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how to turn straps right side out
kjcaron Advanced Beginner CT USA Member since 6/7/07 Posts: 17	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:07 PM Hi. How do you turn small (3/4") straps right side out after stitching them? This is the second time this step has stumped me in a project. The last time was for a closure on a purse and I just gave up after a while and put in a magnetic closure instead. This time it's a child top though and magnetic closures won't work! ;) Thank you.
FirecrackerKTM Intermediate CO USA Member since 3/28/08 Posts: 2333	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:09 PM Are you talking about sewing a strip into a tube? What I do is leave long tails on the end after I'm done sewing it, and then tie them to a very large hand sewing needle, and pulling it through gently, turning it right side out as I go.
kjcaron Advanced Beginner CT USA Member since 6/7/07 Posts: 17	Login to reply to this post In reply to FirecrackerKTM Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:12 PM There was a long strip of material, folded in half right sides together, then stitched with a 3/8" seam allowance. Now I have to turn it right side out and I can't figure out how to do that because it's so small.
michellep74   Intermediate CA USA Member since 7/19/07 Posts: 2311	Login to reply to this post In reply to kjcaron Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:12 PM There's a loop turner notion that you can use--I think it's under $5 at JoAnn's. If you don't have that available...you can "cheat" and end up with a result that won't look any different to 99% of the population: 1. Fold the strap in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press. 2. Open the strap, and then fold the two long edges together so that they meet at the fold (wrong sides together). Press. 3.Fold the strap back in half along the original fold and press again. 4. Top-stitch as close as possible to the open edge. Repeat along the folded edge. Does this make sense? This should give you about the same width of strap as if you were sewing it the "right" way... ------ --Michelle *** Blog: http://happilycaffeinated.blogspot.com/
redhead Advanced TN USA Member since 10/18/03 Posts: 1097	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:17 PM In a pinch, I have straightened a coat hanger, run it through my fabric tube--the strap in this case--used a small piece of duct tape to secure the end of the tube to the end of the coat hanger, and pulled the coat hanger out, turning the tube right side out as I pulled. It still took a little fiddling but was pretty easy all the same. Sarah
FirecrackerKTM Intermediate CO USA Member since 3/28/08 Posts: 2333	Login to reply to this post In reply to kjcaron Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:20 PM OK, yeah that's what I thought you meant. I don't have a fancy loop turner. I just use the method I described above. Doubtless there's a better way.
kjcaron Advanced Beginner CT USA Member since 6/7/07 Posts: 17	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:24 PM Ok, thanks. I will see if I can find a coat hanger or something to try. If not, I'll try sewing it up like Michelle suggested and call it a day. Thanks for the help!
Pinkytoo   Advanced VA USA Member since 6/23/06 Posts: 2726	Login to reply to this post In reply to FirecrackerKTM Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:29 PM Non-Fancy Loop Turner: get a long needle with a big eye (I have an upholstery needle that I use but actually any kind will work). Thread it with some heavy duty thread or doubled regular thread, long enough to reach at least halfway down the strap and knot it so the thread can't come out. Take a stitch at one end, push the "eye" end of the needle into the opening of the tube and all the way to the other (open) end. Pull until the tube is turned right side out. You may have to help it turn at the stitch end at first but once you get it going it only takes a few seconds. When it's turned just cut off the knot and pull the rest of the thread out. I keep my needle - er I mean 'turner' threaded and in my pincushion at the ready for just this process! Signed, Low Tech OldSchool ------ Sewing is my therapy!
Stitchology Intermediate MD USA Member since 1/26/03 Posts: 3678	Login to reply to this post In reply to kjcaron Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:30 PM If your seam allowance is as wide as, or wider than, the opening it will give you a fight. Try trimming that down so it fits inside the turned tube more easily. Make sure your seams are well secured at each end so they don't loosen. Edit: Duh, I read your posts again and see this isn't part of the problem. But keep it in mind for the future! -- Edited on 5/29/08 3:31 PM -- ------ Buy the best and you only cry once.
FirecrackerKTM Intermediate CO USA Member since 3/28/08 Posts: 2333	Login to reply to this post In reply to Pinkytoo Like this post Date: 5/29/08 3:42 PM The one I use has a point like this: and is a large, upholstery-type needle. The arrowhead point makes it less likely to poke through the edges when I'm pushing it through.

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