PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,279 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,279 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 8/30/06
Posts: 127
Send Message
Posted on: 3/18/08 12:48 PM ET
I want to make some Japanese ball buttons for a jacket using the underlining (100% cotton) to cover the cord. How in the world do I do that? I've turned little tubes (hate it), but never with a cord inside.
  
Member since 7/13/07
Posts: 6482
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 3/18/08 2:58 PM ET
I just saw this...let me go check my magazines...found it! It's in the latest issue of Threads.

There's actually no cord in side. For 1 1/4 inch diameter cord, start with a bias strip 1-1/2 inches wide. Fold the bias strip with right sides together and lay it on a 1 inch strip of soft batting and stitch through all three layers. Then turn it right side out.

There's also excellent illustrations on making the knot itself. If you're interested, it would be worth picking up a copy.

HTH.
------
Paula

"In Seattle you haven't had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it's running."
- Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder

Visit my blog at www.sewconfused.blogspot.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/paulag1955/sewing-inspiration/
  
Member since 8/30/06
Posts: 127
Send Message
Posted on: 3/18/08 3:36 PM ET
Thanks, Paula! I actually have that issue. I"ll go look it up.
  
Member since 12/3/05
Posts: 6572
Send Message
Posted on: 3/18/08 3:59 PM ET
A Fasturn would be extremely helpful for turning the tubes of fabric.
------
No sewing project is ever a complete success nor a total failure.
  
Member since 11/22/07
Posts: 506
Send Message
Posted on: 3/18/08 7:42 PM ET
In reply to Robbie Jo
Hi there...let me see if I can explain how I used to do this for children's things.....

Take your cord, measuring out 2x the actual length you need, plus a little extra for comfort/insurance.

Then cut your bias strip, or fabric strip the length you need (1/2 of the cord lenght remember) and a width sufficient to cover the cord, with a small side seam.

Put zipper foot or similar on the machine.

Starting at roughly the middle of the cording, wrap the fabric around the cording and begin by sewing across the short end of your fabric, and across the enclosed cord. This secures the fabric and the cord, about at the middle of the cord.....Now sew down the seam allowance of the fabric, keeping close to the encased cording, but do not sew into the cord....

When you finish this step, you will have the cord in the middle of the tube of fabric, with your seam allowance on the outside.....Trim the seam allowance as needed.

Now take ahold of the cord that is extending slightly out of the tube you have just sewn.....take your fabric tube and roll it inisde out...up and over over the enclosed cord....the finished tube ends up covering the cord you had left out and the cord you sewed in the tube is now out! It's sort of like turing a sock inside out. Finish the ends as needed.

If you don't get it, call me... It's so easy, it's crazy....and much better than trying to turn those dang little tubes inside out!

HTH

ML (Who last weekend finished making the paper pattern from all the pants alterations, but had to take her machine in for routine tune up and is currently so sad to be without a motorized toy).


I forgot to say that fabric is sewn right sides together....unless you want the wrong side to show!.....of course once you master the idea, you can sew from the bottom up, from the center down...whatever pleases you....and it works for relatively any width of cord.....if you get too long a piece, it can be harder to turn, but not impossible.
-- Edited on 3/19/08 7:45 AM --
  
Member since 8/30/06
Posts: 127
Send Message
Posted on: 3/21/08 12:53 PM ET
Hey ML!!.. I think I get it, I'll give it a try and see what happens.

I have on a pair of my perfect pants, but I still don't like the way the front looks. Gotta work on that. Plus, I think the fabric I made them out of has too much lycra in them. By the end of the day they are almost to my knees....
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Elliott Berman Textiles
High-end Fashion Fabrics
Specials!