My Cutting Mat Stopped Sticking - What Can I Do?

If your material starts lifting, shifting or moving while your cutting machine is working, the problem may not be your cutting settings at all.

Your material needs to stay firmly attached to the cutting mat throughout the entire cut. This is particularly important when cutting materials such as vinyl, faux leather, cork and fabric, where even a small amount of movement can leave you with wonky edges or pattern pieces that don't quite match their intended shape.

If your mat isn't holding quite as well as it used to, here are a few things you can try.

Start With a Clean, Suitable Cutting Mat

Cutting mats gradually collect dust, fibres and tiny pieces of material, all of which can reduce their stickiness.

Remove any loose scraps or fibres from the mat before cutting and make sure you're using a mat with a suitable level of grip for your material.

Different cutting-machine brands offer different mat types and grip strengths, so check the recommendations for your particular machine and material.

If your mat has become very worn with deep cut marks, replacing it is ultimately the most reliable solution.

But if it just needs a little extra sticking help, there are a few tricks that can often keep it useful for longer.

Press the Material Firmly Onto the Mat

Don't just lay your material lightly on top of the mat. Smooth it down firmly across the entire surface so there are no bubbles, wrinkles or loose areas.

A brayer is particularly useful for this if you have one. Roll it firmly across the material to create good, even contact with the adhesive underneath.

If you don't own a brayer, a clean hand can of course do this job to.

Pay particular attention to corners and edges, as these are often the first places to lift during cutting.

Secure the Edges With Painter's Tape

If your material is still inclined to move, painter's tape or masking tape around the edges can provide some extra security.

Place narrow strips along the outside edges of your material, making sure the tape doesn't cover any part of the pattern piece that the machine needs to cut.

Avoid very aggressive tapes - you want enough grip to keep the material in place without damaging either your material or cutting mat when you remove it.

Brother ScanNCut users

Be especially careful not to cover the scanning/registration marks on the ScanNCut mat with tape. The machine needs to be able to recognise these marks correctly.

My Favourite Trick for Vinyl: Temporary Basting Spray

When I'm cutting vinyl/cork or similar and my mat isn't quite as sticky as I'd like, one of my favourite tricks is a temporary basting spray, such as 505 Temporary Fabric Adhesive.

This can give old or linty mats the little bit of extra hold it needs during cutting.

Don't spray adhesive directly onto your cutting mat.

Instead:

1. Remove the material from the mat.

2. Take it to a well-ventilated area away from your cutting machine and mat.

3. Lightly spray the back of the material with temporary basting adhesive.

4. Follow the adhesive manufacturer's instructions for application and waiting time.

5. Place the material onto your cutting mat and press it down firmly.

Use a light application - you're looking for a little extra temporary grip, not permanently gluing your material to the mat!

As always, test first on a scrap if you're using a material where you're concerned about marking, residue or surface damage.

Keep Everything Inside the Cutting Area

Make sure your material lies flat and stays within the usable adhesive/cutting area of your mat.

Material extending beyond the adhesive area can lift or be caught by the machine's rollers, which may pull it out of position during cutting.

Also check that nothing is curling upwards at the edges before loading the mat into your machine.

Don't Stretch Fabric Onto the Mat

When cutting fabric, smooth it onto the mat without pulling or stretching it.

If fabric is stretched while you attach it, it may retract or wrinkle during cutting and distort your pattern pieces.

Press or roll it firmly into the adhesive instead.

If Your Material Keeps Moving...

If you've cleaned the mat, pressed the material down firmly, added a basting spray and/or tried securing the edges but it still won't stay put, your mat may simply have reached the end of its useful life.

A fresh mat with the appropriate grip for your material is much cheaper than repeatedly ruining beautiful cork, vinyl or fabric! 😂

And remember: if the material is staying firmly in place but isn't cutting cleanly, the problem may be an old blade or the wrong cutting settings rather than the mat.

For machine-specific help with test cuts and cutting settings, see:

→ Cricut Design Space Guide

→ Silhouette Studio Guide

→ Brother CanvasWorkspace & ScanNCut Guide