Flannel Nap Mat

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 2 1/3yds Flannel
• 72"x 90" Poly-fil® Extra-Loft Quilt Batting: medium size
• 10oz Fiber Fill
• 3/4"x 10" Velcro®
• Marking pen
• Walking foot
• Basic sewing supplies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut Quilt Batting:
• Cut 4 pieces of quilt batting, measuring 25"x 42" each.


2. Cut Flannel:
• Cut 1 Pillow piece, measuring 22"x 25".
• Cut 2 Tie pieces, measuring 5"x 33".
• Cut 2 Mat pieces, measuring 25"x 42".


3. Sew the Pillow:
• Fold the pillow flannel, right sides together, so that its dimensions are 11"x 25".
• Pin and sew the raw edges of the pillow together. Leave a 4" space in the center of one of the sides; this will be an opening to insert the Fiber Fill at a later step.
• Make a clean corner point by cutting down the corner seam allowance, being careful not to cut into the stitching. Turn the pillow right side out and push pillow corners out.
• Press the raw edges of the 4" opening to the inside. Set aside.


4. Make the Ties:
• Fold the ties in half, right sides together, matching long edges. Sew the long, raw edge together. Press the seam open with your iron.
• Turn the ties right side out. Move the seam so that it is centered; press with your iron.
• Tuck the tie ends 1/2" to the inside, press. Topstitch across the edge of the ties.
• Cut the Velcro into two 5" strips. Place one side of Velcro on the outside of the tie and one on the inside so they will connect when wrapped around the mat. Position the Velcro 1/4" from the end of the tie. Sew around the edge of the Velcro to secure.


5. Sew the Ties and the Pillow to a Mat Panel:
• Fold the tie in half, right sides together, matching the short edges together.
• Place the folded edge of the tie on the bottom edge of the mat panel. The tie should be spaced 4 1/2" from the side of the mat panel.
• Pin the tie ends out of the way. Baste 1/4" from the edge.
• Pin the pillow along the top edge of the mat panel, right sides together.
• Sew using a 1" seam allowance. Fold the pillow up away from the mat and press the seam toward the mat. Set aside.


6. Quilt the Mat:
• Fold one short edge of the second mat panel 1" towards the wrong side. Press with your iron.
• Use your marking pen to mark the quilt lines on the panel. Start the lines 4 1/2" in from the sides and 4 1/2" up from bottom edge. Continue to mark every 4".
• There will be 9 lines from bottom to top and 5 lines from side to side.
• Place the two mat panels right sides together matching bottom corners. Baste with a 1/4" seam allowance around the sides and the bottom.
• Stack the four layers of batting on top of the basted mat panels and pin in place. Sew the layers of batting to the mat panels around the sides and the bottom.
• Trim the seam allowance in the corners, and batting seam allowance to reduce the bulk.
• Turn right side out and press with your iron.
• Switch your sewing machine's presser foot to a walking foot and topstitch on the marked quilt lines.


7. Finish Assembly:
• Finish the bottom edge of the pillow - pin the folded mat edge over the pillow seam. Topstitch or blind stitch to close.
• Stuff the pillow with Fiber Fill. Blind stitch the opening closed.
• Roll the mat around the pillow. Wrap the ties around the mat and secure with the Velcro.

JOANN HACKS:

• Before cutting, sandwich four layers of scrap batting between two layers of scrap flannel to check that your machine will sew through the thickness. If needed, remove a batting layer for an easier sew.
• If the walking foot is snagging on the naked batting, stick masking tape along the seam line and sew over top. Or place a tearaway stabilizer or tissue paper over the seam line and sew over top, tearing off the paper when the seam is finished.