I love my mats. I personally use a pillow case and slide them into it. This helps with the smell. You do not have the smell or the tiny fibers that come off it. I also put a iron mat that Walmart sells that goes on the dryer to Iron on. It becomes a barrier.
I love your product reviews! I am so glad you did the wool mats, I have been saving up to get one and, now, I think I am going to do a bit more research first before I purchase. Thank you so much, Lorena! Very, very helpful!
The smell actually does go away. I did the same thing you did, and bought one to see what all the hype was about, lol. I actually have to admit that I really did love the mat. Like, the heat from both sides made it lay impressively flat, well beyond my expectations. I love how portable the mats are, too. The smell was weird to get over, but it really does go away pretty fast if you use it a lot. I also started using a scented starch or Best Press type product which hastened the retreat of the scent lol. I have allergies to animals, like cats and dogs etc, and this didn't seem to bother me at all. I've had mine about 3 months currently. I loved your honest review, and tests for each option! Great video!
I’ve been wanting to try a wool mat so badly! But then my primary craft is handspinning yarn and knitting- I rather like the smell of wool 😉 I can totally see how other people would find it off-putting, so that’s good to know. Thanks for the review!
If you would like to use it iron your garments and to travel and iron I think its light and small enough to use for personal use. not just for quilting.
I have a little small wool ironing piece and I can't use it because of the smell, I also found that it got really wet if I used steam after only a couple of pieces. I'm glad it wasn't just me!! Thanks for your comparison, I often wonder about that little piece of wool that I may have not given it a fair chance but this brought it all back, smell and all!! Lol
I thought I was being judgmental... I'm so glad I am not the only one. It smells like a farm full of smelly sheep and cows. I tried hard to down play it but man it was gross...
This is the same thing they use to muffle sound in cars and also for horse blanket pads. A group of us went together and got am4 ft x 8 ft piece for about $120 and when we split that 8 ways it was super cheap for big size mats!
How did that work out in hindsight? I was thinking about buying a 22x60 and cutting it in half. Hadn't thought of a saddle pad..... How did you go about cutting it?
@@tammyhutchinson6647 They work perfectly!!! Never had any odor issues, they are wearing wonderfully and as far as I know all the pieces are still being used regularly!
I bought the small square one from a quilt shop and tried it out pressing 200 2x3 “ flying geese blocks for a Bonny Hunter quilt. The pros: 1. The small bocks pressed out nice and crisp. 2. it was quicker to press them. 3. If I needed to block some it was easy to put a pin in the mat and press The con: 1.There was a strong smell that permeated through the house. I began to wonder if it was a chemical so I went and checked the packaging, nothing. It.s just hot wool (I used my travel iron no steam). 2. The heat did penetrate through to my sewing table which I had suspected it would. I didn’t want to chance it ruining my sewing table so I grabbed my regular ironing wood mat to put under it. My opinion: 1. Yes it was worth the $22 cdn for up to 6” blocks. 2. No I would not pay $59 or $107 cdn for a larger one.
Hi Lorena, I agree about the smell of the wool mats! Mine smells like a herd of dirty sheep! I also have my own ironing mat that I made with a piece of wood. I don't have as much padding on mine as you do on yours (I have a double layer of flannel over it). I find that it works the BEST of anything I have for pressing HST's. They come out nice and crisp and I don't seem to lose as much in the seam, which gets the size closer to what it should be!
If you do wool applique or embroidery a wool mat makes pressing much easier as the pieces or stitches don't get flattened. I don't use steam just a very hot iron and have not had a problem with smells. You did a great comparison video. The only thing I would add is don't put a wool mat on top of a cutting mat as it can warp and be careful on good wood as the heat goes through the mat and can mar the wood surface.
I have one from amazon and I like it I found d out later that you can order a saddle pad which is a bigger and cheaper and is made of the same material.
I bought a wool press mat from Amazon. The one I bought said not to use the steam option. I really like mine. The smell was maybe for the first couple times I used it and then I didn't smell anything anymore.
I would not recommend using steam when your press your fabric especially on wool. Even on the quality fabric because the wool will further distort, stretch, or warp the fabric. I love the wool mat for pressing seams with a clapper to further weigh down and lock the Threads. Yana in Alaska.
Thank you a lot for the update for the wool mats. Think I will stay with the mini table top Ironing board I covered myself also. I have a layer of silver reflective ironing fabric, two layers of cotton batting and a 100% cotton fabric cover which I made myself. It has elastic in a casing underneath the mini ironing board to hold the cover on tightly.
