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How to Make a Puzzle Mat for Storing Puzzles

A puzzle mat lets you store a complete jigsaw puzzle or move it away to clear a surface then bring it back in the same state when the surface becomes available again. While puzzle mats are available at some retailers, you can make your own puzzle mat with minimal sewing and craft experience. The result is compact and attractive enough to give as a gift for a family member who loves puzzles.

Things You'll Need

1 yard of felt fabric
Cardboard gift wrap roller
Sewing machine
Thread
Pins
Scissors
Hot glue gun
2 hook and loop straps

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the felt into a rectangle in which the short dimension equals the length of the wrapping paper roller and the long dimension is five inches longer than the length of the roller.
- 2
  Line up the roller with the short end of the fabric, then roll the roller one full turn to wrap it in felt. Pin the the felt to mark the size of the pocket needed to hold the roller, then carefully remove the roller.
- 3
  Sew a straight seam along the line marked by pins, removing the pins as you go. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam to secure it.
- 4
  Cut small rectangles out of the remaining scraps of felt. The rectangles should be 4 inches wide and as long as the circumference of the roller.
- 5
  Apply hot glue to half of one of the small felt rectangles lengthwise. Attach the rectangle to the outside one end of the cardboard roller so that 2 inches of felt extend past the end of the roller. Apply hot glue to the overhanging 2 inches and tuck the felt into the roller to create a felt lining that extends 2 inches each on the inside and outside of the cardboard tube. Repeat to line the other end of the roller with the other rectangle of fabric.
- 6
  Slide the cardboard roll carefully into the pocket you sewed onto one end of the large rectangle.
- 7
  Store puzzles by assembling on the mat then carefully rolling the mat up around the roller at one end. Secure the mat using two hook and loop straps.

Jigsaw Puzzles