I was working on a bag design and wanted to create a particular type of handle. Not the usual bag handle where you simply fold the fabric into 4 and topstitch. I wanted a ‘nicer’ handle, one with two different fabrics so it would be reversible and feature both of the fabrics from my bag.
What was stopping me?
Turning the darned thing the right side out again once I had stitched the tube! It’s bad enough on a tube of regular fabric, but both of these pieces were interfaced making them thick and stiff too. It just all bunches up and gets too thick to turn.
I don’t mind telling you I flung it across the room and cursed loudly. My cat hid under the bed! Until I tried the straw and chopstick trick. Or rather, in this case, the plastic hose and wooden dowel trick. At last! Success.
Here’s how it works.
How to turn a tube of fabric right side out
You will need:
1 – a hollow cylindrical object, which is fairly stiff and will slide inside your tube of fabric. For a small tube, use a sturdy straw. For a bag handle, I used a piece of plastic tubing intended for aquariums I think.
2 – a pokey thing. Something rigid and not hollow, that just fits inside the hollow tube from point 1. For a small tube, a chopstick or similar. In my case, a thin piece of wooden dowel we had hanging around for reasons unknown.
Step 1
Sew across one end of your tube to close it. This may be temporary and unpicked or snipped off later or can be a finished end on your tube.
Step 2
Slide your hollow tube down inside the fabric tube all the way to the closed off end. It doesn’t really matter if your fabric is longer than the tube.
Step 3
Stick the end of your pokey tool into the hollow end of the tube inside your fabric.
Step 4
Now slide the fabric off the tube and onto the pokey stick. Somehow it now seems to slide easily without all bunching up, and you can transfer the fabric off the tube and onto the stick.
Step 5
Once you get it started, it goes quickly and you can then simply pull the end through. Eventually, your fabric gets turned all the way down and the plastic tube becomes free.
Your right side will start to show on the end of your pokey stick.
Step 6
Keep pushing the fabric down the stick until the whole tube is turned the right side out.
Step 7
You can then use the tube or the pokey stick to press your tube of fabric if you don’t want to press it flat.
Step 8
Store your stick and tube together. You’ll be wanting to use them again next time for sure.
Give your tube a press and admire your new strap/belt/whatever it is you are making.
Here’s the handle I was working on. I love the faux piped look I can get from using the two different fabrics.
More coming soon about this handle and the bag it’s going on.
In the meantime, PIN THIS to share with your sewing buddies. They’ll thank you for it!
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What if it’s a very NARROW “tube” and no space for anything to push it right-side out?
Hi Dorrie, I have another way to turn a long strap without using a tube. Stay Tuned please, I am in the process of writing the tutorial.
Just use the pokey tool or a knitting needle
can anyone give suggestions for thick AND very fragile fabric, such as vintage chenille, and an impossibly small tube. Any suggestions would be very appreciated! Thank you ☺️
Where did you find that tube?
I came to a solution when I had to make a handle on a bag I was making. Searched around till I found a knitting needle and pushed the head thru my piece of fabric but first had to start it with turning the end of the tube with my fingers which took some time to get it going. It worked well and have seen the tube method just pictured here so thats the next few gadgets I will get from the hardware store. Love seeing hints and tricks to make our sewing projects more enjoyable and not being frustrated with not having the necessary tools. This site has been very helpful for me and thank you!
Another way to turn a tube: With a thin but strong cord, heavy string, etc., sew one end into one end of the the strap (or whatever you’re going to turn), making sure it will be long enough to extend out the other end of the tube when sewn together. Sew the tube, handle, etc., together (if it is in two pieces or if you’re folding to make a tube. Be sure to keep the cord/string free When you’ve finished sewing the seam/seams, pull the cord, etc. until you’ve pulled it wrong side out. The cord, string, or whatever you’ve sewn into the end can then be cut off. Pat H.
Should’ve read this incredibly innovative solution before posting my question! Such great advice. I’m sure it’ll work perfectly with my fragile chenille fabric and it’s a very small tube. So grateful, thank you! You saved Christmas, as I’m sewing holiday gnomes using fabric from my belated sister (that has fusible backing ironed on to preserve this precious fabric further) to gift her son and my mum. Very grateful!
Will definitely be using this method on my next project! Thanks!
Amazing, I am definitely going to try it.
