26 July 2010

Sewing 101 with Shannon, Turning a skinny fabric tube

Hey Y'all, It's Shannon from Shannon Makes Stuff and I'm honored to be here today with Chris sharing my tip for beginner sewers. First off I want to say good for you for starting to sew! You won't regret it. And don't give up! If you are anything like me you'll make a lot of redo's. But that's okay, you learn as you go!
There really is a million and a half things I could share with you. But the one thing that used to drive me crazy while sewing until I figured this little trick out on my own was turning long skinny tubes inside out. Ugh. I used to do the place the safety pin in one end and shimmy it down the tube until it comes out the other end. But really, who has the time? Or the patience? This is so much easier. I guarantee it.
To start out with you will need the piece of fabric you are going to be turning into a tube. This piece is 1 inch across by 25 inches long. Set this right sides down on your work surface.
Take a roll of ribbon. I use the same roll every time. It stays with me with my sewing supplies. Use a 1/4 inch ribbon, that way it will fit in any size tube you make! Lay it out on top of your fabric piece until it comes off the farthest end.
Sew the end of the ribbon to the end of your fabric piece in the middle. Back stitch a few times to secure it in place. You don't want it in your seam allowance space. (I should have sewn mine a little closer to the middle to show you better. I was cutting it close.)
Then head over to your sewing machine. While you sew your sides together to create your tube you need to hold the ribbon to the side with the fold to make sure it doesn't get caught in your sewn line. Sew all the way to the end of your tube.
You now have an inside out tube with a ribbon running through it and still connected to your ribbon spool.

Start to roll up the ribbon on the spool. As you do this scrunch up the fabric tube.

Keep scrunching and sliding.

Once the ribbon is all rolled up you will see the end and the right side of the fabric tube will start to pull through.

Keep pulling the fabric piece to the end.

Completely pull the the fabric until it is right sides out.

Then cut off the ribbon as close as you can to the sewn line without cutting the tube. You could also unpick the stitch if you prefer.

And there you have it. See wasn't that easy?
And if you are curious what I am going to do with this long gold tube, come visit me at Shannon Makes Stuff, and in a few days, you will know!

What a fun tip, Shannon!  There are so many projects that require a skinny fabric tube.  This makes it much easier.  Be sure to check out all of Shannon's stuff!  Her latest tutorial for a plunging neckline cover up is genius, especially if you're living in a hot climate.

26 happy thoughts:

The Paisley Abbey said...

That is awesome! I would have never thought to pull it through that way.
:)
Courtney

Nancy said...

What a great tip. I have been known to tear little holes in the fabric with tweasers trying to turn something that narrow. Thanks.

The Johnsons said...

Oh my heck! This is great!! I never would have thought of it but it seems so simple. Thanks for sharing!

Eileen said...

this is fantastic...nothing worse than sewing a small tube and spending an hour turning it right side out....I will definitely use this tip!

tvbleak said...

One of those great ideas, that makes us all wonder, "Why didn't I think of that?" Thanks for sharing. :^D

Unknown said...

Wanted to let you know that I geatured your tutorial on my blog today and gave it a try. Thank you so much for the great idea!
http://jessalynnedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/08/diy-envelope-bag.html

Shannon said...

Found this tutorial on Pinterest today. Fantastic! Thank you.

Primmy said...

This looks awesome, Thank you so much, I'm making my little girl Pillowcase Tunic Tops, and rather than use ribbon I wanted to make the ties myself. this will make it that much easier thank you!

Charlotte Kay said...

Wow!!!!! Love, love, love this idea:) :) :)

Unknown said...

I agree with Charolette...love love love this (it's new to me) idea and I've been sewing for many years!

Little Birdie Blessings said...

NO WAY!! You're a GENIUS. I just tried it. This is the best thing since sliced bread. Thank you Thank you. I sew a lot of bags and have trouble with my hands, so turning the straps is always a challenge. Wheee!! So excited. ~ Abby

Paula Lemos said...

This is a really smart idea! Thank you for sharing!

Unknown said...

That's amazing!! No more frustration for me!! Thankyou!

Unknown said...

That's amazing!! No more frustration for me! Thankyou

Glo A said...

You've just made turning out a fabric tube a breeze!! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

This is not just a hint for beginner sewing ... I've been sewing for 63 years and this is the first time I've heard about this. I'll no longer be stressing over turning a tube. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Great idea....will have to try this.

Juana said...

What to say? GENIUS!

Unknown said...

I am speechless! Why didn't I think of this YEARS ago! Thank you!

Unknown said...

You are amazing...and from here on out my friend:) my mom and I struggled like crazy when making aprons. I so wish I had found this. Thank you..thank you:)

Think Bowtique said...

What a great idea. Looks so much easier then trying to use an Knitting to push it back.

Unknown said...

Simple really. Wish I had thought of it before now. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Thank you sharing...teaching really!

Unknown said...

Fantastic idea! Is there a way,to use this trick when one end of your tube needs to be sewn shut, as in ties for an apron?

Nanaskidsx5 said...

Thank you for this tip! It'll sure come in handy in my upcoming projects.

Unknown said...

Cut the fabric on bias and you'll have thinner pipping.

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