How To Turn A Narrow Tube - The Bobby Pin Trick

Do you avoid designs with narrow spaghetti straps because the idea of turning the narrow tube is just too daunting? We have a super easy trick to share to take away that fear and open up the possibilities to sew up those darling designs! The secret is the use of a bobby pin - seriously, it works! After trying this you will have the confidence to turn narrow fabric tubes without fear!

BONUS - Limited Time Giveaway! This week We're giving away a $50 Pixie Faire Gift Card!

To enter the giveaway, be sure to scroll to the end of this post and leave a comment. Tell us what sewing challenge you'd like us to solve! Then be sure to follow this blog series to see when we post a "quick tips" solution!

This exciting sewing tip is being shared with you as an excerpt from the full Sewing Curves and Corners course. This course offers a full sew-along for the Liberty Jane Culotte Jumpsuit plus other tips for sewing curves and corners, if you haven't already checked it out I encourage you to take a peek and pick up a copy of the course today, or join the Sewing With Cinnamon community for more sewing tips, tricks, and community interaction.

Now onto the tutorial... All you need is a bobby pin and a 1" wide piece of woven cotton fabric to test this out. It can be any sewing project, it doesn't have to be just for dolls. This excerpt is demo-ing the strap pieces from the Culotte Jumpsuit pattern design.

 

Wasn't that amazing? Are you ready to try this out yourself? Here's is an additional step by step illustration (from the Culotte Jumpsuit pattern) of the whole process:

1. With RIGHT sides together, fold the strap in half lengthwise. Stitch with 1/4" seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance close to the stitching line.

2. Cut a small slit into the folded edge of the strap about 1/8" from the end. Slide a bobby pin onto the strap. Be sure the small section slides in between the bobby pin. Then feed the top back inside the tube.

3. Continue to push the bobby pin into the tube while pulling the fabric back over the end of the bobby pin.

4. Continue to slide the fabric back while pulling the bobby pin forward.

5. As the tube emerges, carefully slide the fabric all the way to the end.

6. Press the straps and use them with your desired project!

 

Applying this method can help you approach sewing patterns that include narrow spaghetti straps with confidence! Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

     

 

  

 

ENTER TO WIN A $50 Pixie Faire Gift Card!

 

To enter this week's contest, simply click the link below and then enter through the giveaway widget at the bottom of the blog post, there are many things you can do to earn multiple entry points!

Contest Details: You enter through the entry form that is embedded on this page and appears just below this paragraph, if you don't see it, be sure to visit the page from your desktop or an alternate browser such as Google Chrome. It may not appear on all mobile devices. The complete rules and entry details appear on the entry form. This is not a comment contest - in other words, leaving a comment on the bottom of this page is not an official entry method. The only required entry method is to leave a comment under this post and then confirm that you did it in the contest widget. One person will receive the PF Gift Card. You can enter once, or gain multiple entries by completing the other entry methods and increase your chances of winning. Please review all Terms and Conditions on the giveaway page before entering. While we wish we could run this contest everywhere, for legal reasons it is only open to eligible residents of the U.S. and Canada, not including Rhode Island. This contest is exclusively endorsed by Liberty Jane Clothing and Pixie Faire. 

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We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us - what sewing challenge you'd like us to solve! Then be sure to follow this blog series to see when we post a "quick tips" solution!

Commenting below and confirming your entry in the widget above gives you one entry method, the other methods are listed in the widget above, be sure to enter in as many ways as you can to receive the maximum amount of entries to win one PF Gift Card!

Thanks, everyone!

The Pixie Faire Team


100 Comments

Heidi
Heidi

October 31, 2022

Great tip.

Ellen
Ellen

October 29, 2022

Very clever. I will definitely be trying this!

Stephanie G
Stephanie G

October 28, 2022

Good tip!

Carla pearson
Carla pearson

October 28, 2022

Very helpful

Susan
Susan

October 28, 2022

Looks easy!

Laurie
Laurie

October 28, 2022

Look forward to trying the hairpin tip. I have used 1/8 or 1/4 inch ribbon heretofore to avoid trying to turn a tiny strap.

Jean
Jean

October 28, 2022

I’ll have to try this!

Heather
Heather

October 28, 2022

Great tip!

Carmen
Carmen

October 26, 2022

Great tip. Thanks!

Jordan Kendregan
Jordan Kendregan

October 26, 2022

Cool tip

Linda Ditgen
Linda Ditgen

October 25, 2022

I use a turning tool but will give this a try. I love the pattern used in this tutorial.