Thank you for the great and easy idea but I am wondering if sewers should avoid ironing the material actually on the plastic tube as suggested here. Won’t it melt or distort the plastic somehow if the iron is hot?
You are a genius! Fabulous idea. I always sew down a ribbon at the end first and then sew the sides with the ribbon inside making sure you don’t catch the ribbon. Then you pull the ribbon and flip out the whole thing. When making thin spaghetti straps I use a strong thread works great on satini fabric. I will try your method next time I turn a thick strap. I always hate wasting ribbons! Thanks again!
Oh my gosh you have given me the biggest help in making 2 toned ribbon!!!!! Now instead of having to sew the smaller ribbon to each edge of the bigger ribbon, I can make it into a tube, turn using your method and iron!!! Perfect and so much easier!!!! Thank you!!
I’m off to find a tube and a pokey stick right now ????????
1) Why did you double stitch the seam of the ‘strap’?
2) To clarify: the stick pushes the fabric through while the tube just sits there waiting to become free?? The tube has done its job of helping to start the turning and the fabric does not go through the tube??
3) Use a length of half-inch size half round wooden dowel to press the seams open before turning it makes the strap easy to press afterward. Sometimes a hardware store or lumber yard has an extra scrap piece or it’s cheap enough to purchase whatever length they require you to buy. Cut it into various lengths.
Very useful trick. Thank you!
That’s freakin’ brilliant.
What a great tip, thank you for sharing!
Brilliant!!! Thank you so much
What size are the tubes?
Depends on the size of the fabric you want to turn.
That’s a neat trick. I have a tube turning ser, but frequently misplace it. Out of curiousity, why did you need to see them into tubes? Why nor just press them in half and then stitch down the sides? That’s how I do my contrasting straps.
Wow what a great tip! Thank´s a lot for all your things you share with us.
This has already been my preferred method of turning, but will now try plastic tubing for larger tubes or difficult fabrics. What I absolutely loved was your idea of using 2 complementary fabrics creating faux piping; that I can’t wait to experiment with. As always you are clever and creative, thank you.
I did the same thing with a piece of leftover PVC pipe and a dowel. I have two different sizes of pipe for different size projects. When in a pinch, I start looking around for something I can use from stuff I have on hand.
I love reading your suggestions!
Thank you what a neat trick – no more torn fabric and you have nice tube
This is fantastic. I wish I would have seem it last night before I had to turn that long skinny fabric belt.l.. I was going to buy one of those turning tubing kits. This looks so much more efficient and is less expensive!
C’est génial, j’adore. Merci
Terrific!! You have nailed it again!! Thanks. My arm gets sore after I have thrown the D— thing across the room several times!
Great tip, thank you,
That is so cool! Been sewing for 70 years and never saw this neat trick! I know what you mean when you said you threw it against the wall LOL
I have struggled many times with turning a tube of material. Wonderful trick that I will use many times. Thanks
Yes, I want to know more about the handle. Looks amazing. (strap)
That’s a great tube trick! I’ve made a lot of bags and have found that if I run the iron over parts with a stiff interfacing just before turning them (and working quickly before they cool off), they turn a lot easier – just be careful not to burn your fingers.
Thanks for sharing, not only this wonderful idea, but all the things you share with everyone. Much appreciated.
What a great idea. I’m making shopping bags and this is perfect. Thanks
What a fantastic idea! Thank you!
One of my favorite tools in the sewing studio is my tube turner. I was able to pick up a packet of multiple sizes at a store and I find myself reaching for these with my students all the time.
It is certainly a very clever, and less stressful, was of turning out tubes. I have used conduit tubing and the head end of a long metal knitting needle. It’s a case of ‘why didn’t someone show me this sooner?’
Thank you for posting your great tips, Jess
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing!!
A wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing.
This was awesome!! I was so excited when it worked — twice 🙂 To find the flexible plastic tubing, and a pokey thing, I went to my local hardware store. (It’s a *real* one where they are able to be helpful and creative without snickering. I wouldn’t try this at a Home Depot box store.
They had really inexpensive flexible tubing, and when the dowel broke the woman helping me grabbed a brass rod to be my pokey thing.
I will definitely keep this page bookmarked!
Brilliant. This would have been the answer for the loop of PUL I just could NOT turn. I did the cursing and hurling routine and finally left it off.
Thank you so much for this – I struggle with tubes – your method looks so simple.