I use the point of a seam ripper to push the fabric through. It helps to starch the fabric end very stiff. The 2 1/2" strip of fabric took me forever to get loaded but when I was at Paduacah quilt show last year I asked the Simplicity vendor to show me how to do it and I did it with her watching me. Just use any sharp point to get the fabric out the other end and then pull it until it folds right, then pull it back to the beginning end.