Marteli Company had them on sale for half price. I think I paid $22. I think some might be thicker than others. I wonder if using the wool mat if it would be a problem for people that have allergies to wool. Like if you gave someone the quilt.
I have been using a wool mat for only a couple weeks. I notice some yellowish glue-looking stuff coming to the top. Also I get some black smudging on my pressed seams. Does anyone else have these problems?
I love my wool mat. I was told not to use Best Press or any starch on it. Mine smelt when i first got it but the smell goes away. My mat is 17x17 and have had it for a long time.
The smell is gross... it smells like a sheep farm.. I use wool batting and it doesn't have this disgusting smell. The smell is gross and other people do not talk about it and if you are spending $30 on an item. I choose to be honest and talk about the smell. In the instruction they never state oh by the way don't use steam. I love steam on my block, on my quilt, and on my piecing. I'm personally sharing my experience on how I piece and how I steam my quilts. If the smell doesn't bother you... that's okay. Or if you don't use a lot of steam that also your style of piecing. If you love the wool mat, you got, and you love it. I hope you enjoy it. I am sharing my opinion and sharing what product I am working with..
I don't know if you can leave this up or not but this is the website....several different grades and thickness to choose from! www.thefeltcompany.com/f11-9r2-wool-felt-sheet-24-x-72-x-1-2-thick-84-10/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvPKru_H65wIVkMDACh0p0wJMEAQYASABEgL86PD_BwE
My feelings on the wool mat are that they are not necessarily cruelty free. The wool business is a dirty one, and sheep are cut all the time in a hasty process. I prefer not to participate in supporting my hobby with animal exploitation.
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. You listen too much to some radical animal "freedom" groups like peta. Shearing a sheep is no cruel business and they're not cut all the time in the process. Total bullshit.
@@willnellen9028 depends on how it’s sourced. Mass produced overseas for the purpose of capitalism versus doing so for the health of the animal in say a sanctuary... Shaming animal welfare groups to justify the brutality and slaughter of animals to make you feel better about your dietary, clothing, and hobby choices has always perplexed me. Why choose violence and questionably sourced items when there are sustainable cruelty free options?
@@willnellen9028 I’ve seen it first hand and grew up on a Holstein dairy. The “acceptable” practices and the way the farmers claim to “love their animals” is BS. I watched my step/dad and his brothers abuse the animals from forced impregnation, to banding testicles without pain meds, to slitting throats of alive downed cows, to sending cancer-riddled cows off to slaughter to become your food. If they treated people like this, everyone would lose their minds. The animals are a commodity, a product, there for profit ONLY. If the cost to keep them alive is greater than their profitable product- they become your food or your “hobby material.” I also volunteer at a pig sanctuary and have seen the abuses and first hand lies people tell themselves and each other to justify their selfish behavior. To think the wool is kindly shaved off the sheep in a comfortable fashion is non-sense. But if you feel that you’re right in the way you treat your animals and support the industry, you’re the one who has to live with your choices (and the animals you’ve paid someone to abuse). I just ask that before one blindly purchase any product, they think about how it’s sourced.
I love my mats. I personally use a pillow case and slide them into it. This helps with the smell. You do not have the smell or the tiny fibers that come off it. I also put a iron mat that Walmart sells that goes on the dryer to Iron on. It becomes a barrier.
I love your product reviews! I am so glad you did the wool mats, I have been saving up to get one and, now, I think I am going to do a bit more research first before I purchase. Thank you so much, Lorena! Very, very helpful!
I appreciate you watching.
Lorena, I'm glad I watched this review. I also was thinking of buying a wool mat. I may not now because of the wetness and the smell.
I also wanted to charge that people told me that the smelll disappears after a while... just wanted you to know.
@@ToniNov25 Thank you Lorena! XO
The smell actually does go away. I did the same thing you did, and bought one to see what all the hype was about, lol. I actually have to admit that I really did love the mat. Like, the heat from both sides made it lay impressively flat, well beyond my expectations. I love how portable the mats are, too. The smell was weird to get over, but it really does go away pretty fast if you use it a lot. I also started using a scented starch or Best Press type product which hastened the retreat of the scent lol. I have allergies to animals, like cats and dogs etc, and this didn't seem to bother me at all. I've had mine about 3 months currently. I loved your honest review, and tests for each option! Great video!
