I saw an ad for a discounted wool pressing mat and I thought I’d get it and see if it was as good as they claim to be. After just a day … I do think the seams lie nice and flat and I kind of wish it covered the whole big board. For now, I’ll use it a bit and decide whether a larger one is worth the cost.
Do you use one? I’ve read mixed reviews but I’m leaning toward the “worth the money” camp.
I don’t have one myself, but have heard to never use steam/water when pressing. Unless you like the smell of wet dogs that is ….
I have one and I love it! It does smell at first but that goes away. I use steam and best press on mine without problems.
I have had one for a few years and use primarily for wool applique. I do spritz my fabrics for wool applique and have not noticed a smell. Perhaps another brand would be different. I also like to use it by my sewing machine for pressing as I go. Mine is a bit larger than yours so it works out great for that and to take with me to retreats.
So for me, yes. It is worth the cost. In fact I have purchased a couple more to give as gifts to friends who also do wool applique.
I have two of the wool mats. I bought the larger size to cover the top of my rolling vintage microwave cart. My first one worked great, the second got singed. Have no clue why that happened. My friend told me she puts a pillow slip over her mat so I have too, not sure I will continue with that idea. I love my wool mats, I do see a big difference. I do not use spray of any kind near the mats.
I am very pleased with my wool mat. After the first week or so of using it, I no longer notice a smell which has been noted by others as a drawback. My seams and blocks are nicely flattened. Recently, my mat was discolored when I dry pressed fabric that had been starched during the cutting process. Most of the brown marks washed out with Dawn and light hand washing. However, the mat took two days to dry. Boy, did I miss it then!
I have a small mat that I have on a dinner tray table and I have a bigger horse pad – yes I got on that bandwagon. The small one no longer smells, but the horse pad smells pretty bad. If the smell does go away I intend to get a second one and cover my big pressing surface because I like the way it works so much.
I have a small one and it does work. But moving it on and off my ironing board means I forget to use it most of the time.
My hubby surprised me with the big one for my birthday last year, and I LOVE it! I was a little leery of they hpe too, but for once, I think it’s definitely worth it.
I had read that you can just buy a felted wool “horse blanket”, but I’ve been to multiple horse supply businesses, but it seems that they all use synthetics now, so you’re kind of stuck – unless you can find a coupon for one.
Thank you all for the recommendations for the wool mat. I too have been circling trying to decide on the mat and size. Now with a coupon I shall get one and prepare to enjoy pressing my blocks!
Hi Mary! I got one of these for Christmas, and I agree with you. It also doesn’t have any scent or smell, which other people have complained about. I love it so far. ~smile~ Roseanne
I bought an inexpensive one too just to try it and I really like it…now I wish I had gotten one bigger as well!! I do smell an odor when I use steam but it’s not overpowering at all. I might splurge at some point to get a bigger one but for now I’m happy with what I have 🙂
I love my wool pressing mats and use them exclusively. I use a larger one either on my ironing board or on my counter top and have a smaller one on a small folding table next to my sewing machine for smaller projects. I do not feel that there is any distortion when pressing blocks with intricate seams. There is not any discernible odor. I highly recommend them 🙂
I’ve been using one for about a year. I keep it on the table next to my machine and use a smaller iron. I use steam regularly and do notice a little smell, but the difference in how my blocks press is worth that small thing. The steam doesn’t go through the mat to the table top, so no harm done. I got mine on sale on The Quilt Show website. Well worth the cost.
I am sticking to a small one. Cost and storage are my limiting factors but I can do a good job by doing a 12×18 area over and over until a whole top is done. Blocks just seem to fit on the small one and joining seams is easy enough.
I have several small ones, and just got one that fits most of the top of my ironing station. So far, I’m LOVING the larger one. Found a good deal on line from somewhere at only about $60 for the large one. It’s not as THICK as my smaller ones, but just as effective. I think the wool really helps to make your seam lay flatter. The real trick is to not move the fabric until it’s cooled. Thinks that were once straight can become distorted if you move them around while it it still hot. You’ll have to let us know what YOU think. I’m sold, though👍👍.
I don’t know if it is as good as the wool mat sold in quilting stores, but some people are buying wool horse blankets at the feed stores. It’s large and inexpensive.
I have two sizes I bought from Missouri Quilt Co. Love them but use the smallest the most since I do a lot of small piecing. My large one for some reason smells like a wet dog when I use steam while using it. NOT a pleasant smell!! I use steam most of the time so thank goodness I am happy with my small wool mat.
Had a discount code from Jo’s country junction, but still was pretty prizey. Well I love it and it is worth every penny it cost. Bought the large size first, liked it so much I purchased a small also. Switch the two back and forth on my ironing board depending of what I am working on. Best investment quilting wise, I ever made. Oh, and mine does not have any odor to it at all even using steam.
Thanks for bringing up this topic. I keep seeing them and wanting them… must now actually find one, preferably on sale! And thanks to all your readers who commented too — helpful info. I wonder if I could make a fake one by sewing some heavy wool together and then felting it….
Oops… I hit a key too soon — my website was listed as the application site of the rescue group I volunteer for… I’ll try again with this comment!
I liked the small one so much I bought a 1/2 in 24 x 72 for my big ironing board. It is pure heaven. If you need to know where let me know. The best $130 I ever spent. Last weekend I had 200 pillowcases to wash and iron for Children’s hospital. Done in a flash.
Well, I am always seeing something new that because the newest and bestest thing to add to stitching tools. I don’t usually jump on it. I’ll be interested to know after you have had it for a while if you think you can’t live without it.
xx, Carol
If you seriously want a larger mat check out https://www.statelinetack.com/item/mustang-square-wool-pad-liner/SLT901243/
30 x 30 x 1/2 is $23.54 (minus shipping cost). Other places are Jeffers Pet and Valley Vet Supply. I first purchased a smaller pony pad, then a larger 30 x 30. Reviewers on StateLine Tack are saying they bought the pad for quilting and ironing, they love it. Mine gets covered with a thin tea towel when using. Hope this helps. Cheers !
I’ve seen these! They look and feel pretty cool!
A friend of mine gifted this wool mat to me last month on my birthday and I am very pleased to use it. Check it out if any of you are interested. It comes with 2 teflon sheets and an iron rest pad. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FF3MVSZ/ref=cx_skuctr_share?smid=A3FC5JJ13HVUJJ
Did your smell? I got mine at state line several months ago and it still smells like livestock. I do not use steam or water.