Some things seem simple. I have spent more time in my life doing simple things, like turning a fabric tube right side out, than I care to remember. Because what is little and simple turns out to be neither. It can be infuriating if you’re just working with your hands. I broke down one day and bought a turning tool at the fabric store. It was only a few dollars so I figured why not try it. OH MY goodness it makes life so much easier! Am I the only one who was so clueless for so long? Do you want to know how to turn a tube of fabric right side out?
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Get your rectangle of fabric. Mine was cut haphazardly by hand. Yours might look better. Mine also has some stabilizer ironed on because I used it for my messenger bag strap.
- Fold that rectangle in half the long way and sew the long way and one end closed. Grab your turning tube and stick (they are a package deal). This Turn It All on Amazon is basically what I have. Or find a sturdy straw and chopstick. You get the idea.
- Slide the tube all the way into the fabric. Way down to the end you sewed shut.
- Now hold the fabric so the tube doesn’t move and start pushing that stick into the tube, through the closed end of the fabric. This is where you hope you stitched well.
- Keep going. Start to push the fabric down over the tube and stick as you push the stick. Keep pushing that fabric and you’ll end up with the tube on the outside and the stick inside. Push until the fabric is completely turned.
- Press your tube flat.
Now wasn’t that easy? Much better than wasting 30 minutes of your time sanity. Iron and top stitch and you’ll have a great strap for something.
How do you turn fabric? Do you have any tricks or tips?
Comments & Reviews
suzee says
Boink to head! That is awesome!!! Thank you for this great tip!
Jodi B says
I love that tool.
katie says
hemostats!
http://whileshenaps.typepad.com/whileshenaps/2011/08/hemostats-explained.html
you can get them at amazon too, along with the places she mentions…
Andrea @ The Train To Crazy says
So that’s what they are called!
Jessica says
I put a safety pin on one of the right sides of the fabric before I fold and sew the tube. But I may need to invest in a turner, though!
Hilda says
honestly I just take a long chop stick, push it to the end of the tube and “scoot” the fabric down on itself till it’s turned inside out. easy peasy. this turning tool looks pretty nifty though.
Sarah AJ says
I really need one of those! I’ve done my fair share of cursing while trying to turn narrow tubes.
Thanks for featuring my owl hats earlier.
Wendy says
cool! i always do the pin style. I’ve never heard of that tool before. looks like a glorified bubble tea straw and an orange stick… am i wrong?
Andrea @ The Train To Crazy says
Exactly!!
Sandra Cook says
I love this! I will definitely have to make one since I am a DIY’er too.I really like your tutorials.Thanks for all your help.
From Mamaw with Love,http://sandrajcook594772.blogspot.com
Kerry says
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I had a 1.5mtr tubing that was going to house a 1/4in wide elastic and had NO idea how to turn it! With your inspiration I used a plastic straw and bamboo skewer to do it!
JaimeSews says
I use the fasturn tools
Kathi Chesnut says
check out the retrieval tool that you can find in your husbands garage or at the local hardware store. It WILL change your life.
Kathi Chesnut says
I apologize about the pic, I didn’t have anything to use, I will take it down.
I have put up a YouTube about the fabric turning tool that will change your life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tds2t2LMd9I
Jane on Whidbey says
Depends on the length and width of the tubing I have to turn. for really small ones, sewing a narrow piece of ribbon, or even just a length of twine with a knot in the end to the end of the fabric before sewing it. Make sure you don’t sew down the ‘puller’ when you make the seam. Pull the ribbon through the middle when you’re done sewing. This works really well for straps that don’t need to have a finished end, because you can just cut it off when it’s done being turned.
A pencil with an eraser works well for medium width ones. A long cooking chopstick, thick end first, works well with some others. I’ve just recently learned about the straw, and I’ll see if that makes it easier. It looks like it would.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Kathi Chestnut’s solution works, too. My, so many good ideas here. Thanks!
Dee says
Sewing a piece of string into the beginning of your stitching. Make sure the rest of the string runs down inside the inner fold of your tube. When you have finished sewing just pull the string and the tube will turn itself with no effort!
Dee says
Sorry Jane, I didn’t see your comment until I had posted mine. Great minds think alike
Jane on Whidbey says
No problem, girl. Great minds and all…..
Thomasena Johnson says
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