Mat -
A self-healing mat is a necessary addition to any quilter's sewing area, especially when using a rotary cutter and rotary ruler. Self-healing is a somewhat misleading term, as the mats will eventually wear out, but a quality mat IS resistant to developing cut grooves or ruts.
Mats come in a variety of sizes, from small trimming mats to large 24" x 36" mats (and some manufacturers have even larger sizes!). Most mats are double sided, and have a handy measurement grid, making them dual purpose: a cutting surface and a handy measuring guide for cutting larger squares and strips.
Some folks favor the rotating mat, which is handy when cutting around templates or trimming up HSTs!
My favorite mat? I have found the Olfa mats to hold up well. See the bottom of this post for a link to two favorites - the traditional green Olfa mat, and a super pretty dark blue one! (yes, there are affiliate links at the bottom, which means if you click on them to purchase a mat, I get a small fee but it does NOT increase your costs at all - and I use it to help fund the maintenance of this blog and website)
Miter
A miter is an angled, fitted piecing, most commonly used in borders (but not always!), and usually a 45 degree angle. While a mitered border is a BIT more work than a blunt ended border, it can add a polished look to a quilt, and is very impactful when using stripes or border print fabrics. Framework, above, has a mitered border to make the most of that lovely large scale floral print.
Hesitant to tackle a mitered border? I have an easy little tutorial on my website for mitered borders. Try it with a small project first. Like most skills, practice will make it easier.
Visit Kate's blog to get her definition of measure and meander.
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