So I am looking for another sturdy mat....and by chance happened upon the site called Sweetwise.com. I found "The Mat" and the reviews seem exceptional...has anyone by chance used this mat?

I have. I used it once. I don't use it anymore. I can roll fondant out faster by myself.

I wouldn't be without mine now, it is a godsend to me - I find it so much easier to roll out and transfer the fondant onto the cake using "The Mat".

Hi ive recently bought it and love it. Pros of using it over not, no airbubbles, u can roll thinner, easy to pick up with mat onto cake. Also i use bakels. Mat keeps it moist. No elephant skin. So you dont have yo rush rolling it before it dries.

Absolutely love it, I only use it under the fondant, never needed the top one, fondant doesn't stick to rolling pin!
So easy to lift and transfer to a cake, and being clear makes it easier to see what you are covering!

i have only used mine twice, i think my fondant may be to sticky, as it keeps sticking to the mat, i always make my own fondant/sugarpaste, and am going to try with not so much liquid glucose, but any other tips would be appreciated

Try spraying the mat with a very light spray of oil for the first few times to 'coat it'

It is a very good product and the company is awesome. I live near the store and the staff is very helpful. Kathy, the owner, is wonderful. Go to YouTube and look up their videos on using The Mat.

I have 2 of them. I cut one into smaller pieces to use with gumpaste and use those more than the large one. I also had the problem of my homemade fondant being a little to moist for The Mat. I ended up with "pock marks" and had trouble getting a really smooth look when using it. Tweaking my recipe will probably help. Her video about fixing problems that people have had using The Mat is helpful as well.

I do still use it to cover my fondant when I don't want to apply it to my cake immediately and it keeps it from drying out.

I am considering buying the new one that has the size markings on it.

It takes some practice, but I don't think you will be disappointed if you buy it. It is completely food safe. If the one with the markings is not available yet, wait for it to come out. It will be worth it.

I am thankful for the reviews i have read in this thread - as i have been contemplating buying one... thought it might be a good tool to have... especially when rolling out fondant for 10 inch and above cakes...

Bluehue

I'll add my tuppence ha'penny worth, I have it and hate it. I've had nothing but trouble with mine and regret falling for the hype especially as I have to pay extra for shipping to Europe. I'd throw it out but for the fact that it cost so much (although I do realize that there is no point keeping it as it sits in the corner of my guest room collecting dust). I guess I'll take the leap one day and throw it but until then....... back to the dusting!

I absolutely love mine and use it all the time! It took a few uses before I felt it was "pliable". I make my own MMF (Rhonda's recipe) and it comes out beautifully. I will sometimes take the top layer off and finish rolling out the fondant and then put it back on so the fondant doesn't dry.

Oh I love my mat... it's so much easier to roll out the fondant, easy to clean, and store...

my fondant is so much easier to work with now!

I love mine! It is perfect for applying fondant and keeping the fondant from air until you are ready to appy it!

I have had mine for over a year now and absolutely love it. For anyone having problems my guess is that it's not "seasoned". Apply shortening, wipe off excess and happily proceed.

It took some getting used to but I'm much happier with it now. I was told it was overseasoned, and once I gave it a good cleaning it seems to be working better. It does much better with purchased fondant, and especially lighter colors, as MMF and dark fondants seem to stick to it more, but not always. Sometimes I use the upper layer and sometimes not, it depends on the day and how the fondant is sticking. It is much, much easier to move the fondant though. It is a bit tricky to learn how to get it to release, and I still have trouble with it sometimes. Experience has helped with this.

I have used mine for well over a year now and wouldn't be without it. I struggled with all the other suggestions, even to purchasing an expensive known-brand silicone one; store bought vinyl; powdered sugar; cornstarch-- you name it. The Mat may have a little learning curve for some, but Kathy is so helpful. It does require seasoning--perhaps the reason some have difficulty with it. But the advantages, aside from those previously mentioned, are the facts that it keeps the fondant fresh and dust-free until ready to apply.

Also, a little tip I learned from the video: If I neglected to roll a sufficient amount, I can plop an additional blob of fondant on the center--doesn't even matter if the same color or not-- and continue rolling until desired size is reached. When flipped over on the cake, no one knows the difference. This has saved me some grief on a few occasions.

For those who claim they don't like fondant, (and I use Michele Foster's Fondant---don't get me up on my soapbox here---I, and most others for whom I make cakes absolutely adore the stuff), the fondant can be rolled incredibly thin. This somewhat negates the chewy fondant texture that some object to.

All in all, it is an investment I've never regretted. I feel badly for those who have experienced difficulty for it has certainly made fondant application easier for me.

