How to Make a Snuffle Mat on a Q Series Longarm

My dog Ruby loves treats and a snuffle mat is a great way to keep her mentally active while she searches for treats. Of course, you can purchase ready-made snuffle mats but it’s super simple to make your own using your sit-down BERNINA Q Series Longarm and, most likely, materials found in your stash. Since Ruby is a smaller dog, the mat size that I’m making is 14” square.

Materials for Making a Snuffle Mat

• BERNINA Q 20 Longarm
• Horn Lift Table
• Adjustable Ruler Foot #72
• Fabric:
  • 2 fat quarters cotton quilting fabric from Benartex
  • 2 colors of fleece, 3/4 yard each, 54” wide
• Longarm quilting thread to coordinate with backing fabric
• Piecing thread for binding
• 18” x 18” cotton batting remnant
• 65” double fold binding
• Pins or Wonder Clips
• Basic sewing supplies and quilting tools
• Dog treats or dry kibble

Cutting Instructions

• Fleece – Color 1: (7) 11” x 12” rectangles
• Fleece – Color 2: (6) 11” x 12” rectangles
• Sub-cut 8 strips on both long sides of all 13 fleece rectangles, leaving 1” in the center uncut. Each strip will be 1-1/2” wide x 5” long.

Step One: Quilt the Base

Determine which fat quarter you want as the back of the snuffle mat and which you want as the face. Sandwich the batting between the wrong-side facings of each fat quarter (right sides face out). Baste or pin to secure, if desired.

Quilt an area that is at least 16” square. I quilted a cross-hatch grid. This would be a perfect time to practice free-motion quilting or rulerwork. The quilting doesn’t have to be perfect as it will be covered with the fleece strips.

Use chalk to outline a 14” square in the center of the quilted area. Using that square as a guide, chalk parallel stitch lines 1” apart, as shown in the diagram.

Step Two: Attach the fleece strips

Align the center of a fleece Color 1 rectangle along the first (left) stitch line, leaving a 1” margin on the top, bottom, and left side for binding.

Starting outside the square outline, bring your bobbin to the top, secure the threads and stitch down and then back up the center of the rectangle (away from the strips).

Continue stitching to the outside of the square outline and needle down.

Fold the strips from the first fleece strip to the left. Pin or clip, as needed, to hold in place.

Position the center of a fleece Color 2 rectangle on the next marked stitch line, and stitch in the same manner as fleece Color 1.

Continue alternately stitching the different colors of fleece strips in place, leaving 1” spacing at the top and bottom. After stitching the last strip, there should be a 1” allowance on the right side for binding.

Step Three: Finish the Snuffle Mat

When you are finished stitching the fleece strips, trim the excess fabric around the 14” square outline. Pin or clip the fleece strips toward the center to access the outer 1” for binding.

Apply double fold binding to the front. Hand or machine stitch on the back.

Tie fleece strips together in a double knot, leaving a bit of space to allow treats to settle into the knot for an increased challenge for the puppy.

Step Four: Enjoy the Snuffle Mat

Grab some dog treats or kibble and stuff them into the tied strips and let your pooch enjoy! Depending on your dog, you may need to make them easy to find by sprinkling on top or really hide them to make it a challenge.