When I set out to make the best wool mat possible, I was determined that the mat be made only of the highest quality wool I could source. This is what I found out:

• No wool pressing mat is 100% wool.

• Because all wool "felts," mats must contain at least a small percent of stabilizing fibers - otherwise heat and moisture would make them wrinkle and warp.

• Most USA made wool mats are simply repurposed industrial felt, which has cheap, non heat resistant fibers added to stabilize the wool. Because the synthetic fiber content is a smaller percentage than the wool, it is still marketed as 100%.

• Most Chinese manufacturers feel comfortable calling any fiber (even if it isn't wool) "wool." USA wool fiber standards and specifications do not even exist there, which means you can never truly know what you are getting.

• Our mat blends proprietary high quality, high heat resistant fibers specially selected for this purpose, in the lowest possible percentage needed to give the mat stability and prevent wrinkling and warping.

• We want to be transparent, so you can feel comfortable and safe ironing your beautiful work!

Our mat is proudly designed and manufactured in the USA - no exceptions.

Wool has amazing insulating properties. It doesn't burn, but it absorbs and retains heat. The heat from your iron will radiate up from your mat underneath your fabric while the iron heats from above. In addition, the wool fibers gently hold the fabric in place so that it doesn't slide around, stretch, or warp. This gives you flat, crisp, even blocks that line up beautifully without bulky seams!

Our 14x14 mat is 1/2 inch thick.

Our 24x50 mat is a generous 1/4 inch thick.

When designing the large mat, we discovered that if we felted more fiber into a thinner, denser mat, it performed just as well but without the bulk and weight of the thicker mat. It's truly the best of both worlds!

Yes, but you might find that because of the way the mat works you don't need either one anymore!

• Moisture will not damage your mat, but if you use a lot of steam and/or live in a humid climate, it could transfer through to the surface underneath! Always check below your mat to make sure the surface it is placed on is not too hot or damp.

• As on any surface, if starch builds up on your mat you may find that you have residue or buildup which can in turn scorch when ironed. (The mat, being wool, cannot burn.) If you find you have staining from starch, you can gently wash the mat with a mild soap and water and air dry.

No, we have to order all mats in minimums of 250 per size. Because of this we have designed the 24x50 mat to be a truly custom option at a less than custom price. With any sharp blade you can easily and accurately cut the mat to any size and shape you desire - or even into multiple mats!

Wool is a magical fiber, especially for this particular purpose. And it *is* animal fur. We could douse it in chemicals and remove the smell - but the wool wouldn't "work" any more.

Instead, we gently clean it and felt it in a way that we have found produces a very mild smell. Some say they can't smell it at all, and if they do the smell fades over time.

That said, everyone's nose is different, and factors like steam, humid climate, etc., do play a part. While I can't guarantee you won't smell it, I can say that I've never had a complaint about the smell being a problem.

Everyone's climate, ironing style, ironing pressure, and surface is different. There is no way to predict how these factors will affect your particular surface. I always recommend to feel under your mat regularly at first to make sure it's not damp or too hot underneath for your particular surface. If you're concerned, a towel, fleece blanket, etc., is a perfect and effective buffer.

There are several reasons for mat discoloration. All of them have to do with external factors (Because the mat is made of wool, it cannot burn.):

If you spray starches or other products on your mat, they can build up and discolor under the heat of the iron.

Sometimes the water in your iron or even residue inside your iron that loosens with the natural steam produced by heat, fabric, and the moisture in the air, can have minerals or sediment in it that can deposit on your mat. In the few cases where this has been an issue, a new or cleaned out iron has immediately solved the problem.

If your mat becomes stained, you can gently clean it with a mild soap and cool water (no scrubbing!) and air dry!

Yes! The mat can get wet, and even a mild soap may be used and thoroughly rinsed out.

Just make sure you never scrub or use anything abrasive on the surface of the mat, and always air dry!

The same way you cut fabric! Measure and mark carefully, then use any sharp blade (scissors, rotary cutter, xacto knife, etc.,) to cut into any size or shape you prefer!