Tips for using loop turner

When using a loop turner, review the sewing pattern instruction for the width and length of the final strap. In addition, cut the fabric either along the grain line or bias cut depending on the garment.

To easily turn the fabric inside out, always trim the extra seam allowance into ⅛” to avoid bulkiness.

Tips for using a loop turner for better functionality:

• Able to flip things instead of using a bodkin or safety pin, it is not just limited to spaghetti straps.
• Very useful for thin fabric casings.
• Avoid using a safety pin that keeps opening up and losing the fabric, lace or elastic in the mid section of the fabric casing.
• Use a turner for all size straps.
• To pull ribbon or elastic through a narrow tube or casing.

As a beginner, having a loop turner will make any sewing project so much easier.

Whether you are working on woven or knit fabric to make a fabric strap, make sure to use the correct sewing needle and thread to stitch down the narrow tube. As a result, you won’t break the stitches when you turn the material inside out.

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Comments

1. Jessica January 11, 2019 at 8:42 am

Neat, I didn’t know they made these tools.

Hi Melly—good options, all three of them. What I’ve learned to do is to sew a long piece of wool, heavier thread or dental floss to one of the short ends, extending all down the length and then I pull it. Simply snip off the end that I sewed shut (with the attached floss) and viola! an instantly turned tube without the fuss.

• Mea Cadwell September 14, 2021 at 7:10 pm

I do the same thing. I’ll go to thrift stores and perus the sewing area, grabbing inexpensive ribbon and use that in place of dental floss. The ribbon is easier for me to grab and can be reused until it’s too short to do so.

Thank you for showing how to clip the needle.

Mellly,
Have you ever tried the sewing a ribbon sewn at closed end positioned on right side of fabric and stitching across the short end. Carefully holding the skinny ribbon (or floss or fishing line next to fold, then stitch seam. Allows you to pull the ribbon out and the close end through the formed tube. I have done it . It takes patience but it does make it easier for the really skinny straps

How to Sew a Skinny Strap

Before we talk about turning the tube, let’s talk about how to sewing it to make it easier to turn.

First, use the seam allowance specified by the pattern. But before turning, trim your seam allowance down to 1/4 or 1/8 inch, depending on your fabric. You may wish to use pinking shears instead of regular scissors to do this if the fabric is prone to unravelling.

Next, as you experiment with different types of turning methods, you may find that some are easier with an open tube and some with a closed tube. If you are sewing straps for something like this walker caddy, you need closed ends. But spaghetti straps on a dress generally have open ends in the instructions. I prefer to sew the long side of the tube and then pivot at a corner to sew across the short end. This is generally easier than starting by sewing across the short end first.

How do you use a loop turner?

A loop turner, as the name suggests, is meant for turning the fabric or elastic through a loop, casing, tunnel or a sewn tube. It can also be used to turn a strap inside out for the clean edges to be on the outside, while the sewn edges are pushed within.

Follow the steps below to use a loop turner for pulling fabric from a sewn strap or tube:

• To determine the width, cut the fabric strip to be turned that is 2 times the finished tube width along with ½” for seam allowance.
• To determine the length, add 2 to 3 inches to the finished length desired after turning.
• Fold the fabric lengthwise by bringing the right sides together.
• Straight stitch ¼” of a seam.
• Seam allowance is trimmed to cut an end of the tube at an angle.
• Slide the loop turner into the tube and latch to the fabric ¼” from the opposite end.
• Pull the turner in your direction by guiding or massaging the fabric on the hook to turn the strap inside out.
• Continue to draw the fabric without disengaging the hook until the fabric has been flipped.

To use the loop turner for turning very thin fabric tubes:

• Use sharp scissors to trim off any excess seam allowance.
• Take the loop turner and push it into the fabric tube.
• Latch it onto the fabric end and pull it inside out.
• This function helps in turning very thin casings inside or right side out such as drawstring cords or spaghetti straps etc.