If you cut fabric with the ScanNCut, then you are probably already aware of the Hight Tack Fabric Support Sheet. For those that aren’t aware, it’s basically a sheet of sticky plastic that is applied onto a Standard Mat in order to make the mat stickier so that fabric can adhere to it better.
Fabric needs to be on a nice sticky surface in order for it to cut well with the ScanNCut and the High Tack Support Sheet was made for that purpose.
It comes in a roll and you simply peel off the backing and apply it to a Standard Mat. You place your fabric on it and cut away.
Sounds great right?
Well yes and no. It does keep the fabric nicely secured to the mat, but that’s about as good as it gets…at least in my opinion.
So why don’t I like it?
1. The sheets can be a little tricky to apply since they come in rolls, and this can create air bubbles or wrinkles when applied to the mat. Bubbles and wrinkles can be difficult to remove. And although it’s not a big deal to have some small air bubbles in the fabric sheet, as you can work with that, I’d rather they weren’t there. So be prepared for a bit of lifting and repositioning the sheet to remove the air bubbles.
2. Once you start cutting with your fabric, you will find that cuts are created in the sheet. The more you cut, the more the blade slices through the fabric sheet and pretty quickly there are shards of plastic created that easily come off and can stick to the back of your fabric. And you are essentially left with gaps in the support sheet.
3. Once you have applied the Fabric Support Sheet, you are going to have a hell of a time if you want to remove it because all of those shards of plastic have to be picked off one at a time. I personally don’t have the patience and that means throwing out the standard mat because it is no longer usable, I am not willing to do that.
4. They need to be replaced often, so it can be expensive to continually buy new sheets.
5. Since the mat is so super sticky, it can be difficult to clean. You can pick off the threads and then use a wet wipe but when you do this, those little shards I was talking about come off with the wet wipe. So you have to be real gentle when you clean which means it doesn’t clean up very well.
So what do we use instead?
There are two things that we use instead of the High Tack Fabric Support Sheet depending on which version of the machine we are using:
1. Fabric Mat
For the DX machines, we now use the Fabric Mat (but we also use the second option below when this mat has lost its stickiness).
The Fabric Mat is relatively new and is only available (at time of writing this post) for DX machines. Since it is sticky enough on its own, it doesn’t need the Fabric Support Sheet.
2. Temporary Fabric Adhesive Spray
For the CM machines (which don’t have a fabric mat option) we use a temporary fabric adhesive spray. However, we also use fabric adhesive spray for DX machine mats when they lose their stickiness.
Fabric adhesive spray is one of the best things you can own if you are cutting fabric with your ScanNCut. It holds the fabric on the mat really well.
Just lightly spray your fabric, place the fabric on the mat and smooth it down nicely.
Just remember to always spray the fabric and not the mat.
My adhesive spray of choice is 505 spray which you can buy from Amazon here (affiliate link) but I should think any adhesive spray will work as long as it specifically states that it works with fabric. You don’t want a spray that is going to gum up your sewing machine so go with a good one.
Donna Aelmore says
I have a DX machine and was super happy when the fabric mat came out. But before I got a fabric mat I used the fabric support sheet, I too had problems with little pieces of the sheet coming off and adhering to my fabric. I had purchased two rolls and was determined to use them up, when I needed to replace the sheet I used a sharp metal spatula to scrap off the remaining sheet, would then wipe it down and let it rest for 24 hours and then apply a new sheet. This worked with some frustration but got me through until I got the fabric mat.
Gillian Stanton says
Hello to you both,
I agree with you regarding the Brother brand fabric sheet and have found an excellent alternative from a company in the UK called ARTISTIX. DIRECT UK
They make the mats themselves. They are available on order for the standard machines but for a DX machine you just drop a line and they will sort it out.
Excellent company and, as I live in France, I would imagine they would ship worldwide on request.
I have been buying their mats for several years now and they last ages and keep their sticky but don’t start out as fierce as the Brother mats.
Happy crafting
Gill Stanton
Alanda Craft says
I’ve heard that name before. I’ll check them out.
Lisa Marshall says
Hello, just wondered if you have checked out this website, Artistix Direct? I have had a look at the mats on the site and they do appear to be good but would just like your opinion too before i buy 🙂
Alanda Craft says
We haven’t tried them ourselves Lisa – (I don’t think they post to Australia). I did notice that they sell them on Amazon so might be worth you taking a look there to check out the reviews – they look pretty good.
Terri says
Thanks for the info. I have a CM machine that I haven’t taken out of the box yet, lol. This is very helpful information. I would add one comment, make sure to use temporary adhesive and not permanent adhesive. There are permanent adhesive sprays that are used to sandwich quilts together for quilting. I would hate for someone to accidentally use this with their mat.
Alanda Craft says
Good point about the ‘temporary’ adhesive. I’ve made changes to the post above to take that into account. Thanks Terri!
Judy Merbitz says
this is exactly what I have found to be true!
Kathleen Ulinski says
I wanted to cut felt Easter shapes to make ornaments. I bought the new Fabric Mat. It lasted two cuts, as so much of the felt left residue on the mat. I had to buy $42 worth of Fabric support sheets, which also had a short life span. Thanks for your suggestion of fabric adhesive on back of fabric. I will give it a try! Did you work with felt at all?
Alanda Craft says
Felt isn’t something we generally cut often but when we do we use freezer paper. So you adhere the felt to the freezer paper and then apply it freezer paper side down on the mat to cut. We usually use a Standard Mat for this with NO Fabric Support Sheet applied.
Sandy says
Thanks for the info. I have problems getting my fabric to stick, and taping it down as I’m sure you know doesn’t work. I’ll be trying this from now in
Karen Poole says
Hi, I don’t have the DX, I have the model made just before that. I agree on how frustrating the fabric sheet can be. I’ve actually ruined them in the process of trying to put it on the mat. I got too many bubbles and tried to pull it of and tore it into too many pieces! I do still have a mat I use with the high tack fabric sheet, but I’ve also used the 505 spray many times and it works great! I remember sending in a suggestion to Brother that they come up with a high tack mat itself, so I’m hoping it comes out soon for my machine!
Laurie says
I was able to cut felt beautifully last week using my DX, the regular mat, and the regular blade. I was using a dense wool blend felt not the craft felt sheets from the big box stores. I put painters tape along the edges but that was my only modification.
Cee Vellacott says
Hi I use Spray away from crafters companion it takes the sticky off I apply it to a cloth and then rub it on if I haven marked of my mat edges its great for removing sticky labels from jars as well
Terry Howat says
This is a brilliant piece of news. I found that my DX cut straight through the fabric support sheet so it was attached to my fabric and I had massive holes in it. I got the impression that was supposed to be how it worked until I read this! I will be getting myself some fabric adhesive very soon. Thanks so much.