Ok I will keep trying it.. I was going to give them away .. I appreciate your comment.
I’ve been wanting to try a wool mat so badly! But then my primary craft is handspinning yarn and knitting- I rather like the smell of wool 😉
I can totally see how other people would find it off-putting, so that’s good to know. Thanks for the review!
If you would like to use it iron your garments and to travel and iron I think its light and small enough to use for personal use. not just for quilting.
Thanks for the review of wool pressing mats. I have been told about the smell. I think I will stick to my ironing board. 😁
I just heard so much about it! I had to try.. they say the smells goes away! I will keep trying and see !😊
I have a little small wool ironing piece and I can't use it because of the smell, I also found that it got really wet if I used steam after only a couple of pieces. I'm glad it wasn't just me!! Thanks for your comparison, I often wonder about that little piece of wool that I may have not given it a fair chance but this brought it all back, smell and all!! Lol
I thought I was being judgmental... I'm so glad I am not the only one. It smells like a farm full of smelly sheep and cows. I tried hard to down play it but man it was gross...
This is the same thing they use to muffle sound in cars and also for horse blanket pads. A group of us went together and got am4 ft x 8 ft piece for about $120 and when we split that 8 ways it was super cheap for big size mats!
Oh wow!! That’s not bad at all!
How did that work out in hindsight? I was thinking about buying a 22x60 and cutting it in half. Hadn't thought of a saddle pad..... How did you go about cutting it?
@@tammyhutchinson6647 They work perfectly!!! Never had any odor issues, they are wearing wonderfully and as far as I know all the pieces are still being used regularly!
@@roxannegodsey1261 how did you go about cutting it?
@@tammyhutchinson6647 straight edge T quare thing from hubbies workshop and a razor cutter thing. It actually cut pretty easy
I bought the small square one from a quilt shop and tried it out pressing 200 2x3 “ flying geese blocks for a Bonny Hunter quilt. The pros: 1. The small bocks pressed out nice and crisp. 2. it was quicker to press them. 3. If I needed to block some it was easy to put a pin in the mat and press The con: 1.There was a strong smell that permeated through the house. I began to wonder if it was a chemical so I went and checked the packaging, nothing. It.s just hot wool (I used my travel iron no steam). 2. The heat did penetrate through to my sewing table which I had suspected it would. I didn’t want to chance it ruining my sewing table so I grabbed my regular ironing wood mat to put under it. My opinion: 1. Yes it was worth the $22 cdn for up to 6” blocks. 2. No I would not pay $59 or $107 cdn for a larger one.
Thank you.. pining block down is a great idea! Yeah they are costly!
Hi Lorena, I agree about the smell of the wool mats! Mine smells like a herd of dirty sheep! I also have my own ironing mat that I made with a piece of wood. I don't have as much padding on mine as you do on yours (I have a double layer of flannel over it). I find that it works the BEST of anything I have for pressing HST's. They come out nice and crisp and I don't seem to lose as much in the seam, which gets the size closer to what it should be!
Than you for your wonderful comment.
If you do wool applique or embroidery a wool mat makes pressing much easier as the pieces or stitches don't get flattened. I don't use steam just a very hot iron and have not had a problem with smells. You did a great comparison video. The only thing I would add is don't put a wool mat on top of a cutting mat as it can warp and be careful on good wood as the heat goes through the mat and can mar the wood surface.
I liked the way the fabric imbedded the wool mat.. I will try it on my applique
I have one from amazon and I like it I found d out later that you can order a saddle pad which is a bigger and cheaper and is made of the same material.
Really I didn’t know that! Saddle pad.. have you tried it?
I bought a wool press mat from Amazon. The one I bought said not to use the steam option. I really like mine. The smell was maybe for the first couple times I used it and then I didn't smell anything anymore.
I love steaming my fabric but maybe your right my mat wasn’t suppose to have steam.. thank you
I would not recommend using steam when your press your fabric especially on wool. Even on the quality fabric because the wool will further distort, stretch, or warp the fabric. I love the wool mat for pressing seams with a clapper to further weigh down and lock the Threads. Yana in Alaska.
Thank you for your recommendation I so appreciate it!
Thank you a lot for the update for the wool mats. Think I will stay with the mini table top Ironing board I covered myself also. I have a layer of silver reflective ironing fabric, two layers of cotton batting and a 100% cotton fabric cover which I made myself. It has elastic in a casing underneath the mini ironing board to hold the cover on tightly.
