An Honest Review of Wool Pressing Mats
A while back a friend asked me what I thought about wool pressing mats. Say what now? Unbeknownst to me, a wool mat was my friend's favorite notion. And I thought I knew her! Also, what is a wool pressing mat?
Quiltketeers, you know I love trying and buying new sewing notions, so of course I immediately snagged myself one of these fuzzy mats and after a year of using it I can finally give you an honest review.
If you like to sew, I can make a pretty accurate assumption that you love texture. You’re the kind of person who slowly runs your hands over your friend’s new velvet cushions and skims a finger across a pretty ceramic vase in a shop window. You can’t help yourself! To experience something you must touch it.
Even though we quilters love the feel of other fabrics and textures, most of the time we play it safe when it comes to the fabrics we choose for a quilt – lightweight cotton being the fan favorite. But what if I told you that you can have your cake and eat it too? Or, in this case, have your cotton and funky texture too? The fabulous texture I’m talking about is wool.
Get my wool pressing mat here! The quilt featured in this post is the Reflections Wall Hanging & Pillow Extension pattern. Get it here!
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A Quick Detour Into Some Sheep Facts...
My wool knowledge is pretty baaaaad (as are my jokes) so I asked Instagram for fun facts about sheep and interesting qualities of wool. What I really wanted to know was WHY WOOL? Why would ironing fabric on a wool surface be any better or different than using the regular ironing board I’ve always used.
As for my sheep trivia, I’m now flush with knowledge. Did you know the wool of a domestic sheep will grow forever? In Australia a sheep was found roaming about and after being sheared, she was 89-pounds lighter! Since just ONE pound of wool can make 10 miles of yarn, that means 890 miles (or 1,430 kilometers) of yarn came from our fuzzy friend!
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What Makes Wool Special?
But what do these sheep factoids have to do with quilting, you ask? Honestly, nothing, but they were too good for me not to share! What is relevant are the amazing qualities of the wool that’s getting sheared off these sheep. Those qualities are why I think wool pressing mats might be worth the hype.
1. Wool pressing mats magically iron both sides of your fabric.
The main selling point of these mats is that they magically “iron both sides of your fabric at the same time.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I never iron both sides of my fabric, so this selling point wasn’t selling me. However, once I got a wool pressing mat, I realized what that meant.
Because wool is an amazing insulator, it absorbs heat and then quickly releases it. That’s how a mat is “ironing both sides.” Which, actually, is kind of awesome! If you have a wad of wrinkled fabric fresh from the dryer, using a wool pressing mat will cut your ironing time in half without scorching your fabric.
2. Wool is an insulating fiber which means a wool pressing mat cuts pressing time in half.
Wool is also able to absorb a lot more moisture than a synthetic fabric before it feels wet. This quality is really great if you like to come in hot with the steam setting on your iron. Remember that texture we all love? Well the fuzzy feel of these mats helps grip your fabric so it doesn’t slip around.
3. The mat's fuzzy texture grips your fabric in place.
Some may say that to get really flat seams, all you need is a hot iron and one of these wool pressing mats. However, I would disagree. I’m still a proponent of using a wooden tailor’s clapper to get the flattest seams.
Now you may ask, "Would it be overkill to use a tailor’s clapper on a wool mat?" Not at all! These wool mats give you wrinkle-free fabric, but a tailor’s clapper is still the best way to get crisp seams that stay crisp through multiple passes through a sewing machine.
Wool Pressing Mat Cons
It’s obvious these mats have their benefits, but what about the cons? I’ve got two. They aren’t deal breakers for me, but they are worth mentioning.
1. It's hard to find large wool pressing mats.
The first con is the sizes available. It’s really hard to find a mat large enough to press a standard yard of fabric. My mat is only 17" x 24". A big selling point for them is that they allow you to be mobile, but let’s get real, I don’t need to be that mobile. My sewing room is my favorite place on earth.
However, I do like to set this little mat up next to my sewing machine and then become very immobile...possibly for hours as I sit to sew and press. I actually recommend this product specifically when making the Grow quilt pattern because of all of the strip piecing.
