Sewing softies is a great hobby because ANYONE can do it and you don’t need lots of expensive tools! Here is a special trick I use for turning small parts for soft toys using something I am sure EVERYONE will have already…
a ballpoint pen!
I took these photos when I was sewing my Petunia PIG Pattern. You can see that she has a very skinny TAIL PIECE which is almost impossible to turn just by hand.
Let me show you my special turning trick!
STEP 1
Find a ballpoint pen and open it up. Take the ink-cartidge out of the pen tube. These are the 2 parts you will use to turn your small softie parts right sides out!
STEP 2
Push the pen tube into the part you want to turn. In this case I am trying to turn the TAIL of my pig.
TIP: The TAIL has a very pointy tip so I have already trimmed the fabric of the seam-allowance to about 3mm(1/8 inch) to make turning easier.
STEP 3
Use the end of the ink-cartidge to push the tip of the TAIL PIECE into the end of the pen tube.
TIP: This may still take a bit of practice but it is much easier than trying to push you finger into the tiny TAIL PIECE to turn it! 😁
STEP 4
Push the ink-cartidge into the pen tube as far as it will go. There is no need to force it in very far – it is enough just to start the piece turning!
STEP 5
Now you can use you fingers to push the rest of the piece over the part that is already turned right sides out….
STEP 6
…and it DONE! How easy is that? 😀
TIP: If you are worried about getting ink on your fabric….. you could also use a toothpick or a wooden BBQ skewer/kebab stick to push the fabric into the pen tube. These may be hard to find. You can use any small, sharpish object, even a knitting needle or crochet hook could work.
Pretty cool hey! 🙂
Let me know it you’ve tried to turn toy parts this way?
Till next time, Happy Sewing,
xxx
Pauline
Thanks! This is a great tip!
Thank you Pauline! What a great idea!
I’m fairly new to your patterns by I am having a wonderful time! I’m currently finishing up Slowpoke Sloth. My grandson requested this one and it is turning out great!
Hi Toni, it’s so nice to hear you’re having a wonderful time sewing my patterns!!!! 🥰
Thanks Trinity!!! It’s funny how something so simple can make such a huge difference! 😀
Just brilliant, I tried this for elf ears and it was so much simpler!
Thanks Tracy!!!! 🙂
Thanks for the information. Great idea for tools
I used it on dachshund long tail. work smarter; not harder. You’ve nailed. Thanks
YAY!!!! Thanks for letting me know! 😀
OMGoodness!!! That is a really GREAT tip!! That makes it sooo much easier!! Thank you! I am starting out with BUMBLE the Bee, but I get easily confused, which patterns do feel are easier for beginner toy makers?
Hi Barb, Thank you for the lovely comments! I have lots of information about easy toy patterns here (including a list of easy patterns) – https://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/blog/stuffed-toy-crafts-for-kids/ AND there are also LOTS of helpful tips and freebies for beginners on the Beginners Start HERE Page of the website – https://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/blog/new-to-sewing-toys/😀
Great tip! I bought a set of turning tubes several years ago; they’re similar to the pen trick!
Hi Alice, I have some of those too! I got them a long time ago. They were really expensive for me so I wanted to do a “no cost option”.😊