Fabric Tube & Elastic Casing
@Professor Pincushion
@The Awl-Nighter
@ColleenGLea – FSBTV
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Turning a skinny fabric tube right-side out and threading elastic through a casing are foundational skills for creating waistbands, scrunchies, bag straps, and drawstrings. The technique for both relies on the “scrunch and pull” method.
Materials Needed:
- Fabric tube or sewn casing
- Elastic or drawstring
- Heavy-duty safety pin or a bodkin
- Sewing machine and thread
Tips for Success:
- If threading elastic, always pin the loose “tail” end to the outside of your fabric so it doesn’t accidentally get sucked inside the casing!
- Trim your seam allowances before turning narrow tubes to prevent thick, lumpy straps.
1. Prepare the Tube or Casing
- For a tube: Sew the fabric right sides together along the long edge.
For a casing: Fold the fabric edge over and stitch it down, leaving a 2-inch gap open to insert the elastic.
2. Attach the Tool
- Take a large, sturdy safety pin (or a bodkin).
For a tube: Fasten it securely to the seam allowance at one open end of the tube.
For a casing: Pierce it securely through one end of your elastic or drawstring.
3. Secure the Loose End (Casings Only)
- Take a second safety pin and pin the opposite end of your elastic to the outside of the garment, near the opening. This guarantees you won’t lose the tail end inside the casing.
4. Scrunch and Pull
- Push the closed safety pin into the opening of the tube/casing. Scrunch the fabric over the hard metal of the pin. Pinch the pin securely through the fabric with one hand, and use your other hand to pull the bunched-up fabric backward.
5. Continue the Motion
- Repeat the “scrunch and pull” motion to guide the safety pin all the way through the channel until it emerges out the other side. For a tube, this action will pull the fabric right-side out. For a casing, this threads the elastic fully through the loop.
6. Secure and Finish
- For elastic: Overlap the two ends of the elastic by an inch. Sew a strong zigzag stitch or a square box to lock them together. Let the elastic snap back inside the casing, and topstitch the 2-inch fabric gap closed.
For a tube: Remove the pin, poke out the corners with a chopstick, and press flat with an iron.
Top FAQs for Tubes and Casings:
What is a bodkin? +
A bodkin is a specialized sewing tool that resembles a large, blunt needle or a pair of locking tweezers. It is explicitly designed for gripping elastic or drawstrings and threading them through casings much faster than a standard safety pin.
How do I stop the elastic from twisting inside the casing? +
Try to keep the safety pin completely flat as you guide it through the casing. If your waistband continually twists while wearing it, you can buy “non-roll” elastic, or you can “stitch in the ditch” vertically at the side seams of the garment to permanently lock the elastic in place.
How do I keep the other end of the elastic from slipping inside? +
This is a common frustration! Before you push the threading safety pin into the casing, use a second safety pin to secure the loose “tail” end of the elastic to the outside of the garment near the opening. It acts as an anchor so it can’t be pulled inside.
Why is my fabric tube so hard to turn right-side out? +
Your tube might be too narrow for the thickness of the fabric, causing it to jam inside itself. Try trimming the seam allowance down slightly to reduce bulk. If it is a very skinny spaghetti strap, you may need a specialized wire “loop turner” tool.
What is the best stitch for securing the ends of the elastic together? +
Because elastic endures a lot of stress, a standard straight stitch is not enough. Overlap the ends by about an inch and sew a wide, short zigzag stitch back and forth several times, or sew a square box with an ‘X’ in the middle for maximum strength.
Can I use a paperclip instead of a safety pin? +
It is highly discouraged. Paperclips are flimsy and can easily bend open under pressure, snag the interior fibers of your fabric, or slip completely off the elastic halfway through the casing, forcing you to start all over again.
