After preparing the mat and sheet (when cutting fabric) appropriate for the material, attach the material to the mat.
For the mat and sheet appropriate for the material, see Mat and Material Combinations.

 

 

 

1. Peel off the protective sheet from the adhesive side of the mat.

    

   
   • Do not discard the protective sheet peeled off the mat; save it for later use.
   • In order to maintain the adhesive strength, attach the protective sheet to the adhesive side of the mat after use.
   • When the mat is not being used, clean the adhesive side and affix the protective sheet before storing it. For details, see Cleaning the Mat.

    

2. Test attaching the material.

   Before attaching the material to the mat, use a corner of the adhesive side of the mat to test attaching it.
   Check for the following when testing attaching the material.
   - The color does not come off the material when it is peeled off.
   - The material is not torn or deformed when it is peeled off.

    

   If any problems occur when testing attaching, use different material.

    

   

   Use the low tack adhesive mat with copy paper and smooth paper. Since the standard mat has a high adhesive strength, materials may remain stuck to the mat, causing the mat to become unusable.

    

3. Attach the material to the mat’s adhesive side.

    

   

   Place the material within the attaching area (grid area) on the adhesive side. If the material extends from the attaching area, it may be damaged by the feed rollers when the mat is fed.

   The mat does not have a top and bottom. It can be inserted into the feed slot from either end.

    

4. Firmly attach all of the material to the mat so that there are no wrinkles and no part can curl off.

   Otherwise, curls in the material may become caught when the mat is inserted.

   

   If the mat is dirty, clean it. For details, see Cleaning the Mat.

    

Peeling Off the Material (Paper)

 

After cutting the material, use a spatula to slowly peel off the paper.

(1) Spatula

 

 

 

(1) Standard mat (2) Iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet (white backing)

 

 

 

Iron the specially designed contact sheet to the back of fabrics for any use other than quilt  piecing, and then attach them to the standard mat.
The double-faced adhesive type of the iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet reinforces the fabric and enables any pattern to be cut easily, including appliqués.
The sheet cannot be removed once it has been attached to the back of fabrics. For quilt piecing, use the high tack adhesive fabric support sheet and avoid using the iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet.

 

 

1. Peel off the protective sheet from the adhesive side of the mat.

    

   
   • Do not discard the protective sheet peeled off the mat; save it for later use.
   • In order to maintain the adhesive strength, attach the protective sheet to the adhesive side of the mat after use.
   • When the mat is not being used, clean the adhesive side and affix the protective sheet before storing it. For details, see Cleaning the Mat.

    

2. Cut the iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet to a size 2 cm or more larger than the outline of the pattern to be cut.

   (1) Pattern to be cut (2) Cutting line of sheet (3) Margin of 2 cm or more

    

3. With the glossy side of the contact sheet facing down, place it on the wrong side of the fabric.
   Be sure to first iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles. Before placing the contact sheet on the fabric, make sure that the fabric has been allowed to cool after ironing.

   (1) Glossy side of contact sheet (2) Wrong side of fabric

    

4. Evenly iron the entire contact sheet to affix it to the wrong side of the fabric.
   With the iron on a medium temperature setting (140 to 160 °C (284 °F to 320 °F)), press each part of the sheet for about 20 seconds (the length of time differs depending on the material).

   Be sure to apply pressure on the top of the backing and push out any air between the sheet and fabric.

   (1) Backing

   • Before attaching the contact sheet to the fabric, use a piece of the sheet to test attaching it. If any problems occur when testing attaching, use different material.
   • Leaving the iron in the same place for too long may scorch or melt the material.

    

5. Peel off the backing from the contact sheet.

   Before peeling off the backing, allow all parts to cool.

    

   (1) Contact sheet (2) Backing

6. With the side of the fabric that the contact sheet is attached to facing down, attach the material to the mat from its edges.

   Slowly attach the material from its edges so that no air is trapped between it and the mat.

    

    

   Place the material within the attaching area (grid area) on the adhesive side. If the material extends from the attaching area, it may be damaged by the feed rollers when the mat is fed.

   • The mat does not have a top and bottom. It can be inserted into the feed slot from either end.
   • Be sure that the vertical grain of the attached fabric runs straight up and down. The built-in patterns are automatically arranged suitable for fabric with vertical grain.