Last week I filmed an Instagram LIVE video, and during that time I mentioned my disappointment with the small sizes of these mats. One of you piped into the comments that there is a company selling wool pressing mats large enough to fit a standard ironing board. Oh la la!
After some internet sleuthing, I found Project Wool. This company has 20" x 50" mats as well as customizable mats for sale. So now that I know where to get a large wool mat, maybe I just have one complaint then...
2. These mats don't smell great. In fact, they can get a little stinky.
My other con may seem silly, but it’s a turnoff – the smell. These mats smell like a barn floor. They won’t stink up your house, or even your small enclosed sewing studio, but when they get hot, and especially when they get steamy, they smell baaaaad.
Maybe over time my mat will smell better? Maybe if I continually use scented spray starch I can mask the odor? Only more time will tell, but I'm not that hopeful.
I’ll leave you with one last fact, contrary to popular belief, sheep are extremely intelligent. So if someone calls you a sheep for buying a wool mat, take it as a compliment!
Do you have a wool pressing mat? What are your thoughts? Does yours kinda smell too??
Yes, I have a wool pressing mat. I also used to have a LOT of sheep long before sheep’s wool was ever used for making pressing mats. Yes, when wool pressing mats get damp from the steam coming from your iron, they smell like wet sheep. It’s a small price to pay for having a great pressing surface. It also takes me back to those years of owning sheep.
A great source for cheap wool mats measuring 30”x30” is State Line Track. Search Mustang wool mat. They cost about $25 each. They are a tan color. They are pads used under saddles. They work just as well as the expensive grey mats. Neither the grey nor the tan mats have ever smelled when I use them.
I just got a wool mat and made a kid quilt using it. The manufacturer said to only use a dry iron, no steam! So without steam it took longer to iron. Good to know steam is ok? I prefer this to my ironing board.
My wool mat has no warning on the label about avoiding steam. Based on my knowledge of wool, I don’t know why steam would be a problem (aside from increasing the smell.) The only thing I can guess is that some wool mats are felted with other materials that would not react well to steam. My mat is 100% wool, however, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
I purchase all my wool mats from Wooley Felted Wonders. They also sell the sheet that I am now using under all my mats, keeping my tables from warbling.
I love the mats and now really love them due to the sheet underneath!!
Marsha Mach
Covered In Threads Retreat Center
Puyallup, WA
I had the same experience you did. I bought my Ecoigy “pure New Zealand wool 14×14 mat through Amazon. I’m returning it because I can’t take this barnyard smell and I sure don’t want my quilts to smell like it!
I’ve had my wool mat for awhile now and have used steam…even though the instructions say not to. I haven’t had a problem with melting or odor.
Which one do you have Mea Cadwell?
Here’s the one I have: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N5JCKVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Go to Amazon and copy/paste this: 12″ x 14″ Quilter’s Pressing Pad – 100% Wool Ironing Mat, Provide Professional Results for Quilting Projects
For some reason it won’t let me put in a link
I really like using my wool ironing mat, but when I began using steam, that area of the mat turned yellowish and left a difficult residue on my iron.
ew! Oh no! I wonder if your mat was a wool blend. Does the label say 100% wool?
Same with mine! I think it’s the glue holding the layers of the wool mat seeping out with the heat and steam!
I purchased a mat but was unhappy with the limited pressing area. Now I use an old wool Army blanket folded in half. I iron on a reclaimed conference table (raised by bed risers) with a laminate top. The blanket convers the entire 30×60 table top.
Yay! now I know what to do with the old but still good old Army (WWII) blanket when I cleaned out my mom’s house. And I have a Civil War Blanket too from a great great uncle. Thanks for the idea.
So glad you mentioned wool blanket. Just gave two or three wool arm blankets to thrift store as they had a few moth holes in them. Wish I had seen this soon.
I bought a horse blanket at a farm supply store. 36×36, $30. It does not smell. Never did. I do not use steam, spray or starch on it.
Thanks Maureen! Just ordered one. Hope it works well. Love the large size.
Such a great idea and they are USA made! Wonder if it could be cut in half though? I don’t need that large of a mat.🙂
Have you tried Alpaca fiber pressing mats? No stinky odor. Wicks away moisture. Needle felted & compressed.