Jan

I'm glad I came about this post, because i just got the Mat (have been looking at it for a while) and have used it once.
While i think the biggest value it brings is how clean your fondant stays- no lint, no powder, i did have trouble after i put the fondant on the cake. (the fondant came off easily... i think the trick is pulling the mat and letting the weight of the fondant work with gravity rather than peeling it off). My fondant was WAY too moist. I couldn't smooth it with any tool because they kept sticking. And i think because i couldn't smooth it, and adhere it to the cake, i had sooo many air bubbles. (although there were multiple factors... we were in the middle of a heat wave was one of them)
Any helpful hints on this? Is it because the mat was newly seasoned? Will the moistness go away after a couple uses?

Thanks!

I find that sometimes when my fondant is a little sticky, I wear light candy-making cotton gloves and dust the surface with a PS or a cornstarch puff. Then I gently pat and smooth with my hands. I really haven't had any trouble with bubbles, and the occasional one I get, I'm able to deflate with a needle. I remove the cornstarch or powdered sugar upon completion with a light spritz of vodka which rapidly evaporates.

As to why it happens, I don't know. My MFF fondant is generally pretty uniform. I have AC so the temp in my house doesn't seem to be a factor. I just know that it doesn't often cause me trouble that I can't manage. All in all, as I previously said, I wouldn't be without it. I've never had an easier time applying fondant.

Jan

Hello Jan - lovely to see you
I have been thinking about buying that Mat for a while now -
Especially as i have a few 10 inch and above cakes to do. Probabely save me from turning the fondant like pizza dough - lolllll.
Like with anything, i guess it is taking ones time so as to get used to it... I didn't know you had one - glad you posted in this thread.... What you say has a lot of bearing for me.... thank you

Blue.

Howdy Blue

So we meet again!

Yes, you can see how much I love mine. I no longer dread fondant time. I think you will be as happy with yours as I am mine. At least, I will listen to your grousing, if you don't. Just let me have it!

Sounds like your cakes are really keeping you busy. I hope your purchase will shave off some of your time.

Jan

Lollll - no no Jan - it won't be your fault if i want to throw it - lolll
Yes, orders and family keeping me busy - but all is good.
I must *talk* with you all very soon.

I am able to get it from here - which is great - saves the added expense of Over Seas Freight...
http://www.cakesaroundtown.com.au/catalog/the-mat-by-sweetwise-30-by-30-p-5046.html

Thought i would add the link incase anyone else in Australia is thinking of buying one...

Best fly - have a dummy wedding cake to start on for this sunday - been thinking thinking thinking about what to make - then this morning it came to me - finally.
A perwinkle blue cake - with *those* white flowers dusted the same perwinkle colour...
It looks good in my mind - lolllllllllllllllllllllll

Shall *talk* very soon my friend.
Heyyyy - what are you doing up so late.... shouldn't you be sleeping?

Blue.

Thank you for all the responses. I will try this out but hold off until the new one comes out.

Thank You!

Where would I find this video you were referring too? Thanks.

I re-seasoned mine and it was brilliant a 3 tier cake covered in less than an hour, the video on youtube is quite a good one xxx

Here is the video about Care and Cleaning The Mat. It tells how to fix the problem of pock marks in your fondant and how to season it and clean it properly. It also tells how to prevent the creases that can get into The Mat if you don't roll it up properly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K996n3hYds4&lr=1

Do you think it would work well for pie dough? I bake gluten free so my pie dough is exceptionally prone to tearing and extra sticky. I usually roll it out between layers of plastic wrap, but it is so hard to keep the plastic wrap from getting wrinkly.

If this could solve my pie dough issues and be useful for fondant I'd be very happy!

Ok ok im very interested in just biteing the bullet and buying the Mat im signed up for wilton courses and its only a matter of time that im tortured with fondant lol just spent alot of money yesterday at the cake store if i order the Mat my hubby will probably ask when im gonna make some money off this hobby of mine anyways happy baking wait i wont be baking today its 102 here and they say with heat index its 110 so probably making some bc and practiceing making stuff

I LOVE my "Mat"! I can roll out my fondant & cover my cakes in record time. I have never had a problem with my "Mat". I used to use MMF but have been converted to MFF within the last year & will NEVER go back to MMF. I agree with milkmaid42 about being able to roll it out so thin & adding more fondant if needed when you are in the middle of rolling it out. I am probably going to purchase a second one in the near future since I love it so much!

Hi guys, ive also been considering buying 'the mat' after watching a sweetwise video about it on youtube. Kathy made it look real quick and easy and im hoping it will cut my fondant covering time down.

its just that finances are a little thin at the moment and was hoping if anyone knows the best place to purchase it from in the uk? 

thanks for all your help on cc. love it.