Do I need the same size mat as the die?

Not always, we recommend smaller mats such as the 6" x 6" when cutting individual sections on dies with multiple shapes. A die will only cut when there is a mat over the blade as it passes through your cutter. e.g. On the Alphabet dies, just cover over the letters you need, this saves fabric and wear on your mat.

However we do not recommend you use larger mats on smaller dies as it may mean your fabric shifts as the dies goes through the rollers.