The price must have gone up. As of today, August 8, 2020 they are listed at $31.99.
I have one of these too, but this version is not as felted as the sewing ones, and it’s a bit hairy and is getting hair on my quilts!
OHMYGOSH that is a fabulous idea! I just look at them and they look to be just as think. I’m sure they’d be durable too because they’re made to go under your saddle. thank you, Maureen! 🙂
I bought one of these and LOVE it. I love horses and the smell of the wet wool reminds me of coming into the barn with all those saddle pads. I do not think it’s a problem. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the tip! I just ordered one, hopefully my daughter doesn’t steal if for her horse!
Come in two colours: tan and grey on sale at the moment $28.70 plus freight I am guessing (there is a blue one too, but not sure it is exactly the same) https://www.statelinetack.com/item/mustang-square-wool-pad-liner/SLT901243/
AND forgot to say, that must be the right one comments/review at bottom say ‘use as a quilt mat’. The blurb on them says … needs to be aired due to smell LOL
I bought one and some black melted onto my iron! I don’t know why!
That’s so weird! It must not have been 100% wool.
Me too! I just wrote the manufacturer to see what the problems is, wondering if I should have gotten a different brand??
Mine too
Mine too, I used the scented starch although there was never a smell. Don’t think it is 100% Wool. I threw mine in the washer with the wool setting and it came out fine, just took a bit of time to air dry
When you press on the wool mat does your quilt blocks smell of sheep?
Not in my experience.
I use Flatter spray and my mat smells like a sheep but with Yuzu undertones. Very pleasant. I have three or four scents. My problem is that I love steam and I had my table sized cutting mat under my wool mat. You can guess what happened next. Yup! My mat is warped like hills and valleys! I ordered another which will arrive tomorrow. Moral of the story is: even long-time, professional quilters learn new things!
So what is the best surface to place the wool pressing mat on? I had it on my cutting mat and was able to rescue it when I saw it was warping. Or is the trick not to use steam?
The best surface is your ironing board. If you want to move it around, you can place it on top of a folded towel. However, even with a towel as a buffer, I wouldn’t use it on a cutting mat or wood surface.
My “sewing table” is a collapsible plastic banquet table from Lowe’s, and I definitely warped it when I first got my wool mat. So I made myself a small ironing board from plywood based on Lori Holt’s tutorial on YouTube. That way I can put my wool mat on top of that right next to my sewing machine.
I have had a wool mat for a year now. It has not smelled at all. I think it depends on where it comes from. I keep my covered w a pillowcase as I starch & this way I can change the case when needed. I’d be lost without the mat
I, too, use a pillow case on mine for keeping starch out of the wool mat and to keep from scorching the wool (again).
Great idea of a pillow case!
I also use a pillow case on mine. I wondered if the wool mat might stain and transfer over to my quilt material eventually if it wasn’t covered and changed once in a while??? We change our ironing board covers when they are stained as I have had some transfer over to a piece of material.
I noticed that I should cover my mat as soon as I bought it. I purchased a couple of plain white cotton pillowcases for that purpose only. One to use and a few back ups while others are in the laundry. It works for me
I like the wool pressing mat because it is handy to have right beside my machine, but wool needs a lower iron temperature than cotton so I have scorched it in a couple of places!
We actually raise sheep! We have been keeping (and milking) dairy breeds for several years now, and just recently added some other breeds to the flock! The milk is excellent for yogurt making 👌 and I am *hoping* to get some good use out of the wool this year from our new wool bread sheep! Dairy sheep have wool, but it is very coarse (i.e. wouldn’t make a nice soft yarn). Hmmmm… a homemade wool mat??? Perhaps? Oh, and they smell bad, probably worse than your mat. It isn’t something you notice outside… just when the milker comes in with a pail of fresh milk and smelling… um, not so fresh. 😁 (Male goats are worse, much worse, so no complaints about the sheep. You can smell a buck goat belonging to the neighbor down the road. 😤🤢)
Wool bread? What does that taste like? 😄
My cousin owned a couple of goats. We lived on a side by side block. The blocks were huge, but you could smell that billy from mile away they REEK!!!
