The Magic Pressing Mat

This Magic Pressing Mat has been filling up in my Facebook newsfeed like crazy.

Yours, too?

So I shot the lock off my wallet and bought two (one of each size) from Amazon.

Here's what you need to know.

Can't stand the suspense?

Then just click here to read my recommendation and see if it gets my thumbs up.

Otherwise, let's start from the beginning.

Be mindful of the price you pay.

I paid $38.48 for the smaller version through Amazon in August, 2017. Since that time, the it has gone up in price for all sizes. Remember to check the 'other sellers' on Amazon for the best price.

It is roughly 1/2" thick—a uniform thickness.

It's not hard or rigid. You can bend it.

It absorbs heat like a sponge.

There's a bit of give to it as you press your blocks so that your seams have something to sink into.

How do you use a Magic Pressing Mat?

Simply take it out of the packaging. Place it on your ironing board. Start pressing.

Use steam. Or not.

Your choice.

The mat performs perfectly either way.

Besides flatter blocks, there are a couple of differences between pressing on this mat versus directly on your ironing board.

There's an aroma

To be honest, it made me rather nostalgic the first time I used it. 

Why?

I was a garment maker before I was a quilter—could sew before I could cross the street by myself.

Loved tailoring to be exact—made all my suits for work back when suits had big shoulder pads. (Ah-h-h-h! Those were the days!)

The mat smells like warm or steamed wool as you press. It brought back so many good memories.

Now, I was curious.

Would this pleasing-to-me aroma bother non-tailors?

Luckily, my bee-mates were happy to share their thoughts after using it at a recent 5-day Bee-Treat.

Some didn't notice the odor at all. Others noticed it only after I mentioned it. Some noticed right away but it didn't put them off.

A local store owner didn't care for the smell, but I believe she is regularly using the mat.

Aroma wasn't a deal breaker.

UPDATE: I've used the mats for over a year now. The wool smell is gone.

It's grabby!

It does 'grab' your blocks and patches as you press—a really big help when you're pressing blocks into submission. You can line up an edge of your block with your fingers and give a bit of a tug as you pull it square while pressing.

It grabs just as well as the flannel fabric that I usually drape over my ironing board during pressing. Unlike the flannel, however, it doesn't shift while I'm working. Sweet!

And it grabs much better than the Cut n'Press boards I've used before.

And it's not that much more expensive.

It holds heat and steam like a brick oven

Unlike the flannel, the Magic Pressing Mat holds the heat and steam like crazy. This gives your pressing efforts an added boost.

The heat goes all the way through the fibers, too.

That's why I only use mine either at my ironing board or on a protected surface.

In this photo taken at a recent guild retreat, you can see all the condensation that forms underneath the mat as you use it.

For instance, I would NOT set it directly on my self-healing cutting mat. Heat is your rotary mat's enemy.

I don't want to have to replace my cutting mats unnecessarily. (Although I happily got a new, designer colored one in RED - click here to see it—Love! Love! Love!)

If I'd done A LOT of pressing and was turning things off for the night, I might be inclined to lift the mat off the ironing board so that air can circulate overnite to help dry it thoroughly.

If I find myself doing that with any regularity, I'll come back and report here.

Magic Pressing Mat - Yay? or Nay?

Magic is right! Who would believe that something so simple makes such a big different. But it does.

Who would benefit from using a Magic Pressing Mat?

If you're a brand new quilter, there are so many other tools to buy. You can skip this for now. A good set of rulers and proper cutting tools are more important in the beginning.

If you're a sometimes quilter, again, you probably won't use it enough to justify the cost unless you have your full complement of quilting tools. Or your birthday or other gift-giving holiday is coming up and your peeps need ideas.

A sometimes quilter and garment-home dec-sewer, too? The Magic Pressing Mat can be used in these other sewing activities as well. You'll get double-duty.

If you're a regular quilter, or obsessed like me, and you have a full arsenal of tools and gadgets, then this magic mat is for YOU!

Definitely. Without a doubt!!!

What size to get?

The one I bought for this review is 12" x 18"—the mid-size version. 

Seriously. I was a bit put-off by the price on the larger one.

However, after using it at the previously mentioned 5-day Bee-Treat, I purchased the 14"x 24" from Amazon. The name changes a bit to 'MEGA Pressing Mat'.

If you are a regular quilter, I suspect you'll appreciate the larger size, too.

As always, stay within your budget.

An update to an update: Yep! They've come out with an even bigger mat—one that fits on a 20"x59" ironing board that I treated myself to the Monster Pressing Mat to fit it in May of 2019. 

I love it!

Is a Magic or MEGA Pressing Mat or a Monster Pressing mat in your future?