Virginia
Virginia

October 25, 2022

Sewing with multiple layers of tulle to make a gathered overskirt

Diana
Diana

October 25, 2022

I use small safety pins or my turning tool.

Grace C-A
Grace C-A

October 25, 2022

Yesss! This is a great tip. Thanks!

Kyle
Kyle

October 25, 2022

Absolutely ingenious! Turning can be seriously frustrating!

Marcie
Marcie

October 25, 2022

This is amazing.

Libby
Libby

October 25, 2022

Wow, love this! I’ve used a safety pin before but not a bobby pin. This will definitely be used!

Kristina
Kristina

October 25, 2022

Definitely using this!

Donna
Donna

October 25, 2022

Great tip. I will try it.

Charlotte
Charlotte

October 25, 2022

This is a great idea, I’ll need to try this out next time I’m making tiny straps!

Angie
Angie

October 25, 2022

Handy for when a safety pin is too big and nothing else is handy.

Kathy
Kathy

October 25, 2022

What great tip. I never thought about using a bobby pin….

Mary
Mary

October 25, 2022

hmmm… looks easier than my ‘turning tubes’ I’ve always used… I’ll give this a try!

Rebecca
Rebecca

October 25, 2022

That’s a great tip!
I would love a heck for small-scale ruffles where there isn’t really room for multiple gathering threads (my usual approach).

Rebecca
Rebecca

October 25, 2022

That’s a great tip!
I would love a heck for small-scale ruffles where there isn’t really room for multiple gathering threads (my usual approach).

Ruth
Ruth

October 25, 2022

I would love tips on working with stretchy fabrics

Cheryl Strayer
Cheryl Strayer

October 25, 2022

I learned something new!

Jennylyn Gross
Jennylyn Gross

October 23, 2022

good to know thank you

Mary Cox
Mary Cox

October 22, 2022

My dilemma is marking tulle. Nothing I try seems to work, so is there a trick for me to learn?

Gail Beam
Gail Beam

October 22, 2022

What a great tip!! thank you

Kari
Kari

October 21, 2022

This is an amazing tip! I have trouble with having the needle pull in small pattern pieces so the stitching puckers unattractively.

Sharon
Sharon

October 21, 2022

very nifty

Carol
Carol

October 21, 2022

Great idea. No more avoiding straps.

Heather
Heather

October 21, 2022

great idea!

Veronica Rosenshein
Veronica Rosenshein

October 21, 2022

Such a neat tip

Gail
Gail

October 21, 2022

What a great tip. Thanks.

Rachel
Rachel

October 21, 2022

I will have to try this soon. I have been a fan of Liberty Jane and PixieFaie since 2010. Thank for all the tips you provide.

Dana
Dana

October 21, 2022

I need to try that next time!!!😮😍

LindaHH
LindaHH

October 21, 2022

I usually use a hemostat for turning but I will certainly try the bobby pin method.

LindaHH
LindaHH

October 21, 2022

I usually use a hemostat for turning but I will certainly try the bobby pin method.

Kathi Early
Kathi Early

October 21, 2022

Great idea!! Thanks!

rosemary anderman
rosemary anderman

October 21, 2022

who would have thought? kiddos

Sarah
Sarah

October 21, 2022

excellent tip!

katy
katy

October 21, 2022

Wow! what a great tip. I have always avoided this kind of strap but I am going to give this a try!

Dorothy Reynolds
Dorothy Reynolds

October 21, 2022

A great idea, but not sure I have any Bobby pins around. I will check to see where I can get them tho! Thanks

PJ
PJ

October 20, 2022

I love your site!

Monica H
Monica H

October 14, 2022

Thanks for the tip.

Dawn J
Dawn J

October 14, 2022

Thanks for the tip

Donna Lsndrrth
Donna Lsndrrth

October 14, 2022

This is an awesome tip. I would never have thought of doing this. It is going to be very helpful. Thank you Cinnamon for the awesome giveaways.❤️😘

Martha
Martha

October 14, 2022

I would love tips on how to sew on knit fabric.

Linda
Linda

October 14, 2022

New tip to me, will try this!

Lynn Craig
Lynn Craig

October 14, 2022

Brilliant! Can’t wait to try it.

Brandi Smith
Brandi Smith

October 14, 2022

This is a great tip!

Matt
Matt

October 14, 2022

Neat tip

Maria
Maria

October 14, 2022

Great tips!

