Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to turn layered flannel and batting into a faux chenille bath mat that is soft underfoot and actually stays put.
This one surprised me, y'all. I first made faux chenille as a throw. All that slashing and washing. Then I stepped out of the shower one morning. Cold tile. Slippery mat sliding around. And I thought, why not a smaller version for the bathroom?
Here is why batting makes it work. Flannel alone goes flat fast. Batting in the middle gives you cushion. It also gives you absorbency. Your feet land on something plush, not thin and soggy. Just like that, the mat has a job and a little luxury too.
We are stacking, stitching diagonal channels, and slashing between them. When you wash it, the cut edges bloom. They curl and soften into that chenille texture. It looks fancy. It is not hard. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
What You Will Need
- 4 to 5 layers of cotton flannel, cut about 20 by 34 inches for a standard bath mat
- 1 layer of low-loft cotton batting, cut the same size
- 1 sturdy backing fabric, cotton canvas or denim works well, cut the same size
- Non-slip rug backing, shelf liner, or silicone dots for grip
- Cotton thread, 50-weight for piecing and stitching channels
- Walking foot for your machine
- Sharp chenille cutter or small, sharp scissors
- Pins or clips, fabric marker, and a ruler
- Size 80/12 or 90/14 needle — I like 90/14 for this many layers
A quick note on color. Put your prettiest flannel on top. Put darker or plainer layers underneath. When you slash, those lower layers peek through. That peek is where the magic lives.
How to Make It
- Build your stack. Lay your backing fabric right side down. Place the batting smooth on top of it. Then stack your flannel layers right sides up. Top layer is your show layer. Smooth everything flat. No wrinkles if you can help it.
- Pin well. Pin every 4 to 5 inches across the whole mat. This stack likes to shift. I learned that the hard way. My first channels wandered something awful. More pins fixed it.
- Mark your first diagonal line. Draw a line corner to corner at a 45-degree angle. This is your guide line. Every other line follows it.
- Stitch your channels. Use your walking foot. Set your stitch length to about 2.5 mm, roughly 10 stitches per inch. Stitch on your marked line first. Then stitch parallel lines about 1/2 inch apart across the whole mat. Slow down here, folks. Push too fast through thick layers and you can snap a needle.
- Slash between the lines. Here we go. Slide your chenille cutter between stitch lines. Cut through the flannel layers only. Stop before the batting and backing. Do not cut your stitching. Leave the batting intact underneath. That is what holds it all together and soaks up water.
- Bind the edges. Trim the mat square. Bind it just like a quilt, with 2 1/2-inch strips. Miter your corners. Stitch in the ditch to catch the back, or hand stitch it down. Completely up to you.
- Add the grip. Flip the mat over. Add your non-slip layer now. You can stitch a piece of non-slip rug backing to the back. You can add a grid of silicone dots and let them dry fully. Or you can sew it to a textured shelf liner cut 1 inch smaller all around. Pick the grip that fits your floor.
- Wash it and watch it bloom. Wash warm with a couple of towels for friction. Dry on medium. The slashed edges will fray, curl, and get really really soft. Trim any long threads. That is it.
Tips and Variations
It does not have to be perfect. Read that again. Your channels might wobble a little. Mine did. After washing, nobody can tell. You are your own worst critic here. Take your time. It is not a race.
Want more cushion? Use two thin layers of batting instead of one. Want it thinner for a kitchen sink mat? Leave the batting out of the outer edges and keep it just in the center. Options, not rules.
Use up scraps. This is super duper fun with recycled flannel shirts. Mix plaids. Mix stripes. The bloom hides a multitude of mismatches.
Care tip. Shake it outside once a week. Wash it when it stops blooming fluffy. Cotton batting dries best if you give it air on both sides. Lay it over the tub edge overnight sometimes.
Size it your way. Make a 14 by 20 inch version for in front of the sink. Make a long runner for a double vanity. We are not reinventing the wheel here. Just change your starting rectangle.
Alrighty, y'all. Step onto something you made. It feels different, in a good way. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop Hobbs Heirloom 100% Cotton Batting Package at Linda's Electric Quilters.
