Burda Style For people who sew

Use a loop turner to turn a fabric tunnel to create spaghetti straps, or other narrow cords or straps.

Technique Materials

Loop turner

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• Get Instructions (PDF, 1.7 MB)

5 Comments

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  May 21, 2009, 04.41 PMby ForMathilda

  i just want to thank you so very much- ever since i read your alternative method of loop turning WITHOUT a loop turner (string sewn at the end and encased in the fabric tunnel) , my projects are moving along ALOT faster and with less frustration!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!
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  Mar 14, 2008, 02.07 AMby admin

  For perfect spaghetti straps, use a bias strip cut 5 times wider than the desired width of your finished strap and at least 4 inches longer than the finished strap length. Sew your channel the width of the finished strap. Trim the excess material outside the seam on the last 2 inches of each strap. Turn inside out. Voila! You now have a beautiful full strap with ends that are not bulky.
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  Nov 12, 2007, 10.54 PMby AndreaOehm

  If you don’t have a loop turner, or are making exceptionally thin straps (say for button loops on a child’s garment, that a loop turner won’t fit through) it can be done very simply with a piece of string. Cut a piece of sturdy string, cord or thick wool about 10cm longer than the strip of fabric you are turning. Tie a knot at end of the string. Now take your fabric strip and fold in half lengthwise(right sides together); if it is very narrow or if the material has any slip, press it in half first, as this will make it easier to handle. Place the piece of string inside the fabric, with the string hard up against the fold and with the knot sticking out at one end. Machine stitch across the knotted end, making sure the knot is outside the stitching line, turn and stitch up the long side of the fabric, enclosing the string inside. You should end up with a skinny fabric tunnel with a piece of string hanging out the open end. Pull on this end of the string and it will pull the knotted end through the tunnel. With very thin straps you may need to ease the tunnel over the knot to get it started. Voila! You should now have a thin strap, right side out; cut the knotted end off and pull the remaining string through, and your strap/loop is complete. Press flat or dampen and roll to get a round strap.
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  Oct 24, 2007, 01.03 PMby sparadis

  This is a really excellent way to create tubing, you can also use tapestery needle and yarn. thread the needle through where you finisehd the seam and thread the needle through the tunnel. by gently pulling you can easily turn the fabric over. When it’s done you remove the stitch and you can keep the needle threaded and you can use it again and again
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  Aug 8, 2007, 08.47 AMby lafemmedramatique

  Oh my gosh! This is SOOO much easier than what i’ve been doing! (pushing it through w/ my pinkie until it won’t go any more, then using a pencil and tweezers to get it the rest of the way)

  I am so glad to know that they actually have a tool for this! I figured they did, but I didn’t know what to look for…