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:
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).
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?
Happy Bag Making!
Cheers,
I’ve never made an adjustable strap, but you make it sound very easy, Christine. Hope you don’t mind, but I’m pinning…
Thank you Pam….very happy to have you pin! 🙂
Hi. I wanted to give you a big thank you for this tutorial. I had been avoiding adjustable straps and was finally faced with having to figure out how to do them. They worked like magic. I hope my link works.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=313646675433081&set=pb.223723214425428.-2207520000.1369658784.&type=3&theater
Thank you Susan….yes your linked worked and I left a comment! LOLL I am pleased you found the tutorial useful! 🙂
oh my gosh I was doing it all wrong! thankyou for your tutorial!!
Hi Janet,
I am pleased you found the tutorial helpful….they really are SO easy once you know how! 🙂
Best tutorial for this type of strap I’ve seen yet! I’ve bookmarked it for future use, thanks SO much!
Thank you Susie! 🙂
hi, i think this looks great but where did you buy the oval rings and slide adjuster
You can find them on Etsy or I can supply them to you as well! 🙂
Like other people have said this is really the best tutorial on straps, thanks so much.
I have now made an adjustable strap for the first time. Once it’s done it is quite simple. But I first had to get my head around how it worked. Thanks Chris!
Hi Alice…yes….it is amazingly simply once you know how, isn’t it! LOL Glad you found the tutorial useful! 🙂
where can I order the sliders? Jo-Ann doesn’t have the 1″ size.
Hi Ingrid,
Please see Janelle of Emmaline Bags http://www.emmalinebags.com She carries most of the hardware needed for my patterns! 🙂
Great tutorial and so easy to follow. The purse looks very professional. Could you please tell me what tool you used for the rivets and possibly have a tutorial for how to add rivets? It would solve my issue. Thanks.
Hi Janet,
You can find a tutorial on setting rivets, which also describes the tools you need, on my blog here: http://blog.chriswdesigns.com/2011/03/how-to-install-rivets.html
Thank you so much, I have been messing around all afternoon trying to work this out. Your explanation is so clear! A big e-hug is coming your way!
Thank you Rosemary….I am so glad to know you found the tutorial useful! 🙂
I’ve been holding on to an old purse just to refer to the strap. Finally I can now get rid of it. I can now actually look forward to making my next bag with an adjustable strap. Thank you. (I’m doing my happy dance!)
LOL no worries….I’m glad you found it useful, Susan! 🙂
Bookmarked, because *every* time I need to do this I forget how!!
Thanks for a brilliant tutorial 🙂
Rae x
Hi Rae…glad you stopped by and most of all, I am pleased you found the tutorial useful! 🙂
How much fabric would you suggest using for a strap?
Hi Kiah….that would really depend on how long and wide you would like your strap to be. As an example, my Epiphany bag has an adjustable strap that I suggest to cut L 110cm – 140cm X W 16cm (L 43 ¼” – 55” X W 6¼”)…..depending on wether you are tall or short etc…. Hope this helps!
So happy to have found this pin! Was struggling with straps for a Christmas gift and this was just so easy and straight forward. Thank you!
Thanks so much for great instructions. I enjoy hand sewing making totes and belt bags. Using your straps instructions for a backpack. Your cat is very pretty.
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It’s great to hear from you Patty. So glad that you are finding the instructions useful! Yes, I love my cat!
😊
should the adjuster be at the back of the bag …………….or the front?
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Hi Jean,
This is really personal preference and not set in stone. If your adjuster is shiny and pretty, you may want to have it at the front but I find most people seem to put it at the back….but it’s totally
up to you! 😊
Thank you for this! It’s the best tutorial for straps I’ve come across, and the photos are really helpful!
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Thank you Lynn, I’m please you found it helpful!
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