Easy Spaghetti Straps

Spaghetti straps can be hard to turn inside out, especially very narrow ones like the ones on this dress from Parasite Eve. Using this simple technique will make it more painless than you ever thought possible!

This is especially great if you don't have a loop turner, or if you can't find yours at 4AM when you need it most...

As I'm sure you could guess, it starts with a rectangle.

Fold it in half, iron it flat!

Give it a thorough stitching!

For fabric that stretches or ravels, if you have a serger, you may want to serge instead of straight stitch this part. This will allow your spaghetti straps to stretch (if using stretch fabric) or be more durable (if using a very loose woven).

Okay, done. BE SURE to solidly backstitch at both ends. This is the most important part. You don't want it falling apart when you're half through turning it inside out.

Keep in mind that your seam allowance here after it's trimmed will need to be smaller than your finished spaghetti strap. So if you want 1/2 inch spaghetti straps, make sure your seam allowance is somewhat less than 1/2 inch. (If you make it 1/2 inch exactly it won't have space to lay flat once flipped inside out.)

Give it a haircut.

Now, if you're like most people, you probably have one of those hand sewing needle packs that are 20% usable needles, 80% darning needles. Well, today is your lucky day, because those darn useless needles are about to become very relevant to your life. Tapestry or darning needles work great for this because they have blunt tips which won't poke through the fabric as easily.

Hook it up with some thread, heavy duty if you have it, and double knot it as shown. (If you're working with a thick fabric, you may want to even run a second thread through it in case one breaks.)

Now, take your needle and slip it on through your fabric at one end.

Give it an extra stitch or two to reinforce it. You don't want the knot to pop out or rip free!

Now, align your needle like this. If your needle is REALLY blunt, you can do it business end first, but....I find it's usually better to stick it through butt end first. It won't get stuck on things as much.

Insertion time!

An action shot...sort of. Pull your needle all the way through to the other side of the tube.

He made it! Hurray!

Maintaining gentle pressure via the needle thread, use your fingers to start pushing the fabric to the inside. It shouldn't need much, just maybe a half inch or so to get it turning properly.

Now gently pull your tube of fabric inside out, using the thread from your needle to pull it through. It should turn in pretty easily.

V for Victory! If your spaghetti straps look like they've imbibed a little too much vodka sauce, you will want to make an appointment with your iron.

Yay! Aren't you glad you didn't have to turn that inside out by hand?

Some spaghetti straps in action!