Yes I have a wool mat and love it. I have it on one end of my cutting table for pressing my blocks or small projects. As for the smell, there’s only a oder when you use steam in your iron. In reading the label it tells you not to use steam. When in doubt read the labels.
I have a large wool mat made in Ireland. Love it. I don’t use steam, therefore it doesn’t smell. I also use the wooden clapper and have good results as the combination compliment each other.
Hi Diane, I read your comment with interest. My husband was looking for Christmas gift ideas and I thought of a pressing mat as it’s something I’ve wanted for a while. Living in Ireland, I was keen to buy local and have done every sort of Google search and can’t find any Irish wool mats. I don’t suppose you have the company’s name, or where you bought it? All the mats I’m finding are New Zealand wool. Thanks so much, Fiona
It definitely smells more when you are using steam or spraying with water or starch– not so much when ironing dry. I guess I’ve gotten used to it. I do love how it works. I saw that one reader above mentioned keeping a pillowcase over it. I might try that and see if it still works as well. Thanks Suzy!
I thought the information that came with the wool mats was to not use steam or any starch sprays. Just a dry iron. My mat smelled fine until I recently used some steam. I’m letting it air out and using steam w/a regular ironing surface for now.
Mine had a bit of a smell, an I will admit to giving it a light misting of Febreeze. Twice. And it worked. If I could, I would cover an Ironing board in wool matting. I love pressing on it.
You can now get a wool pressing mat that will entirely cover a big board. Just really expensive
I bought mine at my local quilt shop and it was $89.99, which I figured was a VERY reasonable price. Others may (and do) charge more.
I got a wool pressing mat for christmas and when I used it all those little fibers stuck to my iron. I was using the cotton setting on my iron. Now I have a black mess on my iron I need to clean. However, I love the mat. I think I’ve going to do what another review had done and put a cover on it. Curious if anyone else has had that issue.
I had the same black mess on my iron, and some of my fabric the first time I used my new wool mat so I have never used it again. Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one with a bad experience!
I have same problem. Going to make a cover today. I replaced my iron because I couldn’t get gunk off faceplate.
I’ve had the same problem with a wool mat I received as a gift. Black fibers all over my iron and fabric! Does the cover on the mat lessen it’s useful-ness?
I like my wool mat but I wasn’t thinking one day and put it on my cutting mat while I was ironing. The heat/moisture went through the wool mat and warped my cutting mat. Moral of the story–beware of the surface under your wool mat!
That would be so easy to do! I’m actually shocked I haven’t done that yet. Thanks for the warning!
Me, too. ☹️
Thankfully I noticed before it cooled —just flipped it over and now it’s good as new.
I did the same thing! Thankfully, as you said.. just lay something flat and heavy on top (or flip it over), and it will go back to shape. Close call!!
I find the cost of these mats prohibitive for my very limited budget. I have heard of some people ordering wool horse blankets and cutting them into various sizes to press on. Anyone out there who’s done that? Thoughts? suggestions?
That’s an interesting thought. Are wool horse blankets that much cheaper? The one con I can think of is that a horse blanket probably isn’t that thick. You would still need to drape it over an ironing board so it doesn’t wreck your table.
Yes, they are that much cheaper! You can get a wool saddle pad, 30x30x1/2″ for just over $30.00! The ones I found were $31.99. Search for wool liner saddle pad.
After a bit of searching, I found. Eco Plush pads sold at rugpadusa.com. thicknesses of 1/2″, 3/8″, and 1/4″. Eco Plush pads are 100% recycled felt made from new unused carpet fibers and yarn, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. Plus, made in USA. You can pick your size from 1 ft x 1ft to 16 ft x 24 ft. They are having Easter Sale.
If these pads aren’t wool do they work as well as wool does?
Based on some comments here I googled saddle liners. I found this site https://www.statelinetack.com/item/mustang-square-wool-pad-liner/SLT901243/. This blanket is $21 with a coupon they offer. There were several comments from quilters who bought this product. The specs say it is 1/2” thick. Still skeptical though. I wonder if it’s as dense. Would just have to try it out I suppose.
