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Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)I lost the topic heading where I read earlier about sewing a tail was ok (a QT Red Rat!) but the turning wasn't OK.
Well, I stopped to draw a quick sketch and cannot find the topic now!! It was the cute red rat
The comment that prompted this post was the "sewing was OK but not the turning".
I went back into some of the kits in my 1st kit line:
As I was a teen in the late 50s, spaghetti straps on gown were very popular. In order to sew those narrow little 1/8" strips, we did this:
Fold the strip (your tail, piping, whatever..) in half. Being cut on-the-bias helps, as it has more flexibility but straight grain works too.
Cut a strong cord or thread about as long as your strip. With practice you won't need it this long.
Knot one end with a substatial knot, one that won't slip through your sts.
Lay it inside your strip against the fold line, with the knot hanging out the end.
Sew (by hand or machine) across the short end, matching the edges. It's OK to sew through the cord/thread, as you'll cut it off later. It actually achors the knotted cord better.
As soon as you've turned the corner and sewn an inch or so down the side seam, roll the knotted end of the fabric well between our fingers to break up any sizing and to soften the part to be inverted.
Hold the sewn end of the 'tube' between your fingers to encourage it to take on a round shape, which opens up the center of the tube.
Pull firmly on the other end of the cord until the sewn/knotted end slips inside the tube.
Tuck the cord back up against the inside fold again so you don't catch it with your needle. If sewing by machine, a zipper foot is the best to use to keep the cord away from the stitching line while pressing only the seam allowances together.
Continue to sew and pull every inch or two - this will depend on how flexible the fabric is. If it has pile on the front/outside, you'll need to have trimmed that away from the sewing lines and the seam allowances. Tuck the rest of the nap/pile inside as you go.
As you reach the end of the strip/tube, your far, knotted end is already right there, ready to pull completely right-side out!
Easy Peazy Lemon Squeezy, as my grandies say.
There is also a tool out there called Fasturn which has different sizes of tubes for pulling the fabric through
Hugs
Gail
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Right, got that one Gail - like a gian pinchers. The thread works so much better.
Being the Tool Gal, I've got all of the Fasturn tubes, Straws & skewer assemblies - every thing that's come down the pike.
But nothing is as narrow, as cheap and as quick as a Knotted heavy-duty thread.
And all of the others needed to be completely sewn shut before beginning to turn right-side. That puts a lot of bunched up fabric onto/into/through the tools.
For anyone who's searching for where they stored their little-used Fasturn/Straws&Skewers/tube sets, keep this neat trick in mind!!
famtastic bobbie - found it - and thanks to gail too
this ones worth bookmarking !
cat xxx
Bobbie that is brilliant! I'm so glad you posted this 
Chaska, MinnesotaGreat tip there Bobby. Thanks for posting the suggestion.
Gail. Thank you too for adding another way to turn tails...
Matilda Huggington-beareMy mother told me this one when she was over visiting last year. I asked why she had'nt told me sooner?
she said..." you never asked".....
Great demo Bobbie!! If the tube is really fine then the turning sticks are apt to put a hole in the end . Not nice.......bad words get spoken.......tails get shorter
Bobbies way is the best way to do it!!! 
