Tutorial: Make a Mini Tailor's Sausage for $1 or Less

A mini tailor's sausage that might cost only $1 to make!

Several years ago, I posted about perhaps one day making a tailor's ham. It hasn't come into being yet, mostly because on the very few occasions when I've needed one, I've simply rolled up a towel and stuffed it into whatever needed pressing.

Today, I can tell you that I recently made a mini tailor's sausage. (Good grief, these names wouldn't be my first choice, but that's what they're known as.)

This one checks off more than a couple of desirable characteristics of an awesome sewing project: it's fast, it's easy, it's cheap, and it's useful.

And in my case, it's repurposed also, so no waste, no additional cost.

But before I go into this, let me give props where props are due. This idea came from a YouTube crafter whose channel is called Asaco's Craft Memo. I'll be featuring a project of hers in the coming weeks.

Your supplies...

All you need for this is a basic square potholder (previously used like mine or pick one up at a discount store for a buck), a couple of heavy duty rubber bands, and needle and thread.

Did I not mention that it's a hand-sewing project? Oh well, too bad for me.

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It takes just three easy steps to make.

Roll up the potholder tightly, starting at the side without the loop.

1. Roll up tightly...

Use a couple of heavy duty elastic bands to hold the roll in place.

2. Secure with elastic bands...

Hand stitch it up, rolling the rubber band down as you go.

3. Stitch it together...

And that's it! Your tailor's sausage is done.

Ready to go in just minutes...

Now, how many of you have no real idea of how handy this might be?

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Here I have a tube of fabric. You can see by the measuring gauge that it's about 2.5" wide and I sewed it up with a 3/8" seam allowance. (You may want to know this because the sausage likely won't fit through if it's any narrower.)

A fabric tube that needs its seams pressed open...

Not to say that you can't press open the seam on this fabric tube without a tailor's sausage — because up until now I've lived without one — but look how easy it is to do if you have such a helper.

Slide the tailor's sausage into the fabric tube and you can easily press and steam!

The result is crisp and clean — with no extra creases where you don't want them — and you're less likely to suffer singed fingertips.

Can't argue with the results...

Now you can turn and press your fabric along the seam as required.

If you're a bag making enthusiast, you've probably pressed and turned many tubes in your time, whether they be straps (sometimes) or strap anchors.

Seam remains neatly pressed on the inside of the (turned) tube...

Now that you've seen this done, I'm sure you've had the same thoughts as me about making these bigger or smaller using similarly repurposed items. (To make this smaller to accommodate the narrower tubes that are normally required in bag making, I would simply trim away half of the pot holder before rolling it up.)

I was thinking specifically of quilted placemats or mug rugs from years gone by that can be rolled up to make various sized logs.

Hmm, yes, let's call these logs, shall we?