Yesterday I quickly mentioned I’d be using Bosal Katahdin Batting Strip – 6.35cm x 22.86m (2¹⁄₂″ x 25yds) for this week’s first project. I’ll also be using the Clover Fabric Tube Maker. When I looked at this new-to-me notion by Clover, I was a little bit worried about how this would work. I’m now impressed with the simplicity and ease to use.

Place the Clover Fabric Tube Maker parts side by side as follows.

I took the Bosal Katahdin Batting Strip roll and laid it on the wrong side of the fabric strip I prepared yesterday.

Fold the Bosal and fabric strip in two and insert into the larger piece of the Clover tube maker.

Once the strips are inserted snap the second largest piece into the larger part.

Fold the Bosal and fabric strip one more time and insert them into the larger of the two remaining pieces of the Clover tube maker.

Once the strips are inserted, snap in the last piece.

In the next photo, it appears I’m finishing the sewing of the strips. I’m actually starting. Due to the number of layers and the difficulty of feeding them under the presser foot, I turned the tube as shown in order to sew the first two or so inches.

Note: For this step, I like to use an open toe embroidery foot with the needle to one side and not centered.

Once the two or three first inches are sewn, turn the tube around and sew along the full length. As the tube is fed under the presser foot, gently move the pairs of the Fabric Tube Maker away from the needle in three-to-four-inch increments.

Remember to move the needle position to the opposite side.

Admire the colors of the fabric tube.

Fold one end of the fabric tube and pin it. I folded approximately 6”. If I had folded a longer length, the mat would be more oval.

Set the sewing machine to make a wide zigzag stitch. The first few stitches should be tight. After I sewed a couple of inches, I increased the stitch length to four.

Once the length of the fold is sewn, gently curve the long length of the tube. This step is a tricky one because there is a lot of bulk. As the turn gets wider, it will get easier.

As the mat gets larger, it will get easier to go around the ends.

If you’re making a large mat, sew to keep the mat to the left of your needle. This makes the whole process easier than trying to squeeze everything to the right of the needle.

Note: As the mat was getting larger, I was able to reduce the width of the zigzag stitch by almost half.

The mat is completed.

I really enjoy the process and ease of making this mat; so much so I’ll probably do another one with five rainbowed colored jelly rolls. I calculated it will take eight to ten Bosal Batting Strip – 6.35cm x 22.86m (2¹⁄₂″ x 25yds). It will be big and beautiful.

The roll of Bosal Batting Strip and the Clover Fabric Tube Maker are a perfect match for each other and I look forward to using them again to play some more.

Tomorrow I’ll be using another Bosal product in the construction of a craft bag. Do come back and see.

This is part 2 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 1: Bosal batting strips make a good old fashion mat: Let’s get started!