How to Make a Fabric Crawl Tunnel

You Will Need:

• 2 1/3 yards strong vinyl fabric or denim fabric, 60 inches wide
• Matching machine thread
• 7 yards fabric tape, 1 inch wide
• 12 yards strong wire
• Marker chalk or felt tip pen
• Scissors – Ruler – Sticky Tape

Making the Tunnel:

Lay the fabric out flat, wrong side up and, leaving a 2 inch margin at each end, measure off and mark every 16 inches. Draw diagonal lines the whole length of the fabric as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 (top) - Drawing up the lines on the fabric.

Figure 2 (left center) - Where to sew the tapes

Figure 3 (bottom) - Forming the tube

Figure 4 (right center) - Inserting wire

Leave a 1½ inch gap at both selvages and sew the fabric tape along the lines to form a casing, stitching both sides close to the edges (Figure 2).

With right sides together and a ½ inch seam allowance machine along the two selvages. Press open (Figure 3).

Turn in the 12 inch hem at both ends of the tube, leaving an opening for the wire at the seam. Stitch a second line close to the fold. Turn the tunnel the right way out.

Cover the end of the wire with sticky tape and, starting at point AA (Figure 4) slip it through the casing, easing the material along as you go.

At the end slot it through the gap in the hem and continue til the wire has gone right around and overlapped by about 6 inches.

Ease the material back from this end until it is smooth. Put the loose end of the wire through the other hem and pull round til it meets an overlaps here, too.

Set the tunnel up in the yard and watch as your child giggles and hides in delight!

Until next time,

Happy Crafting!

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