Juliasb, When you sew the batting in your strips you use a straight stitch and when you are finished and roll all the two 1/2 inch strips up in a ball. You then start you rug by zig zagging the strips together. The first two rounds are difficult to turn a sharp turn and sew together You are butting one row up against the other while you zig zag. I hope this is some what clear to you.