JamieQ

I'm getting ready to order some Accuquilt Go! Mats (I bought the 2 1/2" strip die only to find out that different dies need different size mats! Argh!) Anyway, in addition to the 10 X 24 mat for my strip cutter, what other size should I buy? I'm probably also going to order the 5" square die-- does anyone know what size mat I will need for that?

You would think the places that sell the dies would list "needs 8 X 10 mat" in the die description so folks could just order both at once!! At least list the dimensions of the various dies! So frustrating!

PaperPrincess

If you go to the accuquilt site, you will see that they list the minimum mat size required for each die.

The quickest way to use your mat up is repetitive cuts in the same place. Use both sides of the mat, flip it end for end and try and position the die in different places on the mat. I just use 2 sizes of mats, biggest one, which you can use for any die, and a mid size one. You don't have to match the mat to the die. You can actually just buy the 10X24 size and use it for everything.

Groucho

We had this discussion in another thread, but you can cover just the shape(s) on a die you are using with a mat. Said another way, you don't have to completely cover the die with a mat. I saw Sharon Pedersen demo this technique in a video. Sharon is a talented author and designer who has designed dies for Accuquilt ("Rose of Sharon"). Sharon used the pieces from a mat that fell apart to cover just the portion of the die she wanted to use. IMHO, this is a great way to get extra mileage out of your mats. Love that Accuquilt!