I bought a wool blanket and my local army/navy store just for this purpose to save money. I folded it several times to fit my ironing board and made a cover to fit over it. The cover was necessary because it sheds. So when I used it, the fabric got a lot of fuzzies from the wool blanket that were difficult to remove. But the cover solved that problem. I like having the wool because it gives a nice cushion on my board which I found to be to hard, even with the soft cover that came with the ironing board. With the flooded wool blanket underneath it is so much easier to get a good result when ironing. It only cost $20 for the wool blanket and it covers the entirety of my ironing board. I recommend it this DIY solution.
Someone at our Guild went to a carpet shop, explained what she was looking for, and got wool carpet padding. She had them cut it into various sizes and they have various widths. It was much cheaper than the mats they sell at craft shows/websites.
Genius!!
I ordered a large cutting mat for my ironing table 48×24 from a carpet padding shop that deals only with eco friendly products. Anyway it sheds on my fabric so I covered it with a layer of cotton. works great but sometimes does smell, it is getting less all the time but I love steam!
Maureen says:
A great source for cheap wool mats measuring 30”x30” is State Line Track. Search Mustang wool mat. They cost about $25 each. They are a tan color. They are pads used under saddles. They work just as well as the expensive grey mats. Neither the grey nor the tan mats have ever smelled when I use them.
I got my wool mat through your give away with Lily Pad Lake. It’s awesome and does not smell.
I have a wool mat next to my sewing machine and I love, love, love it. I have not noticed a bad odor and really like the convenience of not having to go to my ironing board to press each seam. Makes piecing quilts even more fun and faster too.
I don’t like the stuff it leaves on the iron. I’m guessing a smaller iron would work better.
Your wool mat leaves a residue on your iron? That’s odd. I haven’t heard of that issue so it’s possible your mat is defective.
I read that the mats leave a residue when they are NOT 100 percent wool. Some manufacturers add additional fibers that are synthetic
My mat left stuff on my iron also. I put a very thin fabric over it and no mess on iron now.
When I got my mat , the label warned about high iron temps, so I keep my cordless iron at Medium and it works well . If I want to use high heat, I put a pressing cloth on the mat.
Same, but I think we are running the iron too hot- the cotton setting is burning the wool. Yes everyone, wool will scorch. I’m going to make a cotton cover for my pad as a solution as suggested here.. I also found that you can melt aspirin on the hot iron to clean off the burnt stuff- but do near a vent or outside as it makes a serious stink.
Is the aspirin to clean the iron or the scorched mat?
I read you shouldn’t use spray starch or Flatter or Best Press with a wool mat as it builds up and will eventually ruin the mat……if there’s a smell to the mat it will dissapate but the spray starch won’t.
Good to know! I hadn’t heard that.
I bought a heavy weight 100% wool blanket ($50). I split the blanket with a quilting friend (cost now $25). The half that I have fits my big board (24×60) doubled. Works very well at a fraction of the cost.
I got a small one like yours about 4 years ago, loved it so much that I hunted around and ended up having another mich bigger one custom cut by The Featherweight Shop to fit a board I was already using as an ironing station. I actually cover it with fabric and change the covering periodically – LOVE IT!!! It goes to all retreats and sew days with me, I don’t care how big it is, I make room! Just saw they now have a Paca Pressing Mat, made from 100% Alpca…says it is great for those sensitive to wool by fiber or fragrance, and is 3 times more insulating than wool. Hmmmmm….I did not need to see that 😁
Lori – I think I remember cutting that one for you! Glad you loved it!
I don’t use steam at all, just a hot iron. Of course, my iron was so hot that it burned the wool. I didn’t get any residue on my iron but my mat has burn marks. If you don’t steam, check your iron setting before you use the mat.
I love using a wool mat. However, twice now on two different irons, I’ve gotten some residue on the iron plate from using the mat. Had to work at getting the black goo off. I called the company to ask what’s up with that but no reply. (National Stay at Home orders in effect). Anyway, has anyone else had this problem? What can I do to avoid this?
I have two wool mats side by side on my tabletop ironing board to make a larger surface. I scorched my first mat and noticed an unpleasant smell when I used steam so I have a piece of muslin covering the wool. I can use high heat, steam, Best Press and not worry about the mat. I just toss the muslin in the washer when it needs it. I love the wool mats!
