise I have personally found the green ones a bit better.  Just something to keep in mind when it is time to replace the one you have, you might try borrowing someone's green one to try it out.  Assuming your white one is like mine - you can put a push pin in it.