Yeah.. I love my board too!
Marteli Company had them on sale for half price. I think I paid $22. I think some might be thicker than others. I wonder if using the wool mat if it would be a problem for people that have allergies to wool. Like if you gave someone the quilt.
That’s a thought.. your right .. I had wool hair all over me when I finished pressing.. I’m sure it would transfer.
@@ToniNov25 Mine did not have a smell.
I have been using a wool mat for only a couple weeks. I notice some yellowish glue-looking stuff coming to the top. Also I get some black smudging on my pressed seams. Does anyone else have these problems?
no I really don't use mine because it smells bad.
I will keep my ironing board.
Me too girl.. I just love try new things.. I may keep one and give one away!
I love my wool mat. I was told not to use Best Press or any starch on it. Mine smelt when i first got it but the smell goes away. My mat is 17x17 and have had it for a long time.
Thank you for sharing smell goes away! The strangest thing for me I guess that’s what natural fiber smells!
Thank you . I don’t think I will get one as I’m very sensitive to “smells”.
I was told the smell goes away but I still won’t use mine..
Here to see this random thing 4 years later
You also do not need to use steam when using the wool mat
Just don't buy from Love-Sew online. Bad company. I had to dispute charges by them and report them to the Better Business Bureau.
Part of the whole point is that you don't need to use heaps of steam. Why would you expect a wool mat NOT to smell of wool 🙄?
The smell is gross... it smells like a sheep farm.. I use wool batting and it doesn't have this disgusting smell. The smell is gross and other people do not talk about it and if you are spending $30 on an item. I choose to be honest and talk about the smell. In the instruction they never state oh by the way don't use steam. I love steam on my block, on my quilt, and on my piecing. I'm personally sharing my experience on how I piece and how I steam my quilts. If the smell doesn't bother you... that's okay. Or if you don't use a lot of steam that also your style of piecing. If you love the wool mat, you got, and you love it. I hope you enjoy it. I am sharing my opinion and sharing what product I am working with..
The smell will go away after a few days.
I don't know if you can leave this up or not but this is the website....several different grades and thickness to choose from! www.thefeltcompany.com/f11-9r2-wool-felt-sheet-24-x-72-x-1-2-thick-84-10/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvPKru_H65wIVkMDACh0p0wJMEAQYASABEgL86PD_BwE
I will check it out!
My feelings on the wool mat are that they are not necessarily cruelty free. The wool business is a dirty one, and sheep are cut all the time in a hasty process. I prefer not to participate in supporting my hobby with animal exploitation.
Oh I didn’t even consider that.. thank you!!! Opened my eyes ..
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. You listen too much to some radical animal "freedom" groups like peta. Shearing a sheep is no cruel business and they're not cut all the time in the process. Total bullshit.
@@ToniNov25 Don't believe a thing she says, she's all lies.
@@willnellen9028 depends on how it’s sourced. Mass produced overseas for the purpose of capitalism versus doing so for the health of the animal in say a sanctuary... Shaming animal welfare groups to justify the brutality and slaughter of animals to make you feel better about your dietary, clothing, and hobby choices has always perplexed me. Why choose violence and questionably sourced items when there are sustainable cruelty free options?
@@willnellen9028 I’ve seen it first hand and grew up on a Holstein dairy. The “acceptable” practices and the way the farmers claim to “love their animals” is BS. I watched my step/dad and his brothers abuse the animals from forced impregnation, to banding testicles without pain meds, to slitting throats of alive downed cows, to sending cancer-riddled cows off to slaughter to become your food. If they treated people like this, everyone would lose their minds. The animals are a commodity, a product, there for profit ONLY. If the cost to keep them alive is greater than their profitable product- they become your food or your “hobby material.” I also volunteer at a pig sanctuary and have seen the abuses and first hand lies people tell themselves and each other to justify their selfish behavior. To think the wool is kindly shaved off the sheep in a comfortable fashion is non-sense. But if you feel that you’re right in the way you treat your animals and support the industry, you’re the one who has to live with your choices (and the animals you’ve paid someone to abuse). I just ask that before one blindly purchase any product, they think about how it’s sourced.
Well, don't use the water fOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!!!!
Wow.. okay.. I love steam.. thanks for Christ He is awesome..