The Fabulous Fabric Tube Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-335 -- More Projects »
Step 1: Making the Bias Strips - Cut a square of fabric in half diagonally to produce two triangles (Fig. 1).
- Place one triangle on top of the other as pictured (Fig. 2) with right sides facing. Stitch along the top edge, taking a 1/4" seam. Press seam open.
- Place right side up on table top (Fig. 3). Bring corner A to bottom of seam B and corner C to top of seam B. Determine the width of the bias strip you want to make and move point C (Fig. 4) up the required distance (i.e. if you want to make a 1 1/2" wide strip, move point C up 1 1/2").
- Stitch the two diagonal edges together, taking a 1/4" seam allowance. Press seam open, and starting at extended point C, draw lines round and round the tube, keeping the strip the same width for the full length. Cut along the guidelines (Fig. 4), being careful not to cut through both layers of fabric at the same time.
- Note: The length of the strip is determined by the size of the square you start with and the width of the strip you cut. A 36" square cut in a strip 1 1/2" wide yields 11 yards of length.
Step 2: Making and Turning the Tube - To turn the fabric strip into a tube, fold the piece in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing. Stitch the entire length of the tube, taking a 1/4" seam. When making very narrow tubes, you may later need to trim this allowance for turning.
- Wide tubes can be easily turned by pinning a large safety pin through the seam allowance at one end of the tube, turning it into the tube and pulling through. For narrow tubes or very long ones, the following tube turner will do the job.
The Tube Turner
The tube turner should be a rigid tube small enough around so that the fabric tube can be slipped over it, and large enough so that the fabric can be pulled through it. For large fabric tubes, the cardboard cores from waxed paper or foil work well. For very narrow fabric tubes, a drinking straw can be used. For long narrow tubes, tape two straws together. If you do not have a core, you can make one from cardboard using poster board or cereal boxes for tubing. Cut a rectangle, score and fold along three lines placed equal distances apart down the length of the cardboard (Fig. 5). Fold into a triangle and tape to hold (Fig. 6).
You will also need a length of wire several inches longer than the tube. In most cases, a length of coat hanger wire will do.
For very skinny tubes you need a finer wire. With needle-nosed pliers, bend a U-shaped hook at one end of the wire.
Turning the Fabric Tube - Slip the fabric tube over the top of the turning tube and push it down until only about 1" of fabric extends beyond the top of the tube. Do not let it slip off the bottom end. Insert the wire at bottom and push it up through the tube and out at the top.
- Grab the end of the fabric with the hook and give it a steady pull. Continue to pull until the entire length of fabric is pulled through the tube.
Step 3: Stuffing the Tube
What you use for stuffing will often be determined by the tube size and what you are making.
Polyester Batting (wreaths, snakes, small baskets) Batting works well for medium and larger tubes. Cut a piece of batting as wide as the tube is long, making sure it is long enough so that when it is rolled tightly it is somewhat larger than the fabric tube. Cut a piece of plastic wrap as long as the rolled batting and wide enough to go around it twice. Wrap tightly. Pinch one end together, wrap with a piece of masking tape to hold, and insert in fabric tube. Turn and push until the entire tube is stuffed. Cut off taped portion.
Note: It sometimes helps to wrap the batting around a length of wire to give it stability. Wire can be left in or removed after stuffing the tube.
Yarn (large baskets, bracelets, napkin rings, braided ornaments)
For medium and smaller sized tubes that are to remain flexible, yarn (4-ply knitting worsted, rug yarn, jiffy, etc.) works extremely well. Cut many strands of yarn a bit longer than the length of the tube. Fold in half over a safety pin and pull through the fabric tube. You will have to experiment a bit to decide how many strands of yarn work best for the tube you are stuffing. In most cases, you should use enough to fill the tube and keep it wrinkle-free.
Aluminum Foil ('Christmas' letters, small candy canes)
For stuffing skinny tubes that you wish to shape, aluminum foil works well. Either heavy duty or regular weight will do. The foil shrinks in length as you work with it so practice first to get an idea of how long a piece you will need. Tear off a piece of foil and crunch it lengthwise. When it is about as solid as you can get it, roll it along on the table or counter top to smooth it out, straighten it out, and make it more solid. When rolling a very long piece, like the one it took to spell out "Christmas" (120"), it will be easier to roll it on the carpet. Insert in fabric tube and shape as desired.
Plastic Trash Bags (floppy doll, large candy canes)
The easiest fillings of them all are plastic trash bags. Cut the bag up the sides, fold in half along the bottom, fold loop over a wire with a hook on the end (the tube turner hook), and pull it through the fabric tube. If the item is to be shaped, wrap the plastic around foil or wire (as described above).
Step 4: Finishing the Ends - Push fabric back so that about 1/2" of the stuffing is exposed. Cut off stuffing and then straighten fabric.
- Fold in raw edge of fabric and crease with fingernail. With needle and thread, take small running stitches around in the crease. Pull thread to gather closed. Repeat at other end. For wreaths, baskets, napkin rings and bracelets, join the ends as follows:
- a.Cut at one end as necessary so that the fabric and stuffing are even all the way across. On the other end, push the fabric back at least 1" and cut off the stuffing.
- b.Smooth fabric out and fold in raw edge about 1/2". Crease with fingernail.
- c.Slip the other end of the tube into the other end so that the ends of the batting or yarn butt up against each other. You may wish to add a bit of glue to help hold the ends together while you finish.
- d.Hand sew the outer tube to the inside tube with overcast stitches.
The Baskets
The baskets can be made with a coiled fabric bottom or cut a piece of cardboard the desired size and shape. Cut one piece of fabric slightly larger than the cardboard all the way around, and adhere it to cardboard with spray adhesive or fusible webbing. Cut many slashes around the extending edge of fabric, then fold back and secure to the bottom of the cardboard piece.
Cut a second piece of fabric slightly smaller than the cardboard and adhere to the cardboard, covering all the slashed edge. This will be the inside of the basket.
Cut a length of the fabric tube large enough to go around the cardboard plus an extra inch or two for security. Pin into the cardboard or hold temporarily with double-stick tape. When you are certain of the exact required length of the piece, cut and join the ends as described above. Glue the completed circle or oval of tubing to the cardboard to form the first layer of the outside edge of the basket. Continue to add layers in this manner until basket is as high as you wish. Another tube or two can be added for a handle.
Note: White or fabric glue is suggested for adhering the first layer to the cardboard. Hand sewing is recommended for the succeeding layers.
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