Shaphan
Shaphan

October 14, 2022

So smart!!

Regan
Regan

October 14, 2022

So helpful thank you.

Barb
Barb

October 12, 2022

This is a good tip to use.

Julie
Julie

October 11, 2022

This was an absolutely wonderful tip…hopefully I’ll tackle some of those spaghetti straps in so many cute patterns!

I too would love a tutorial on hemming circle skirts, plus any help with zippers would be appreciated! Your website is awesome!

Louise Houdelette
Louise Houdelette

October 11, 2022

Great tip. Now I have to borrow a bobby pin as I don’t have any.

Denise Darby
Denise Darby

October 11, 2022

This is very handy tip to have under one’s belt.

Allison T
Allison T

October 11, 2022

This is so helpful! I always use a safety pin, but those are often bulky.

Louise
Louise

October 11, 2022

Great tip

Alison
Alison

October 10, 2022

Wow thank you for the great tip!

S
S

October 08, 2022

Great tip, thanks for the tutorial!

LizT
LizT

October 07, 2022

Great tip, and bobby pins are easy to find.

Donna B
Donna B

October 07, 2022

I did it! Works better than any other way I’ve tried.

Cindy
Cindy

October 07, 2022

I like that they showed us how to turn such a narrow tube.

Anne Marie
Anne Marie

October 07, 2022

Thanks for the great tip.

Barbara
Barbara

October 07, 2022

I totally love this tip. I sew a lot of small doll clothes so any of their straps are difficult to turn. I’ve seen them done several ways on my patterns but none of them please me. This one is fabulous! I just need to remember to add a little to the end of the strap when cutting it out. Once it is turned I can use the pattern piece to make sure it’s the right length. I would like some tips on turning collars for smaller doll clothes. I always seem to have trouble keeping them from looking pointed in places.

Bobbi
Bobbi

October 07, 2022

Thank you! I always appreciate the tips!

Kristie L.
Kristie L.

October 07, 2022

Thank you for the tip!!

Ingela
Ingela

October 07, 2022

Great tip!

Bev G
Bev G

October 07, 2022

Well this tip makes things easier!

PAMELA
PAMELA

October 07, 2022

I usually use a small safety pin.

Donna
Donna

October 07, 2022

What different fabrics go together and which ones drape nicely also sewing on sheer fabrics.

Marsha
Marsha

October 07, 2022

These how-to videos really help!

Diane R
Diane R

October 07, 2022

Problem solved!

Jill
Jill

October 07, 2022

This is cute. Never would have thought to turn that small of a project inside out.

Sara D.
Sara D.

October 07, 2022

Great tip,thank you! :)

Maureen Andrews
Maureen Andrews

October 06, 2022

This will be a big help!

LAURIE
LAURIE

October 06, 2022

It’s amazing how easy it is to use the bobby pin. Love it!

geri
geri

October 06, 2022

Love this much easier than turning tubes

Katherine
Katherine

October 06, 2022

Neat!

Kimberly Chidsey
Kimberly Chidsey

October 05, 2022

This is a great tip. My favorite way of turning straps is using the smallest turning tools you can buy and it works like a charm!

Melinda
Melinda

October 05, 2022

Wow this has got to be one of the niftiest tips I’ve seen in a LONG time!! I’ve tried several different ones, but for such a tiny tube this is a game changer!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Terry
Terry

October 05, 2022

Thank you for sharing the trick.

Sewbig
Sewbig

October 05, 2022

Love the bobby pin method. It makes the tiniest tubes – perfect for Keepers’ outfits.

Beitrys
Beitrys

October 05, 2022

Ive used all of these at one time or another and i still try to avoid tubes.

Cynthia C
Cynthia C

October 05, 2022

I’ve used safety pins, tube turners and bodkins but never a bobby pin. I’ll have to find one!

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Kari L. Bjorklund

February 12, 2021

Sewing techniques, which needle to use, which thread is best. What sewing fit to use, etc. also how to mark fleece material.

Kari L. Bjorklund
Kari L. Bjorklund

February 12, 2021

Sewing techniques, which needle to use, which thread is best. What sewing fit to use, etc. also how to mark fleece material.

Terri silva
Terri silva

February 05, 2021

Omg. Where was this tip 50 years ago when I was sewing clothes for my daughter! Thank you!

Carol
Carol

January 15, 2021

Thanks so much for the great tip, simple and effective and appreciate how much it speeds up the process.

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