Yes, I also use 2 mats side by side on the ironing board. Most times I use steam, with no scorching, so far. (Love Sew brand) My daughter gave me a small one for next to my sewing machine, but I’ll need a new small iron to use that! Oh no! 😉 Another tool!🤩
I don’t mind the smell… however my son stopped by one day to say hello. As soon as he got to the sewing room door he said “Hi, geez Mum, What’s that smell?” HAHAHA
I love my mat. I don’t mind the smell but my husband came upstairs and opened my windows because he said it smelled. Ha Ha! I do use steam maybe I try ironing dry. I did scorch it a bit. Is there a way to remove that?
Maybe give your mat a shave and take off just the very top layer that’s scorched?
All this talk about some wool mats smelling…my question is…does the smell transfer into the fabric you are pressing on the mat?
I have never had that experience.
I was excited to receive my wool mat. I sew while standing at my island, so set the mat up next to me. After using the mat for awhile, I heard a big cracking sound. My granite countertop cracked from the heat! I got rid of it, needless to say. What a bummer- for me:(
Oh my gosh! Your granite countertop cracked?? I can’t believe it! I had no idea that could happen. I hope you reached out to the wool mat manufacturer.
Yes, a nice 4” crack in my granite:(. I did not let the manufacturer know. Maybe I should send them an email.
Wool is a wonderful heat conductor and granite is very fragile when heated! I assume what happened is the mat got so hot that it was heating the granite too much. You shouldn’t put any hot object on granite because there’s definitely a chance of it cracking.
What can you put under a wool mat to protect the surface that it is on?
Sometimes I like to put my wool mat on my ironing board. You could also get one of those roll-up travel ironing pads and use that.
When I started using my mat, I was horrified at the barn smell! So I picked up my mat, threw it in the dryer with my felted wool dryer balls and a febreze dryer sheet, and let it run. A second session in the dryer a couple days later, and my mat doesn’t smell at all. I love it! I bought a cheapie off eBay and am now looking into the ideas in the comments here for my full size ironing board. Thanks, guys!
Ooooh! I should try this! I have noticed my mat smells less than it did a year ago. Or maybe I’m just getting used to it? 😉
Oh my goodness that is genius! I had a similar experience to dude, my 15-year-old walked into my sewing room tonight and was like “oh my god Mum what the …? this place smells like butt.” It’s the only disappointing thing about the mat, but I have been using steam setting. I am definitely putting it in the dryer for a few runs because it’s really affecting my enjoyment of my quilting.
Like butt! hahaha!
My wool mat has gunked up my iron too. What to do?
Just to keep your followers informed. I bought the 20×50 mat from project wool and it is only 1/4” thick. I didn’t see that on the page and was assuming that all Matt’s are the same thickness…. I am hoping this isn’t a problem.
Hi Suzy, this is a little off topic, but one of the quilt examples you used in this post reminded me of the Bright-Pink-Wall-Hanging quilt in your shop for the Reflections Wall Hanging pattern. Do you happen to know the names/manufacturer of those fabrics? They are so beautiful! I would love to make a quilt for my niece using those same fabrics.
I believe those are all Art Gallery Fabrics. The floral is part of the Emmy Grace fabric line by Bari J. (also for Art Gallery)
Short answer, I made one since I’m just starting out. I was able to order 100% “Wool Felt Fabric” for in-store pick up. Washed it super hot and shrank it as far as I could. A double layer of the result is 1/2″ thick. I won’t lie, it was a process and I would do a couple of things differently. But it works great, smells wonderful, is “natural” cream color without any dye to bleed, and cost less than what I found online for a similar size.
There are some irons that have a surface that have a tendency to collect a residue on the iron. My iron just has a silver surface and I have never had a problem. Others have problems with irons with non-stick surfaces. It could also be from high heat, steam, or whatever. Use something like Goo-gone or an iron cleaner. Then make sure to always put a cover over your mat. That keeps starch from building up as well.
I have a wool mat and like it…except for the smell incurred from steam. I recently got an alpaca mat. Like it too. Yes, they are very handy to have beside the machine. I think that is what they are meant for is small area pressing.
