ChrisW Designs

Straps! - Part Two......How to Make an Adjustable Bag Strap!

Adjustable bag straps are simply FANTASTIC and really are so easy to make too! They are great when sometimes you would like to wear your bag on your shoulder and yet other times you want to wear it accross the body....just change the length to suit the need! They are fabulous for example, on messenger style bags, such as my Savannah Messenger.

Or indeed for any bag that has one strap! So just what do you need and how do you make them? To start with, you need a closed end strap. If you aren't sure what that is, refer to Part One in my Strap Series - How to Make A Closed End Strap.

You also need a slider...also known as slide adjuster or tri-glide ......and a method of attaching the completed strap to your bag. I like to use oval or rectangular rings. In this case I have chosen some oval rings which I have attached to my bag with short strap tabs the same width as my closed end strap:

Slider and Oval Rings

Now take your prepared strap, wrong side facing up. Thread the end of the strap through the slider, over the centre bar.

Pull the strap through so it is past the slide, fold wrong sides together, by approximately 2.5-3cm (1”-1¼”). Pin in place. Stitch a rectangular box with a cross through it to secure.

TIP: You might like to add some rivets for extra strength, good looks or if your sewing machine finds the thickness of your straps a little too much to get through! If you need help setting rivets, you will find a tutorial on my blog.

Now take the other end of the strap and thread it through one of the oval rings attached to your bags body, going from the inside of the bag to the outside with wrong side upwards.

Take the strap end back through the slider (the wrong sides are together).

Close-up of Slider

Thread the strap through the remaining oval ring attached to the other side of your bag, this time coming from the outside of your bag inwards towards the interior. Pin (Or use a clip as I have done) to hold in place:

Once again stitch using the rectangular box formation. Again, you might like to add rivets for a nice secure job! :)

That's it! That's all there is to it! Easy Peasy, don't you think?

Completed Adjustable Strap!

Happy Bag Making!

Cheers,

Straps! Part One.....How to Make a Closed End Strap!

BAG STRAPS....What would we do without them? Coming in all sorts of types, shapes and sizes, they are not only necessary and functional BUT they can be beautiful and really add that finishing touch to your bag!

As there are numerous different types of straps, I thought it would be FUN to do a series on them! So.....I thought I would start the series with a strap that is one of the most basic and easiest to make! A closed end strap!

Closed end straps are very strong and super easy to make! They are used when you want to attach your straps to trigger hooks or rings or directly onto the exterior of your bag. They are also used to make adjustable straps.

All that you need is fabric in your chosen length PLUS 2X your chosen seam allowance. I have used 6mm (¼”) in my tutorial but you can use whatever seam allowance you prefer to work with!

To work out how wide you need to cut your fabric, work out how wide your finished strap needs to be and then then multiply it by 4. For example, if you need 2cm (¾”) wide straps, cut your fabric 8cm (3⅛”) wide.

You might also like to add interfacing. Recommended for wider straps carrying a lot of weight and to help prevent your straps from stretching. Woven is usually the best choice for strength and duarability.

You might also like to add some fusible fleece for padded comfort!

Your interfacing is cut the same size as your strap and your fleece is cut at half the width of your finished strap and less your seam allowances for the length. If your finished strap is 5cm wide cut your fleece 2.5cm wide.

How to make a Closed End Strap

So just how do you make them? Download your PDF copy of my step by step Tutorial on Closed End Straps HERE:

Happy Strap Making,