Featured Fabric: Studio E Fabrics Rough Around the Edges by Funny Girl

Pattern design by: Lindsay Conner

Sewn by: Lindsay Conner

This cozy cat tunnel is the purr-fect DIY project for any pet-loving sewist! With just a few recyclable materials and a couple yards of fabric, you can stitch up a fun and functional hideaway your feline (or small pup) will love. Follow our easy step-by-step tutorial to create a sturdy, triangle-shaped tunnel that’s ideal for lounging, playing, or sneaking in a quick catnap. Let’s get sewing!

Skills Learned: Machine sewing

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size:

22” (55.9cm) long x 14” (35.6cm) wide x 12” (30.5cm) tall

Fabric Requirements:

1 yard (.91m) main fabric. I used:

• 8271-96 Pumpkin - Dandelion Stamp

1 yard (.91m) lining fabric. I used:

• 8273-37 Chocolate - Weathered Dots

Materials:

Sewing machine with zipper foot

Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat

Sewing clips

Cardboard (3 pieces 13.5” x 21.5”)

Insulated batting or other fluffy filler (3 pieces 13.5” x 21.5”)

Water soluble marker

Ribbon

Hand sewing needle and thread

Scissors

Directions

1. From both the main fabric and lining fabric, cut 1 piece 43” x 24”. Place the fabrics right sides together, and pin or clip in pace. Using a 1/2” seam allowance, stitch along the two short sides and one long side only, leaving one long side open.

2. Turn the fabrics right side out, and finger press the seams flat.

3. Find some old shipping boxes and cut 3 cardboard panels 13.5” x 21.5”. Arrange the pieces of cardboard side by side on top of the fabric.

4. If you get refrigerated meals delivered to your home, you might have some extra insulated batting laying around. This is the perfect material to reuse for the cat tunnel filler! Cut 3 pieces 13.5” x 21.5”. You can also substitute a couple layers of regular quilt batting or use an old fleece blanket.

5. If you need to piece a little bit of insulated batting together, use clear tape to combine pieces into a larger piece.

6. With just the cardboard pieces placed evenly on top of the fabric, grab a water-soluble marker and ruler. Mark a vertical line between panels 1 and 2, and another vertical line between panels 2 and 3. These will be sewn on to make pockets.

7. Remove the cardboard, and pin the fabric layers together along the lines you drew. Then, stitch along both lines, making sure to STOP sewing when you get 1” from the long open edge. Backstitch at both ends.

8. Insert a cardboard piece into each of the three pockets. In the center pocket, place a piece of insulated batting on top of the cardboard (to make a fluffy sitting place inside the cat tunnel). In the left and right pockets, place a piece of insulated batting behind the cardboard (to pad the outer sides).

9. Push the cardboard and batting all the way into the fabric, leaving the loose raw edges of the cat tunnel.

10. Carefully fold in the raw edges by 1/4” to 1/2” all around the opening. Use sewing clips to secure in place, making a clean folded edge.

11. Insert a 6” length of ribbon into both the far left and far right corners of the clipped edge, and reclip in place. These will become ties for the back side of the cat tunnel.

12. Stitch along the long clipped edge, carefully navigating the length of the three-pocket panel through the sewing machine. A zipper foot is helpful during this step and will let you stitch closer to the bulky layers. Don’t worry about making this look perfect—your cats will love it! Just try to get it closed. Next, tie the two ribbon ends together into a bow.

13. On the front end of the cat tunnel, use a hand needle and thread to sew tiny tacks into the fabric to join the panels together.  (If you'd like, you can tie a bow from another ribbon and sew this onto the front to cover the stitches and add a finishing touch!)

Hand sew up to three more sections of tiny stitches to tack together the sides of the cat tunnel, just as if you were sewing on a button. Keep sewing through the fabric layers until it feels secure, then trim off the excess thread.

Fabric Details:

To view the complete Studio E Rough Around the Edges collection, click here.

Learn more about Lindsay here.