    

7. Firmly attach all of the material to the mat so that there are no wrinkles and no part can curl off.
   Otherwise, curls in the material may become caught when the mat is inserted.

    

    

Peeling Off the Material (Fabric OtherThan for Quilt Piecing)

 

After cutting the material, use a spatula to peel off the fabric together with the attached contact sheet.

(1) Pattern that was cut out (2) Contact sheet (3) Spatula

 

 

Attaching Fabrics With the Double-Sided Adhesive

 

Place a cutout on a base fabric and apply pressure on the top of the cutout using an iron. (The contact sheet may not adhere well to some fabrics.) Hand or machine stitch to ensure that the cutout stays in place.

 

(1) Base fabric (2) Cutout with a contact sheet

Notice on Use of Iron-on Fabric Appliqué Contact Sheet

Store the contact sheet at room temperature and in a location not exposed to high temperatures, high humidity or direct sunlight.

 

 

 

(1) Standard mat (2) High tack adhesive fabric support sheet

 

 

 

Use the high tack adhesive fabric support sheet to attach fabrics for quilt piecing to the standard mat.
These sheets should only be used with patterns that have a seam allowance. The high tack adhesive fabric support sheet can be repeatedly used until their adhesive strength has decreased. (Once the support sheet has been peeled off the mat, it can no longer be used.)

 

1. Peel off the protective sheet from the adhesive side of the mat.

    

   
   • Do not discard the protective sheet peeled off the mat; save it for later use.
   • In order to maintain the adhesive strength, attach the protective sheet to the adhesive side of the mat after use.
   • When the mat is not being used, clean the adhesive side and affix the protective sheet before storing it. For details, see Cleaning the Mat.

    

2. With the glossy side of the high tack adhesive fabric support sheet facing down, attach it to the mat’s adhesive side.
   Slowly attach the support sheet from its edges so that no air is trapped between the mat and the sheet.

   (1) Glossy side of support sheet

   Place the support sheet within the attaching area (grid area) on the adhesive side of the mat.
   If the sheet extends from the attaching area, it may be damaged by the feed rollers when the mat is fed.

    

3. Peel off the backing from the top of the support  sheet.

   (1) Backing (2) Adhesive

    

4. Test attaching the material.

   Before attaching the material to the mat, use a corner of the adhesive side of the mat to test attaching it. If any problems occur when testing attaching, use different material. 
   
   
   
    

5. From its edges, attach the material to the adhesive side of the mat so that there are no wrinkles in the material.

   Be sure to first iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles.

    

   

   Place the material within the attaching area (grid area) on the adhesive side. If the material extends from the attaching area, it may be damaged by the feed rollers when the mat is fed.

   • The mat does not have a top and bottom. It can be inserted into the feed slot from either end.
   • Be sure that the vertical grain of the attached fabric runs straight up and down. The built-in patterns are automatically arranged suitable for fabric with vertical grain.
   • When drawing a seam allowance, attach the fabric to the mat with its wrong side facing up.

    

6. Firmly move the spatula handle across the surface of the fabric to remove any wrinkles and firmly attach the fabric to the mat.

   (1) Spatula

 

Peeling Off the Material (Fabric for Quilt Piecing)

 

After cutting the material, use a spatula to slowly peel off just the fabric. Try not to peel off the support sheet.

(1) Fabric cut out (2) Support sheet remaining on mat (3) Spatula

Notice on Use of High Tack Adhesive Fabric Support Sheet

• When the sheet’s adhesive strength decreases or fabric becomes twisted while being cut, replace the sheet with a new one.
• When peeling the sheet off the mat or replacing the sheet, use the spatula to carefully remove the old sheet.
• Store the mat in between uses with the protective sheet affixed to the support sheet.
• If a mat with a support sheet attached is not to be used for a certain length of time, peel the support sheet off the mat and affix the protective sheet on the adhesive side of the mat before storing it.
• Do not reuse a support sheet that has been attached to the mat.
• Store the support sheet at room temperature and in a location not exposed to high temperatures, high humidity or direct sunlight.
• Do not bend the support sheet to store it.