Can wool mats be used on wooden dining tables? Do I need to put another layer of protection underneath first?
It’s funny you ask this because I just had a quilting weekend with my nieces and we did this exact thing. Conclusion – yes, it does mess up your wood table. Ugh! However, if you layer a couple towels underneath the wool mat it’s fine.
https://www.mynotions.com/product/cotton-heat-resistant-ironing-cover/
I put this cover on my wooden table and placed the wool pad on top of it. It will protect your wooden surface.
I purchased all four wool mats from Love-Sew and have had NO smell only glorious pressing of my quilt seams. I also do not put anything under it and there is no heat under the mat.
I just bought a wool mat from Love-Sew. Tonight I followed their instructions – wool heat, steam. It seemed to be doing a great job pressing the first couple of strip sets…until I noticed my iron dragging. Yes, there is funky residue all over the bottom of my iron. I hope I can clean it up after it cools. And yes, there is a hot wet smell. Also, Love-Sew was a little more expensive than similar Amazon products, and they charged shipping. Not happy with my purchase.
The residue is baffling to me. I wonder what that could be? I have purchased iron cleaner before after a mishap with some fusible webbing. It worked great.
Hi Suzy, I am Vegan and would like to know if you are aware of an alternative quilters pressing matt instead of wool. Unusual question I know but I will not purchase a wool matt. Thank you.
Honestly, I’m sure there is a good alternative, but if you consistently use a tailor’s clapper when pressing, you can avoid the wool mat all together.
I love, love, love my wool pressing mat! I don’t have to get out my ironing board for every little thing I need to press! I put an extra cutting may under it so no moisture gets through to my wood counter and it works great! My seams are sharp and flat every time! I highly recommend this product!
Years ago I folded up an old wool blanket and used it as an underliner beneath my cotton ironing board cover. I cannot even remember if I moved it to the new ironing board, lol. It gives the same benefits other than the textured surface, which I don’t need, and is the full length of my ironing board.
I have seen wool ironing board covers that are basically small yardage that is draped over the ironing board.
Suzy, I’m trying to set up a small ironing station in my sewing room and recently found the perfect sized cabinet – but- it has a granite top. I was planning to use a wool pressing mat but didn’t realize granite would crack ( ?) so easily as in another post..What can I put on it to dissipate the heat under the wool? Will a towel work as it did on the wood table?
I’m shocked to hear that granite cracks under indirect heat, but if someone had that experience, I wouldn’t want to risk it either. Depending on the size of the wool mat and your cabinet top, you could get a portable ironing surface that you lay down before placing the wool mat on top. I’ve tried towels under mats before and if you’re using steam (which I always do) that will soak through the towel (so don’t do this on a wooden surface), however it would lessen the heat, so maybe it would be OK on granite?
I love the smell of wet wool! I’ve only just bought my mat. I used it with steam on top of my cutting mat!! It temporarily warped my cutting mat but no problems as this cutting mat is useless! The steam went right through my wool pressing mat so that got me thinking about my ironing board. It is made of metal mesh allowing steam to pass through so that is where I will use my lovely mat from now.
I got my wool pressing mat last week and am really impressed by the pressing part. Initially, I was using a small travel iron, but I switched to my larger iron and YIKES it started sticking and leaving black gunk on the iron – which also comes off on my fabric. So I’ve been reading ALL the comments here. My full size iron is cordless and my main beef with it has always been that it doesn’t get as hot as I would like, but I guess it gets too hot for this mat. Also, I suppose the travel iron doesn’t wind up getting directly on the mat when I’m pressing blocks. I will make a small cover for the mat and move on. For anyone reading this that has residue on their iron, I’ve found the magic eraser pads do a good job of removing it.
Many wool mats are not 100% wool… so that might have been the problem. Some are from the car manufacturing process, and contain polyesters, and other synthetic materials that don’t like to be too hot.
Right now I’m reading as much as I can about these wool mats. I’m a new quilter and finding out about new things everyday. There are many scary negatives that are holding me back from purchasing one including a hefty price for a large-ish one, just to add to my unused notions area. When I mentioned this research to my husband he said that the gunk getting on everyone’s iron etc. is probably melted LANOLIN which is a natural substance in wool fibers, kind of like a WAX. It helps make wool so insulating. However, heat and especially steam heat will make the lanolin melt and run!!!!! Who knew! So I guess these mats will work fine for experienced quilters but I might skip it for now!
