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!
Article continues below this Ad
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
43 Responses
How did you make a tinfoil mat? I just got my wool mat, yes i could use it on the ironing board, but was looking for options. Saw comments that it can ruin wood, my work table is wood.
for some unknow reason I have stopped receiving your daily posts. can you please update my email so I can get your great emails. thanks so much. love you and your great projects and tips.
It doesn’t protect a dining room table either….. I didn’t like that table anyway.
I have one from Amazon, made by TORISING. It’s a little thicker – about 3/4″ and has some kind of barrier in it because nothing gets thru it!! It’s firm, and not very expensive. 12 x 18…. I’ve got others that are just wool, about 1/2″ thick, and I’ve used craft glue and stuck a piece of flannel backed vinyl tablecloth to one side to control the heat going thru – it works well!. No matter what wool mat you use, you’ll love the results!
I had the same with moisture coming through onto my table top and I wasnt using steam either.I had a piece of meltica board in the garage so put it on top of that.
I have been considering purchasing one but unsure how it handles the over spray of Best Press. On my normal cotton and wool blanket covered board next to my machine, the over spray eventually causes the cotton cover to look brown and dirty (then I just take it off and put on a new one which is very simple & cheap to do). I wouldn’t want to ruin a wool mat – so would like opinions please if anyone has used a starch type spray on theirs.
I have one and I love, love it! It sits by my sewing machine and I can press my seams as I sew without getting up…love it!
I made a tinfoil mat to put under mine and use it right next to my sewing machine. Love it. Can’t wait to start Wed.
Been there, did do that.
I have the large mat, I love it! I use it on my ironing board, sometimes I use steam, sometimes dry, and I’ve been known to use a spray water bottle too! It really does make my blocks flatter and crisper, I highly recommend!
I do love the mat although I did have a problem with my steam iron. It was hot but not steaming and actually scorched the mat. Lesson learned. Now I just use my non steaming iron.
I have a wonderful son who ordered me a very large piece of 100% wool mat from his supplier. He is a leather craftsman and also makes saddle pads. When he ordered it the supplier said right away,”Oh you have a quilter in your family” and knew exactly what he was looking for. He was able to cut a piece the size to cover my whole ironing board and five more large squares. I was able to share with other dear quilter friends. I am so blessed to have him as my son. Loved your tips and suggestions.
My husband bought me one at Christmas and I love love love it!
I bought one too, and I have it on my ironing board. I love it.
I love my wool mat! My cat does, too! He just rolls around on it and goes to sleep. I can’t smell any “smell” but I always use a dry iron.
I love these wool mats. I have a tiny one & a couple of larger ones. I don’t have the giant size as I have no where will it will fit. Recently there was a discussion on some quilt-related page about people using their wool mats ON TOP of their cutting mats. That’s a no-no unless you want to warp your cutting mat. This seem to occur mostly when people used steam as the moisture was absorbed right through the wool mat & settled on the cutting mat & that’s hot steam! I certainly suggest you don’t do that. Both mats, cutting & pressing, are not cheap by any means!
Love my wool mat.
Love my wool mats. Have an ironing board 60 x 20 made by husband.
I covered them with washable white canvas for protection when i use starch or sizeing.
I do the same, Linda. Easily removed when I want to iron something, but the wool mat is the best pressing tool ever! Love it.
Thanks for that info Cathy, I just ordered my first one today, I’ll be sure and keep it on my ironing board
Love my wool mat. It’s on my cutting table so it saves the space my ironing board used to occupy.
I have one for my ironing board and I love it.
Is she a sheep dog? Lol-couldn’t resist!
I bought the brand you recommended and I really love it. I have the 17″ x 24″ size and it is on my ironing board. It is great for piecing blocks and is perfect for pressing wool applique blocks. I press from the back and the wool applique sinks into the wool instead of being flattened on a regular ironing board.
I have a wool pressing mat and sorry to say I can’t use it because my dog goes crazy barking at it the whole time because of the smell. I even used it in basement and she was upstairs and still barked her head off. Anyone have any ideas how I can get rid of smell so she doesn’t think a sheep is going to attack her. It is a good quality expensive matt too.
Rochelle
I have the New Zealand wool mat also, and I love the results it gives me. It has improved my blocks a lot. The New Zealand wool doesn’t have a sheep smell, but also, don’t use steam, just dry press or spritz with water.
That may or may not have happened to me too! Sigh.
Yes, CathyE, you are correct,it will warp your cutting mat! Fortunately for me it was an old mat – I cut off the warped piece & use it for squaring up blocks.
I see people in videos using their mats on their cutting boards and I cringe! I keep mine on my ironing board and love it!
I have the big girl size and LOVE it (same brand). Worth the price
I love my wool pressing mats.
Oh I totally get the cat! My husband says I just need to buy her her own wool mat! LOL Really??
My cat hangs out on the ironing board—she did a number on the mat with her newly acquired claws (cannot get trimmed until the vet opens) so not using the mat for a while 🙀🙀🙀
Since they are pricey, it took me a while to spend the money to buy one, but I’m glad I finally did. I don’t use steam and I’ve not had any issues with my mat being “wet” on the bottom. I have limited space so I have it sitting on a wooden tray table to the right of my sewing machine so I can press as I need to as I sew.
I have three different sizes of the wool mats. I love using them. I take the smallest one to quilting classes and my quilting circle. The other 2 I keep at home to use. I also use the small one when I travel and take a project with me.
I love my wool mat. I put it on top of my cutting/ironing to go board and the table top doesn’t get wet.
I bought the large one awhile back. I had it on my laminated sewing cabinet to the left of my sewing machine. I really loved it, the way everything was so crisp. But…when I picked it up (I use steam on my patchwork), there was moisture on my sewing cabinet. So, I returned it. And bought a smaller one that fits on my ironing board.
Curious…has anyone else had an issue with moisture forming underneath the ironing mat?
I bought an 9×9. Loved it but too small. Now have the 17 x24. Awesome. Worth every penny.
I have one and would not be without one!
I have one and love it!
Cathy E…me, neither😄 I have smaller mat and love it!! Thinking about upgrading to the larger mat.
Make sure your cutting mat is not under the wool pressing mat! It will definitely warp/ruin the cutting mat😩. (not that I’d know personally…)
I have one and I really like it. It does a good job of helping to get a really flat block. I do have it on my sewing table which is laminated. But o don’t use steam. If I want to use steam (which I rarely do) or use spray (water or Best Press) i use my ironing table which is really big and fits over one end of our pool table.