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.

Clover Fabric Tube Maker

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

Separate the Clover Fabric Tube Maker into its four parts.

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

Lay Bosal batting strip on wrong side of a fabric strip.

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

Insert the Bosal and fabric strip in the Clover Fabric Tube Maker.

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

Insert and snap the second larger part in the larger Clover Fabric Tube Maker.

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.

Re-insert the Bosal and fabric strip in the larger of the two remaining Clover Fabric Tube Maker.

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

Insert and snap the last piece of the larger Clover Fabric Tube Maker.

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.

Sew the first two inches of the strips as if it was the end of the fabric tube.

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.

Sew along the full length of the fabric tube.

Admire the colors of the fabric tube.

25 yards of 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.

Fold one end of the fabric tube and pin.

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.

Sew a zigzag stitch over both edges of the tube.

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.

Pivot the tube to make a circular mat.

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.

For a large mat, sew to the left of the needle.

The mat is completed.

Completed mat

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.

Bosal batting strip

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.

Clover Fabric Tube Maker

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!

Go to part 3: Bosal Sew in Foam Stabilizer gives shape to your sewing projects

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