Friday, May 14, 2010

Friday Confession


I never use my loop turner.

Oh, I've tried. But I could never get it to work for me as well as simply sewing a long piece of yarn into my loop and then gently pulling on that yarn to turn my loop right-side out.

So, what about you? How do you turn your loops (and sashes and spaghetti straps, etc.) right-side out? Any special tricks you can share?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hand them to my mother.

Barring that, I do the yarn trick, and I have a loop turner, too, that does not work.

Karin (the Mrs.) said...

For a second there I started to look very happy, reading about something calles a loop turner. I never saw one of those and it sounded promising. But then I read that it doesn't work for you, and neither for sewducky. So, there is your answer: I never used a loopturner. When I think of it, I sew a piece of yarn in, but I have to confess I forget about it most of the times. So most loops and straps and alike are turned with a lot of wiggling, cursing, pencilpushing and praying that the end result still will look decent ;-)

Zep said...

I find them very easy to use depending on the type of fabric. Some fabrics just grab with one another and don't slide. When that happens I just fake it with a couple of folds with the iron and stitch it together from the right side. I use duck cloth to make totes and no matter how big you make it - its hard to turn.

Now my students on the other hand have a very hard time using this tool so I hand them a safety pin to pull it through - that they can do. But you do have to hold it in your hand slightly and let the fabric slip through trying not to bunch it up. You will never get it to pull though if it bunches up.

Hey - I remembered to answer this week! I feel like part of the gang again. crazy moments I don't have time to do my blog this week. Happy I saw the question and was able to answer. SO - I'm a YES :) Have a most wonderful weekend Gwen!

gwensews said...

I've used the "tube turner" by Fasturn for years, successfully. They are pricey, but work well. I see that the company has been sold, so that product may be in limbo right now.

Unknown said...

I have one of those metal tools like you do, but also never have luck with it. But, I love my set of cheapo with a coupon Joann's tubes and sticks. There are 3 pairs of plastic tubes (different diameters) and wooden sticks. You sew 1 end of your tube shut, stick the tube inside it, then use the wooden stick to push the closed end up inside the tube and voila... when it appears right side out at the other end, just pull the rest and you're done! Then I also have a set of flat plastic sticks that you put inside to iron them flat. I love sewing gadgets!

Uta said...

I'm the worst with this - I never even turn! Don't have a loop turner, never tried the yarn trick. I used a safety pin a couple of times, which was just too fiddly. So I just fold the tube like bias tape and sew from the right side.

Faye Lewis said...

Yes I use that thing! To it is nerve wrecking.

Anonymous said...

Nup, I never use it. It doesn't work. It either puts a hole in whatever it is I'm turning or I can't grab the end to pull. Bleh. I stitch over a cord or use my bobbin thread.

Shannon said...

I avoid them as much as possible. When I have to, I usually use a safety pin. I learned a speedy trick in fashion design school, but I've totally forgotten it now.

patsijean said...

I have used the Fasturn tubes since they came out. Fantastic. I have always wanted one of the stitching guide thingys that Fasturn also carries(it enables one to sew the correct width tube for each tube, but I have never purchased one.

Summerset said...

I use the loop turner. No problem. I also have an entire set of Fasturn tubes, just never used them. I got the whole lot of them for $2 at a quilt guild sale table.

Webfrau said...

I'm another Fast-turn tube owner - absolutely brilliant. I see the company has recently been sold but they're planning to bring the product back into production.

Anonymous said...

The loop turn thingy worked for me once and then never more again. It's the raven to me now. :(

Becky said...

I mooch off of my mom's Fasturn!

Sarah said...

I do it as you said, but instead of using yarn I use a long length of thread sewn at the end of the tube.