Wooly Felted Wonders has ironing board sized sheets of wool… they’re a little thinner than the small mats but I love it. Just one thing… cut it a tad larger than you think. Steam does make it shrink a little! https://www.woolyfeltedwonders.com/products
What brand of pressing mat you tried for this review?
I tested out Lilypad Lake wool mats. Here’s a link to it.
I have a 100% Alpaca mat from a local Alpaca breeder. I LOVE IT! I have no odor at all but I covered it when I first got it. I do use steam. I have no odor at all 😊 I am intrigued by the wood clapper because my seams are still hard to get as flat as I would like.
PS….. I also bubbled up my craft table on the corner. So I got the cheapest ironing pad I could find with a product on one side the does “ not” transfer heat so it is in my case under the wool. It has really helped.
Thank you for the idea of febreze idea. I have used mine for 2-3 years now so I would like to freshen it up.
Love this site. I just found it this morning….
I saw at quilt store pressing mats made from alapacas made locally. A little thinner than my wool mat.
Steven Bland, from “The Idiot Quilter” suggested using a clean, new Mr. Clean Eraser on a cold gunked up iron, in a circular motion (LOTS of elbow grease, and I used 4 pads) this took every bit of melted applique residue off when nothing else would, and he said to finish the procedure off by pressing over a dryer sheet to polish up the sole plate (do this on a scrap of fabric larger than the dryer sheet) my Rowenta pride and joy is as good as new now.
Has anyone tried using the thin silicone mats meant for kitchen use under their wool mats? They are meant to place hot items on and come in various sizes.
Speaking of wool I’m just itching to get into quilting! Unfortunately I just broke both wrists (darn pickle ball) so I am very thankful to have stumbled across Suzy and all. While I’m healing up I am gaining so much good info. Thank you all for sharing.
Are you thinking of using one of these mats instead of an ironing board? I bet it could work! You may need to wipe it down occasionally so moisture doesn’t get trapped there during a long steamy ironing session.
It seems in many instances, it may be iron issues that are a problem, and not entirely a wool mat problem.
I have a small one for class. But at the time I could not afford a big mat. So I had some wool leftover from a coat project and folded it up and put on top of my board. IT works Great!!!
I bought a locally (Canadian) sourced 100% alpaca wool mat and I LOVE it! All the same great features as the sheep wool mats, but the best part is there is NONE of the stink!
It would be a good practice to occasionally put your wool pressing mat outside in the sun to dry it out. This would also help the odour.
Wool holds moisture all the time regardless of using steam or not.
Ps Also heard of a granite kitchen bench top cracking from an air fryer placed directly on it!
I always use my tiny travel iron with my mat and have never had a problem. The packaging says not to use steam and with my little iron, I never need it anyway.
I think the alpaca wool mat from Saskatchewan would be great.
I asked a vendor how much a 4′ x 6′ mat would be. They quoted almost $500. This is too expensive. I need an alternative for a work station.
This cracks me up. People reacting to the smell of wool. With the introduction of synthetics I guess it’s not a smell people are used to anymore. I didn’t grow up on a farm; didn’t have to to know the smell of wet sheep. It always reminds me of rainy days when I was in school. As we all came slogging inside out of the rain, that smell filled the halls because we were all wearing wool: wool coats, wool skirts, wool sweaters, etc. To me it was the smell of winter. Yes, I’m old.
Hi Suzy, I bought the same mat you have. It worked well the first time I used it. The second time, the iron started sticking on the mat and I smelled a burning smell. There was hard, black residue on the mat and on the fabric I was ironing. The fabric was ruined. It seems to have polyester in the mat? Did this ever happen with anyone else?
Yes that happened to me! I just bought my 4 th wool pressing mat …Gypsy Quilter brand all of them. I have had no issues with the first 3 over several years of near daily use. This new one left the sticky black residue over my iron. It claims to be 100% wool. Interestingly the first 3 were made in the US …this one comes from China…hmmmm